I fear the plastics industry has dominated the scene for too long. With tons of paper products being recycled, why not more paper bags?

We need to jump off the train of environmental and self-destruction and take a look back to before World War II.

My father owned a country general store before and during the war. Brown paper bags were used extensively in a number of sizes and weights, there was a large roll of brown paper, white paper, grease-proof paper for wrapping objects. There were always plenty of empty cartons for customers to place their goods in to take away.

Carrying a shopping basket on the arm was a common sight in those days.

We need to plant more trees to put the brakes on rising temperatures and save our sea creatures from plastics by using more recycled products.

WHERE can young people find their place in the Anzac tradition?

While it may be harder for young people to relate to the individual experience of the veterans and to know their names and battles they fought, every Australian can embody the qualities of the Anzac spirit.

Courage, loyalty, compassion, mateship, endurance – the Anzac spirit is something that lives on long after the battles are fought.

Whether it is helping communities after a natural disaster, supporting people at risk of homelessness, or providing a hand up to those affected by a family tragedy -  every Australian, young or old, can uphold the spirit of the Anzacs.

So let us honour our soldiers in the best way possible by remembering the sacrifices they’ve made and embodying the Anzac spirit in everything that we do.

Let us be a voice for those suffering injustice or hardship.

And let us transform Australia one life at a time, giving hope where it’s needed most.

LOOKS like Lake Macquarie Council has commissioned a survey in regards to the viability of more cycle tracks.

However my closing comment [of the survey] was that the council should consider improving the roads in our area as well as providing kerb, guttering and footpaths as these are virtually non-existent in the older areas. Also why hasn't Mirrabooka got one of the fancy new signs now common in some suburbs?

WHY is Australia unable to properly sustain the recycling of all our waste?

It's alarming that the efforts of the public to have increasingly scarce resources reused, go to waste. Do we have to have other countries take on our responsibility and wipe our bums?

If governments aren't mature enough and willing to be part of conservation, as they aren't proactive in supporting renewable energy sources, then we need legislation to make the producers of all the unnecessary pollution responsible for the waste products they foist on us. 

It's a damning indictment of governments paying only lip-service to protection of our environment. I would also like to add my voice to those trying to put an end to the cruel and unnecessary live animals export trade. If the recipients of this monstrous business are not willing to pay for the humane transport conditions of livestock and don't want us to provide meat killed from our abattoirs, it's time they get what they want from elsewhere. The livestock industry is worth more than the financial rewards received, and the grief we have witnessed brings only shame.