At the hydro pool, the change rooms, toilets and walkways are all set up for the needs of disabled community members. All areas are covered by an alarm system should a client suffer a medical emergency. The staff on duty are trained to manage any emergency, with an operating ratio of no more than 15 clients to one staff.

Good hygiene is paramount at the hydro pool, requiring all clients to remove or cover shoes prior to entering the pool area, and showering prior to getting into the pool.

We all have our pride. The hydro pool is not a fashion show; we are a bit self-conscious. People are able to display their virtues to a similarly endowed group.

So, the hydrotherapy and council leisure pools are designed for two entirely different uses and are not in any way interchangeable. The differences would result in people not being able perform up to 70 per cent of their exercises if they only had use of the council facility.

Should the community be unfortunate and lose the hydrotherapy pool, I am doubtful if any people who currently use it would transfer to the council pool. They would lose out completely.

[In October] I spent several days as a patient in Goulburn Base Hospital and cannot praise the staff enough – from reception, emergency and on top floor – for their professionalism and dedication to patients.

Words are not enough praise for the care and compassion shown by the nurses on the top floor, particularly to the elderly gentleman in my ward. Thank you, all.

There are a few heritage buildings left in most places today, but if councils and state and federal governments are serious about keeping these buildings, then it is about time they did something about them.

The best idea I can come up with is actually pretty simple. All heritage buildings, especially those that are in private ownership, should be on a list and the owners notified that the buildings need to be kept in good condition and protected. The owners should be held responsible for their upkeep and if any damage happens, then the building has to be repaired and brought back to good condition.

The main thing, though, has to be insurance. All heritage buildings must be insured so if anything happens they can be repaired. If and when the owners fail, they can either lose the property or be forced to sell to someone who can look after it.

This idea is a bit too simple for our system to put into effect, but we need to do something now.

For young people, every attempt needs to be made to return them to the community rehabilitated. Solitary confinement and other punitive approaches only increase the risk of reoffending as research, evidence and experience can attest. For this reason, the incarceration of any young person should only ever be used after all other avenues of rehabilitation have been exhausted.