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Canberra Today 16°/23° | Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

Letters / Kids at risk, who cares?

OUR family is writing to ask for help in solving an issue with the ACT government. They seem to have forgotten one of the schools in our suburb of Kaleen.

quillThree schools in our suburb have school crossings (Kaleen Primary, Kaleen High and St Michael’s), but there is no crossing at our school – Maribyrnong Primary in Alberga Street.

Apparently there are plans to move traffic lights on the main road near the school, but in the absence of a pedestrian island or crossing flags we witnessed our 10-year-old son narrowly avoiding being hit by a car as he was attempting to cross the street outside school on Friday afternoon.

Our school is taking in students from Bruce and will soon be taking in students from Lawson, yet our streets seem to have fallen off the TAMS map.

Traffic-calming measures have been installed in many other areas of our suburb in the last year, but our school precinct seems to have been ignored, despite community consultations, talks with TAMS and the police.

It seems somewhat risible that the ACT government expresses repeated concern over the rates of childhood obesity and urges us all to “Live Lighter”, but then fails to act in support of children being able to safely walk or ride to and from school.

We also note that local traders in the adjacent Gwydir Square shopping centre are petitioning for action on traffic issues in the shopping centre car park (and for the installation of public toilets promised in 2012).

We would be very grateful if “CityNews” could supply TAMS with a map of Kaleen that includes Alberga Street (the location of Maribyrnong Primary) and the Gwydir Square Shopping Centre.

We are writing as concerned parents and private citizens. The views expressed are ours alone. We are in no way intending to speak on behalf of the school or local traders.

Annette Healy and Bryce Gray, Kaleen

In defence of Donald

I DON’T think Donald Trump is as silly as many believe. A quick look reveals that his rambunctious behaviour and sayings are outside the field of political correctness.

He’s saying what many people are thinking, but won’t say themselves. This deliberate tactic is serving him well and I believe he is astute enough to know that, if elected, he can play his trump card and ease back into the politically correct gridlock, as required.

Colliss Parrett, Barton

Visitor says thanks

I RECENTLY had the misfortune to be taken ill at the start of a two-day trip to Canberra with my wife and found myself admitted as an emergency patient in Canberra Hospital where I spent four days.

I would like to record my gratitude, and that of my wife, to all of those who helped us during what was a very difficult time. This includes the young ladies who immediately came to our aid when I collapsed in Macquarie Street close to the AFP headquarters and the policemen on duty outside the AFP who also assisted; the highly professional paramedics who attended to me and took me to hospital as well as the equally highly professional staff in the emergency department of the hospital and in Ward 8B where I spent most of my time.

My wife and I are regular visitors to Canberra but do not have any relatives or friends in the locality, so the supportive manner of all of those who helped us was especially appreciated.

Thank you all.

Harvey Sanders, Paddington, NSW

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Ian Meikle, editor

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