We are blessed in this tiny town by having a hospital, and we are blessed with the nursing service we receive. JENNY STAHL, Saleyard Lane, Braidwood.

What’s a nurse worth?

I write in support of Lorinda Wilkes (“TT”, October 10) and Jocelyn Sussman (“TT”, October 17).

My own prolonged and debilitating illness has brought me into contact with many members of the nursing profession, at both Braidwood Hospital and the Canberra Hospital. During this time, I can say with all honesty that I have never come across any nurse who showed the least sign of impatience, annoyance, or disinterest with my difficult condition. They have always been skilful, cheerful and positive: they have given me every encouragement. To a large extent they have been responsible for my solid recovery and my positive outlook. They have carried out many tasks on my behalf which were well beyond the call of normal duty.

Yet I know from personal observation that much of what we read about the parlous state of the nursing profession is unhappily true. The average age of nurses is too high. Too little is done to encourage recruitment. Funds for training have been cut. The shiftwork requirements and the ‘on call’ rosters can be onerous. There is insufficient encouragement to attract former nurses back to the profession. Manning levels on the wards have slipped.

I have had to return to Canberra Hospital several times since my discharge, and have been careful to renew many friendships with nurses on the wards. I have been overwhelmed by the warmth of their welcome. Yet the Chief Minister of the ACT has twice in the last six months seen fit to lambast this group of people in the media for daring to make public protests about their working conditions. This is so utterly unfair that I will say to him (or indeed anybody else who is thinking of taking this line) that next time they have got to see me first.

In my office. Tomorrow, 7am sharp. A SHEPHERD, Braidwood.

Fores ts - a thing of the past?

Since the early 1980s I have enjoyed horse trail riding in the beautiful Tallaganda State Forest, in particular the area surrounding Lowden Park. Lowden Park is a well kept secret hidden away amongst majestic eucalypts, cool green glades and you can listen to the “skimming” of the water wheel that is set in the sheltered, picturesque and pristine picnic area.

There are several walks around the picnic area that meander over a lovely mountain stream, through tiny temperate rainforests, past tree ferns and into dry solerophyll forests. Tallaganda Forest holds interest for many people - whether families escaping the hustle and bustle of the urban sprawl, walkers, orienteering fanatics, and people like myself - horse trail riders.

Historically, I understanding that Tallaganda Forest was selectively logged during the early and middle part of last century and many tall trees were left and young trees have since grown up and nearly replaced those that were logged. It would appear that the forest had made a reasonable recovery.

I had not visited the area for at least twelve months and went there several months ago to undertake a recce for a ride for my local trail riding club. When I was driving towards Lowden Park, I thought I had lost my way as very little of the terrain was recognisable to me. Imagine my shock when I viewed a scene that was reminiscent of a lunar landscape - there was such complete degradation to what I had originally considered as beautiful forest.

I do not know what equipment they use in logging these days or the pattern they follow, but not only had the larger trees been felled but smaller native vegetation had also been removed and left to die in piles - even the ground had been ripped and left with unsightly gutters that could be subject to massive erosion. My further fear is that the area was going to be planted with the dreaded pinus radiata! Whilst the pocket of forest has been left around Lowden Park itself, I feel very sad that this action has happened in such an area. I left with tears in my eyes!

It has been some months since I visited Tallaganda Forest and my anger has subsided a little but I still feel so strongly about the degradation in the area - I did not know what to do so decided to put pen to paper and write about how I felt. We have so little in the way of mature forests left along the eastern coastline and even that which is left is under threat. Equally, my other horror was to read about the charcoal factory to be built near Mogo on the South Coast and possibly using those beautiful eucalypts that I had read about recently that had been systematically poisoned.

I am not a die hard greenie but I do appreciate and love the Australian forest - due to being unfit I enjoy riding my horses through much of the state forests in my area - I do realise that horses can cause erosion and other problems but careful useage of these forests can preserve them for years to come. If we continue on the way we are then we will have no forest to worry about in the future! JUDITH PERKINS, Federal Highway, Sutton.

Back(s) up on Oallen crossing

Manager of Works Ron Trevallion advised the October meeting of council that he had received a letter from Shoalhaven City confirming that a formal start had been made on Main Road 92, congratulating Tallaganda and Mulwaree Shires on the work done in upgrading the Nerriga-Tarago and Nerriga-Goulburn roads and asking that the council investigate a preferred alignment a bridge across the Shoalhaven at Oallen.

The letter noted that the need for the investigation had been raised by Tallaganda councillor Eric Ellis at a recent meeting of SEATS.

Mr Trevallion noted that such a bridge is not part of the council’s bridge construction program and that while investigations into possible future projects are desirable, he has neither the funds, nor the staff to do such work.

He recommended that Shoalhaven City be informed that council is not in a position to undertake such an investigation.

Opening discussion of the report, Mayor Les Hart said it was a pity that Cr Ellis was not here to speak for himself.

Mr Trevallion felt that Cr Ellis’ comments had been taken out of context. He said the discussion at the SEATS meeting was about construction items that councils were not able to fund themselves and would need external funding. Cr Ellis had suggested the Oallen bridge.

Cr Harrex said that a major Nerriga-Tarago or Nerriga-Goulburn link would certainly suit the interests of Shoalhaven City, but doesn’t suit the interests of Tallaganda. He questioned whether Cr Ellis was the right man for the job [as Tallaganda’s representative on the SEATS committee].

Mr Trevallion replied that Cr Ellis always sticks up for Tallaganda at these meetings. At times he talks about Tallaganda to the point of boredom. In this case he had advocated an item that suited Shoalhaven City’s interests better than it suited our own, and they [Shoalhaven City] have seized upon it.

Cr Sturgiss said we don’t want Shoalhaven City to be telling us what to do. They’re down on the coast. Let them stay there.

He foreshadowed a motion that Shoalhaven City be requested to inform council of its plans for Harmes Road and be advised that Tallaganda Shire has plans for many roads in its shire, not only the road to Oallen.

The original motion, based on Mr Trevallion’s recommendation was then put and carried.

Referring to the foreshadowed motion, Mr Trevallion noted that Shoalhaven City have been very open about what it is doing with Harmes Road.

He added that we [Tallaganda] have a good relationship with Shoalhaven City and we don’t want to sour it.

The foreshadowed motion lapsed for want of a seconder.