It sits upon its urban hill

The city down below

Its glassless windows sightless now

Its future we don’t know

Rafters silhouette the sky

Point up like witches’ fingers

Brick walls remain to testify

To memory that lingers

The walls still stand of shocked brick

Tall chimneys to the sky

It is an eyesore on the hill

And so the time goes by

It must be saved, cries heritage

Or history is lost

But will they cough up just a cent

To help defray the cost?

Decisions can’t be made, it seems

Alternatives are many

No matter what is done to it

T’will cost a pretty penny

Now summer comes with heat and wind

Long grass up to the fence

If it should burn, the neighbours say,

They must prepare defence

Embers flying through the air

No matter what the source

Endanger all the houses round

No one’s to blame, of course

Now some men want the buidling saved

Their home in childhood years

While others want the lot torn down

Recalling childhood tears

The new 'tax' as was written in the Goulburn Post (Letters to the editor, November 30) is not correctly identified by the sender.

For many years those who have chosen to take out home insurance have paid a levy that has been used for funding emergency services, ie. the RFS, NSW Fire and Rescue and also SES.

This seemed most unfair to me, as this levy was never paid by those who chose not to have home insurance.

The emergency service volunteers do not get paid for their efforts [such as] fire-fighting, [securing] storm damage or rescues from cliff falls.

This levy funds the equipment used by these volunteers.

I believe that it is only fair for this volunteer work to be funded by all. 

International Volunteer Day [December 5] is a time for us to reflect on the immense contribution volunteers make to our society and thank them for all that they do.

Red Cross is an organisation built on voluntary service, made up of 17 million volunteers worldwide.

Volunteers help us save lives, build resilient communities, support people in disaster, and prevent and alleviate human suffering in times of war and conflict.

Every day throughout the year our 35,000 members and volunteers in Australia improve the wellbeing of those who are experiencing extreme vulnerability.

I can’t thank them enough for their time, energy and commitment, and I feel privileged to work alongside them.

Voluntary service not only helps the recipients, but also the volunteers whose lives are enriched by the act of giving.

We aim to build an inclusive, diverse and active humanitarian movement based on voluntary service.

I strongly urge you to join our humanitarian movement and help your community by visiting redcross.org.au/volunteering. 

With the lowering of the oil prices our petrol should be cheaper at the bowser. Actually, petrol should be below a dollar a litre.

Why has our high taxing federal government allowed the high prices to continue?

Fuel prices proportionately increase the moment oil prices increase.

Australia has been overtaxed for too long. How long will it take before we give the government a vote of no confidence for the ever increasing prices and taxes?

It’s time for the public to get relief from the heavy hand of government taxation.