Letters to the editor

For 99 per cent of the time it is rented to families with no problems.  

We love the culture of the NSW South Coast community and the beautiful environment.  

This is shared by all our guests.  

We occasionally rent our home to high school leavers, when they convince us they are not intending continuous parties, just quiet enjoyment with best friends.  

This has been successful until this year.  

We thought we were renting our house to a six girls; friends from a Canberra private school who wanted time together before uni.  

(What occurred was) a week of parties, under-age drinking and community disturbance and destruction.  They were part of a larger group in four homes (girls and boys) in the area.

My husband and I were prepared to evict them after two nights, but gave a second chance, which they blew three days later.  

Locals endured under-age drinking, excessive noise, large gatherings of 30+ in our house, abusive language at 1am, littering the streets, condoms on neighbours' lawns, bending and destroying of street signs.

This group and their friends showed a total lack of responsibility for themselves.  

Residents were concerned for their safety. 

One parent told us our neighbours were the problem, not the girls.

This behaviour needs to stop and holiday home owners need to boycott these rentals.  

We don't need or want them.

Malua Bay endured ratbag behaviour of up to 100 students for about two weeks.

I hope owners find their homes in reasonable condition.

I also question parents and schools.

Not the calibre of visitors we want.

The Eurobodalla branch of the Animal Welfare League has had a wonderful year, with great friendships, great fun and lots of wonderful achievements.

Thanks to the community’s support, we have managed to raise much-needed funds to enable us to help unwanted, unloved and abandoned pets.

The de-sexing month in July was so successful that we extended it in to August and managed to break all previous records for de-sexing cats and dogs, with the occasional ferret and rabbit in the mix.

We run this with the RSPCA and Eurobodalla Shire Council, so many thanks to them and all the vets in the area who support this vital piece of our work.

We rehomed so many kittens and cats that, until the new kitten season got under way, we were almost out of animals!

Sadly, our result with dogs was not so good as we are still desperate for carers for medium and large breeds.

If anyone would consider helping us in the New Year, please ring our liaison officer on 0410 016 612 to have a chat.

We are already gearing up for a busy 2018. We have our jumble sale at the beginning of March, so if you get any unwanted presents this Christmas, please keep us in mind!

We all wish you a very merry Christmas and a happy and healthy 2018.

It was good to hear 50 refugees from Manus and 150 from Nauru will undergo processing as part of the US resettlement deal.

Let us hope they all make it through the “extreme vetting” process and can start a new life in freedom and safety.

The situation on Manus and Nauru is still critical for many, and most are coming up to their fifth Christmas in detention.

These men, women and children can't wait for resettlement arrangements, which at this pace will take many years.

The US has not even agreed to take them all.

They all need to be evacuated to safety now.

The Australian government is responsible for the men, women and children they imprison on Manus and Nauru.

They took them there against their will, and the UN has stated they cannot walk away from that responsibility.

In the weeks since the Manus camp was shut down and violently emptied, politicians from across the political spectrum have been standing up — urging the government to evacuate Manus and Nauru. 

Without transparent information, MPs must stand up for a humanitarian response.

Mrs Sudmalis: you know what is going on in the camps. We have spoken at length on a number of occasions and many of us have sent you evidence of what is happening. I have advised you many times that even the UN states that your government (and therefore YOU) are responsible for these people. I, along with many others in the Eurobodalla (which is a Refugee Welcome Zone), have spoken with you directly about the conditions these people are being kept in. Criminals here are treated better.

What will you will do to ensure these refugees are treated with humanity, dignity and respect?