I think I understand when the car with ACT number plates sits within inches of my back bumper bar while I’m driving at the speed limit along George Bass Drive and then overtakes with accompanying finger gestures and horn tooting.

Maybe he didn’t see the speed signs or know that just over the crest there may be beach-goers trying to cross the road to get to the beach.

I think I understand when the neighbouring visitor from Victoria runs the engine on his boat at full revs for what seems like an hour while he hoses it all down.

Maybe he hasn’t noticed that there are water restrictions here and he hasn’t experienced the frustration of trying to keep his garden alive on 30 minutes of watering on odds and even days.

I think I understand why cars are churning up my front grass (can’t call it lawn any more) as they do U-turns in a fairly wide street.

Maybe they don’t know the local area and have turned into the wrong street.

I think I understand why there is so much litter left each day on our lovely little beach at Lilli Pilli.

Maybe they think that as the bins in the car park are full, locals will be kind enough to collect it and take it home to their own overflowing bins.

I think I understand why somebody needed water so badly they had to remove and break the fittings on our water tap on the front lawn.

Maybe they had spent too long on the beach and were suffering dehydration and weren’t aware of what they were doing.

But what I don’t understand is why somebody came into our backyard from the reserve next door and took a beach towel from the clothesline.

That’s just damned thievery and I’m bloody mad about it.

Lyn Day, Lilli Pilli

All praise to Moruya Hospital

Ww set off from Sydney two days before Christmas to stay with relatives at Congo. Imagine my surprise when the next morning I was swept up and deposited in the out patients department of Moruya Hospital.

I was rushed to the emergency ward in a matter of minutes, despite a relatively full waiting room.

Oxygen masks, ECG machines and lots of pills, injections and comforting words were applied and so began my celebrations for Christmas. It seems that my heart was at the heart of the problem, so to speak.

Over the next three days I learnt a lot about hospital life and the nurses who humorously, confidently and efficiently attended to all our needs.

On Christmas morning I opened my eyes to see reindeer antlers waving about on the head of nursing sister Lee, an immensely practical and energetic nurse.

The three days passed quickly with the superlative attention of doctors and nurses.

Moruya Hospital must surely be one of the most outstanding of hospitals and I would like to thank the gods for placing me in their hands.

Ann Berriman, Redfern

A Prime point

Just wondering why we are unable to watch Prime Television.

I have both HD and analogue TVs and there is either no reception or it is so poor it is unwatchable.

Do the companies that advertise with this station know that in this area their money is wasted?

Apparently, Prime has tested output signals and advise that they are strong enough. Obviously this is incorrect.

Deborah Burgess, Bodalla

Borealis says thanks

On behalf of the members of Borealis Brass - America’s Arctic brass ensemble - I thank all of the people of Batemans Bay and PerfEx for the wonderful experience we had December 1 to 6 in Batemans Bay.

Our hosts were terrific! Our audiences were enthusiastic and warm! The businesses that supported PerfEx and our performances were exceedingly generous. The Bay Post gave us fantastic coverage and advertising.

We are most grateful to the members of PerfEx, Eurobodalla Jazz Club, the University of Wollongong Batemans Bay Education Centre, St Bernard’s Catholic Church, the Coastal Patrol and many, many others.

Thank you to composer Katia Tiutiunnik for her music and for initiating this project and to her son Anthony for all his help.

Mostly, thank you to the people of Batemans Bay who treated us with such warmth and kindness. We hope to return sometime soon.

James Bicigo, Borealis Brass Fairbanks, Alaska

2010 or 1960s?

Last weekend - searing heat, busy shops, buzzing waterfront - at 5pm it was time for coffee.

But where? Two coffee shops in the Village Centre were closed, a third was closing soon, allowed us in, took our order and then said “Sorry, we are closed”.

Okay, walk to waterfront. After passing closed premises we finally found a couple open. One had no spare tables (great for business), the other had all-day breakfast menus on tables. We ordered coffees and cake, sat outside enjoying the Bay’s beauty only to overhear two family groups discussing the menus, then attempting to order.

Both groups were denied their requests (13 orders) and had to settle for cake and drinks instead.

Disappointed patrons equal poor business.

We should be doing a better job of providing service in peak times. Soon we will be back to our population of 16,000 and businesses will be doing it tough making ends meet, but right now we have 100,000-plus, we are full, so why not make the most of it?

Put on extra staff or stay open a little longer in the evening, as in other tourist destinations?

Without our visitors we would not have all the facilities and shops that we enjoy all through the year. This is not the 1960s - it is 2010 and people deserve better.

Let’s hope they get it here and not elsewhere or we could become the sleepy seaside village again with no jobs and nowhere to go to spend our time and money.

Judy Malonyay, Surfside

More dangers

The horrific crash near Batemans Bay highlights the dangers of transporting fuel on inadequate roads.

Meanwhile, the NSW Government recently withdrew the subsidy for carting petrol by train, and Shell then announced the closure of its rail fuel loading depots at Sydney, Canberra, Dubbo and Tamworth.

One estimate is that this will result in 1000 extra road tankers per year operating between Sydney and Dubbo alone.

This is foolhardy in light of the latest fatalities.

Geoffrey Parker, Cremorne