Your views: Readers' letters

Inspiring TV

Two TV programmes [last week] left a lasting impression on me and others who saw them.
The first (on Maori TV) was Helen's Story, a truly inspirational and courageous documentary dealing, as it did so well, with the cancer journey and eventual death of a wonderful young wife and mother to her children (one a baby).
Helen inspired not only all her whanau but also the doctors treating her, and the amazing staff at Wellington Hospital plus the wonderful people at the hospice who were there for the whole family when needed. What an example of love and caring for each other they all were.
Thank you to the whole whanau for allowing us to join them as they faced up to the illness and death of a much loved mother. Thank you also to Maori TV, which produced it.

The second (TV3) was Diana My Mother, again such a moving account of a mother's love, not only for "her boys" but for so many others throughout the world.
Diana used her position and influence for the good of so many with her support for the homeless, and victims of Aids and landmines in Bosnia.

Prince William and Prince Harry were obviously devoted to their mother, coming through their grief and loss at such early ages by involving themselves in many of the charities she supported.

Two mothers in very different circumstances (both dying far too young) but both, by their love and devotion, leaving such a legacy to inspire their families in such a good way.

FIONA DONNE
Whanganui

Jersey contest

I read in the Chronicle of July 27 about a competition organised by the Commercial Hotel to find the ugliest jersey.

The organiser says, I suspect apologetically, that the event is not intended to mock David Bain. So why call it the David Bain Jersey competition? Why not the Ugliest Jersey competition?

By using David's name they are not only mocking him but also trivialising a tragic event. Bad taste!

What's even more surprising is that councillor Jenny Duncan is lending her name to this "bit of fun".

I hope she reconsiders.

MICHAEL MAYSON
Aramoho

Natural answer

"Mental illness", Thursday July 27 letter, was absolutely right.

Minerals and supplements are the answer to many problems. I speak from experience.|
Postnatal depression etc is a lack of minerals and vitamins.

If it's not in food it's not in the body, hence illness.

Supplements have a place. Need more information? Phone 343 6547.

D PORT
Whanganui

Public exposure

As a daily reader of your newspaper, I was appalled at the front page on July 25.

Why name and shame a person in such a public way? What transpires between a tenant and a landlord should not be for all to know about.

Tell me this: how many other bathroom floors in the country smell of urine?

J HANSEN
Marton

Mindless bleat

Smokefree NZ by 2025? Dream on.

It doesn't take an Einstein to picture the huge and lucrative black market such a draconian law, trying to control the personal choices of individuals, will open the doors to.

We see this sort of pious grandstanding by middle NZ in the scapegoating of smokers in the CBDs of many cities, with outdoor smoking now prohibited.

Apart from the fact I am yet to be convinced outdoor smoking poses a health hazard to anyone but the puffer, this sort of nonsense needs to stop - then we can all see the blind it provides for the lawmakers to neglect greater ills of which we are all aware, but many, seemingly, are still happy to jump on the bandwagon of smoker-bashing.

How about poverty-free NZ by 2025? Now there's a cause worthy of support! It would require a little more of all of us too, rather than just mindless bleating and little else.

PAUL BABER
Aramoho

Send your letters to: The Editor, Wanganui Chronicle, 100 Guyton St, PO Box 433, Wanganui 4500; or email editor@wanganuichronicle.co.nz