Recently we had Mental Health Week – a topic very dear to my heart.

This week is Carers Week.

There would be very few adult men and women who have not experienced caring or being cared for in their lives.

The word itself has multiple usage. Just stop for a moment and think – Health Care, Aged Care, Medicare, Child Care, Home Care, Centacare, Care Flight, Care West to name just a few, might set the ball rolling.

Mums and dads are the primary carers of their children.

Children often become the primary carers of their ageing parents.

Parents of disabled children sometimes spend a lifetime of caring for them. These thoughts raise more questions than they answer.

What are the essential qualities and skills of a carer? Is it all done by instinct, or a sense of duty, or obligation? Is it a position of power over someone: you do what I tell you or I will punish you by putting your favourite lollies out of reach, or turn off your favourite TV show.

Or is it a position attuned to the wants and needs and temperament of the person needing care?

Is it a position that encourages and supports mutual decision making, sharing of ideas and items of interest?

Above all does it demand mutual respect, understanding and dignity, even when some things appear to be very undignified?

Amidst all of these anomalies, there is also the need for the carers to be sure they take good care of themselves.

Plans and practices need to be in place to ensure that they have some time to themselves and not become exhausted and worn out.

So congratulations to all our carers at all levels and in all situations.

Thank you for making our Australian society a better place.

Would that our Government might extend this caring attitude to the Asylum seekers languishing in despair in detention centres in need of our compassion.

WITH the upcoming byelection, I fully understand why candidates litter the electorate with their placards requesting people to vote for them.

But why is it okay for candidates to adorn public property with their photo and more than likely, leave it there after the election is run and won.

On Wednesday, whilst driving along Dalton Street between Anson Street and Sale Street, two trees have had posters of a candidate screwed into the trunk of these trees.

The same candidate also has a placard screwed into a dead stump on Dairy Creek Road.

For me the stump is not an issue but once we start damaging live trees with election graffiti, I feel the candidate has overstepped the mark.

Ask an arborist what damage this may cause to these mature trees.

If the candidate is a potential decent politician, then please have the decency to remove your face from the trees and place the placards in a more suitable location.

Thanks,