Perth Voice Interactive

A whale of a weighty issue
BEING an ex-fisherman, I know a floating whale doesn’t weigh anywhere near its actual weight.
Just like when a lifesaver tows in a distressed swimmer they aren’t carrying the actual weight. So why didn’t they tow the floating carcass out to sea with a fishing trawler?
Because they’d rather spend a fortune on cranes and overgrown trucks, legal permission rights for the road, tip fees, pegs on peoples noses, police escorts. Yes, well they are out of their depth.
Darryl Kippe
Menora Village

A paper man in digital world
I AM writing to you to lodge a complaint. I have been a reader of the Perth Voice for many years.
I always entered your competitions and occasionally I have won a prize. But now I find I cannot enter the competitions because I don’t have a computer and all your competitions are now online.
I really think this is discrimination. Most other competitions you can enter either way. Would you please let me know the reason behind this.
Brian Fels
Eight Ave, Maylands
The Ed says: We’ll get the bean counters to give you a call, Brian. Thanks for letting us know your concerns.

Spa ‘chat’ a two-way street
ZOE DELEUIL may be surprised to learn that some women try to chat up men why trying to relax at Beatty Park (Voice, November 5, 2014).
As a middle-aged man, I sometimes go to the spa after a lunchtime swimming session. About a month ago I was sitting in the spa by myself, when a middle-aged woman came in and decided to lay on her back on the wall next to the steps of the spa with her head facing towards me.
I copped a full view down her top and she kept looking over her shoulder to see if I was looking, not really my cup of tea, love!
Also I have had women come into the near-empty spa, sit near me and start talking to me. I thought they were just being friendly, but after reading about Zoe’s complaints I realised I have been a victim of desperate housewives trying to “chat me up”.
Unlike Zoe though, I am not screaming for male-only sessions as this is an inner-city public swimming pool, a great mix of people go there, and it would be a shame to start segregating us all, although I think a males-only session would be far more popular than Zoe’s female-only sessions.
From my experience a sauna full of “big” men at Beatty Park is far more likely to be sharing recipe tips and getting home in time for The Bold and the Beautiful than staring at any women in the room. Maybe Beatty Park can avoid the crowding at weekends by staying open till 9pm in summer, like Inglewood pool, thus avoiding the pre-6pm crush in both the pool and the steam areas.
Also, maybe if it had pool-only memberships at a reduced rate. I only use the spa because it is included in the basic membership.
G Lee
Chatsworth Rd, Highgate

Doing a Stirling job
THE letter from S M Livingston (Voice Mail, November 8, 2014) explains the aim of mergers is to turn currently small councils into larger councils to tackle the disparity that exists between small and large councils
What is omitted is the City of Stirling is already the largest council in WA and arguably the most efficient and in the words of the WA local government minister enjoys a 91 per cent ratepayer approval and is a model local authority
So instead of doing anything worthwhile to remedy the inefficient local authorities, the government  sets  about to dismember one of the most efficient councils. Clearly the government is doing it for purely political reasons with the upcoming review of the electoral boundaries clearly in its sights
I do not know how involved Mr Livingston is with local government but I have been a ratepayer for more than 40 years, a member of the ratepayers’ association rising to president, a member of the Mt Lawley Society and have attended the council and met with councillors over the years regarding local government and community issues.
Stirling is debt-free thanks to the measures proposed by Councillor Terry Tyzack many years ago and the dedication of the councillors who give of their time to the governance of our fair city has not gone unnoticed. The mix of seasoned councillors with the new ensures wisdom gained through experience is there to curb the inexperience of youth.
I hope Mr Livingston took the trouble to attend the council AGM Monday November 17 at 7pm to see first-hand the good works the councillors and dedicated staff of the city are doing
I hope Cr Tyzack does not retire because we will need the wisdom he has gained through many years of experience to manage Stirling through the mess left by the government ‘s council ‘’deform” agenda.
Arthur Mistilis
Carnarvon Cresc, Coolbinia