We weren’t eco-environmentalists but we did keep our town tidy.

Only one criticism I remember, a Miss Bell who was a teacher in town at the time, complaining about people littering at the local show.

Littering had to be done because rubbish bins were noticed by their absence.

I left town in 1968, returning in 1990/92 for visits. Junee had been declared a tidy town and many streets boasted of being winners of tidy streets awards.

None of this was very noticeable in 2005 and 2007 on further visits.

Returning here six months ago for retirement, I see that Junee would not win any awards today for tidiness.

Everywhere I walk there is litter. Some even thrown into mine and other yards.

A little of this litter does come from visitors discarding wrappers from fast food chains.

On a recent walk out to the cemetery I noticed much of this plus more local litter along the road.

The town needs to alert visitors and locals to the fact that we will not stand up for littering or dumping as is the case of tyres dumped in the creek some months back on Joffre Street.

Enviromentally much of this litter can be recycled, especially glass and cans.

So come on Junee, lift your game and tidy the place up again and take pride in your town.

John Hunter

Junee

Open letter to Michael McCormack MP:

As my new Federal Member in an expanded jurisdiction, you will be looking for votes from your new constituents.

You are also Assistant Minister for Defence.

It is in that capacity, that I wish to discuss your views on Defence retirees and those either medically discharged or who later succumb to service caused injuries.

You will be well aware that Defence Super has suffered nearly a 50 per cent decline in entitlements paid to DFRB, BFR&DB and MSBS recipients since 1990 - due to incorrect indexation and other nefarious reductions (eg. Keating's 2 per cent reduction to balance his budget).

Please note; this is NOT a pension but superannuation where members contributed 5.5 per cent of pre-tax income.

TPI's have also suffered at the hands of Governments, particularly the exclusion by the Rudd government of our Veterans Disability Pensions from the national structural increase to over 4 million pensions refused to align that payment (which is compensation for serious injuries preventing the recipient working ) from 25 per cent  to 27.5 per cent of MATWE with the Pensioner index and other incapacity payments afforded to the general public.

Full-time adult average weekly total earning is $1560.50 per week or  $1215 per week after income tax deduction.

DVA Disability TPI/Special Rate is $1341.50 per fortnight or $671 per week non taxable.

Now 20 per cent of the nation’s 28,000 Permanently Disabled of our Defence Force receive this $671 per week as replacement income which equates to 55.2 per cent of the Average Australian in full-time work.

The 20 per cent single TPI Disabled under 65 receive a Single Service Pension rate of $437 per week (which is taxable and means tested, investments and or inheritance can reduce this to zero) added to the TPI rate constitutes a total weekly maximum  income of $1,108 which is constituting between 55.2 and 91.2 per cent of the Average Australian in full time work after income tax deductions.

The 60 per cent partnered TPI Disabled receive a Partner Service Pension of between $1 and $329.50 per week (which is means tested and taxable) added to the TPI rate constitute between $672 to $1000.50 per week or between 55.2 and 82.3 per cent of the Average Australian in full time work after income tax deductions.

I trust you and the Liberal candidates are also aware that the first Rudd government in the 2009 Budget deliberately changed the Howard VEA 1986 Amendment Bill of 2007  to legislatively exclude DVA Disability Pensions of our 130,000 Disabled of our ADF, our wounded, blinded, limbless, injured, diseased and mentally compromised from the 2.7 per cent of MTAWE structural increase to pensions including War Widows Pensions (legislated as compensation as is the veteran disability pension) that was deemed necessary to maintain the purchasing power of those on government  pension  that over 4 million other Commonwealth Pensions received.

Rudd Labor considered Disabled Veterans unworthy of having the purchasing power of their pensions maintained.

Will the Liberals and Nationals continue the policy of Rudd in excluding Disabled Veterans from the structural increase - treating them as lesser in the land and its values?

If you want my vote and that of the many other ex Defence constituents, we would be seeking guarantees or a pledge similar to that espoused and implemented by Tony Abbot in the lead up to the last election.

I would welcome your comment and commitment to rectifying these serious issues, else more ex military persons will fall into poverty and homelessness.

Tony Horsington, Parkes

Got rid of the carbon tax, got rid of the mining tax, got rid of GMH, got rid of Ford, got rid of Toyota, almost wiped out Whyalla and seuled ATSIC onto Queensland Nickle losing 46,000 full-time permanent manufacturing job that will never be replaced.

Achievement?

Mitch McTavish, Cootamundra