A system should be introduced which indemnifies the traffic wardens from any responsibility for residents re-entering a fire zone.

Residents willing to take the risk could sign a form which exonerates the wardens and places full responsibility on themselves.

The wardens know that they have no legal authority to forbid re-entry and feel they are being derelict in their duty if they let you return.

To eliminate such acts of civil disobedience we should be allowed the choice to return when we feel it is safe to do so and when the way ahead is clear.

We sold a broadacre farm in the south east and moved here 24 years ago where we have developed an attractive lifestyle hobby farm with significant planting of trees and shrubs.

Little did we realise that we were destined to become witnesses and reluctant neighbours to a major mining development.

But now we are, and although we do not believe that the enormous ‘wheels of progress’ can in any way be halted, we rather wish we didn’t have such a prime box seat to the action.

We fear that the Julimar Conservation Park that surrounds our property on two sides will inevitably succumb to the demands of the mine, at least in the long run.

We cannot say what disruptions of dust, noise, traffic or other unforeseen hazards might be part of developing such a significant mine site.

It is early days, and the mining lease has to pass several approval processes.
An official from Chalice Mining has visited us and assured us that it would be sometime before mining operations would commence.

Our concerns for the environment and the possible destruction of part or all of the surrounding forest with all of the loss of habitat and plant cover has of course been assuaged by the assurances of the company representative that such disruption will of course be minimal.

Our particular unease about possible excessive water consumption and the production of waste sludge at the mining site was not met with any real concern.

Since we are not on mains water and rely on rooftop water collection for all our water needs, this is no minor worry.

Our concern about this extraordinary development literally on our doorstep is tempered by a fatalistic regard for history.

If this mining discovery is as important as it seems, who are we to oppose it?

It may be a very important part of bringing on a shift to renewable and we are a very small consideration in the overall picture.

However, our concern lies with such stuff as the question of where Native Title comes into such a major development.

If this mine is to go ahead, what do the Aboriginal people have to say about it?
Do they know what’s proposed?

How do they get consulted on this?

Realistically, we are old and probably don’t have a lot of time to worry about living here, but the possible destruction of the forest is overwhelmingly depressing, particularly as we have spent the past quarter century building up something akin to a botanical park.

China: If China has the “historic governance” right to operate in the China Sea then the Italians, descendants of the Romans, ought to occupy most of Western Europe.

That would also apply to any nationality which, in the past, dominated parts of the globe and could now claim sovereignty after hundreds of years.

However China, as the German SBS news on the December 15 clearly reported (I am certain Mr Hamilton listened) that; (a) the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) openly declares that it wants to dominate global economies and, (b) that the CCP already has people working in the top echelons of major international corporations.

These people are closely aligned with the CCP and most likely do not sit dormant in their seats. That also applies to the ANZ Bank and the submarines built in Australia.

Any technical device such as a mobile phone or so-called smart phone made in China has data links to the CCP.

You are no longer anonymous but are a data base for the CCP. Anyone not recognising this drive for domination must be blind.

The US was strong and also a dominating influence by applying political and economic pressure on those who didn’t adhere to its demands.

The difference between the US of the past and China of the present is that the ‘normal’ person was/is still able to have an opinion and to speak out loudly whereas China wants everyone to think, speak and dance Chinese.

Yes, there is a need to stand up to the domination and destruction of self and our own culture of liberal democracy, something which is totally foreign to and never experienced in China – look at Tibet, Chinese Muslims and Hong Kong, and Taiwan seems next on the agenda.

The CCP’s attempt is to be God to all and sundry, including you Mr Hamilton and if you are not careful or by the time it happens, you may no longer be with us.

The olive branches offered to Australia in August by China were an outreach with a strong Chinese adherence to CCP command, working with China under Chinese rules and regulations, not to be a bi-lateral working agenda.

Military: China is working very hard to match American military might and already promised (verbally) to be equal with the US in a short time.

That is not apprehension, that is determinate domination and when that happens – watch out dear world.

Mr Hamilton should know there are many people in Toodyay who also listen to and understand international news, speak several languages, have an education beyond that of a primary school and even, lo-and-behold, hold professorial university degrees.

We are not mental nincompoops.

Rehearsals commence on Tuesday February 9 and will be held each Tuesday from 7-9pm in St Stephen’s Anglican Church Hall.

At the rehearsals we will practise works for specific events such as Easter and Christmas concerts, Toodyay Music Fest and other community performances. Annual membership will be $25.

Prospective singers can call me on 9574 2122 between 9am and 5pm.

I have sung in many classical choirs in Australia and overseas and look forward to hearing from those who would like to perform choral works.

With the excellent hard work of the Toodyay Progress Association – especially former chair Larry Graham – and The Toodyay Herald, we already had an insight into the dysfunction at the shire long before the State acted, and then to be totally let down by the report.

There are councillors still on council who were part of the reason the shire was dysfunctional.

They still don’t appear to want to step aside or take responsibility for the actions that have found us in this perilous situation.

For them to go against advice in taking legal action against former shire CEO Graham Merrick at enormous ratepayer expense is inexcusable.

Why didn’t they take action against whoever in shire administration overpaid Mr Merrick $150,000 when he left?

That overpayment and the ripple effect of ongoing legal bills has now crippled ratepayers and residents for years into the future and our children and grandchildren will be left to pay for something they had no part of.

Finally, last month’s Page 3 picture in The Herald of the former shire CEO and former shire president Brian Rayner says it all – Hear No Evil, See No Evil.

I ask if Old Blind Joe’s critics would treat their customers the same way as the drop kicks in Canberra are treating our country’s most important trading partner?

Can anyone assume it will all end well because the US will come to our rescue?
“Die Gedanken Sind Frei”(Thoughts Are Free) is a German song about freedom of thought – the writer and composer are unknown but the most popular version was published by Hoffmann von Fallersleben in 1842.

I read Old Blind Joe every month and will keep doing so with interest and awe as I find it very informative and witty to boot.