Painter Sidney Nolen was famous for his artworks of which notorious bushranger?

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You can play part in Febfa st

THE spirit of febfast has always been to give a little up, to give a lot back to the community. Surprise yourself, and sign up for a month without alcohol, sugar, or another vice of your choosing. Febfast is the perfect excuse to kick-start the year with a little good health and good will. Across Australia, we're seeing thousands of people give up alcohol, sugar, or a vice of their choice in February to raise funds for young people experiencing serious disadvantage. Funds raised give young people access to the resources and support they require to lead healthy and fulfilling lives. Benefits like better sleep, saving money, and getting fit speak for themselves. Two-thirds of participants have signed up for a month-long fast from alcohol to reset after the festive season and to dial-up their New Year's resolutions. Febfast is run by the Youth Support and Advocacy Service (YSAS) and as our only fundraiser for the year, it raises critical funds to assist severely disadvantaged young Australians recover from serious drug, alcohol, and mental health problems, which have only been exacerbated by the pandemic. This year, I hope you’ll join our community of febfaster's who are getting their health back on track by taking a pause for a cause. It’s not too late to register: you can sign up at www.febfast.org.au

Andrew Bruun

Young Support and Advocacy Service (YSAS) chief executive officer Save our koalas, federal government urged

IT is extremely pleasing that the federal government has recently announced $50 million in funding for koala protection and recovery action. It is though, extremely disappointing to read comments from The World Wide Fund For Nature - Australia indicating that despite their great appreciation concerning the $50 million funding, the forest homes of koalas will continue to be bulldozed at an alarming rate until new environmental laws, with real teeth, are enacted. It is quite clear that the prime reason for the demise of koalas, down the east coast of Australia, is because of the widespread demolition of trees the koalas need to enable them to survive. The federal government must urgently introduce new, or strengthen existing environment laws, that somehow restrict the activities of developers that are presently resulting in the mass destruction of koala habitat. Climate change is also another matter that is in urgent need of federal government action because forest fires, caused by climate change, are a huge danger to koalas. Enacting legislation to save koala habitat should present our federal government with far less problems than countering climate change. Please, could they act quickly to save the koalas. Saving our precious koalas must surely be a federal election issue of the utmost importance.

Brian Measday,

Myrtle Bank, South Australia

Letter writer Brian Measday has gone to bat for the koalas this week.

Photo: File

Help fight Australia’s biggest killer this February

EVERY 10 minutes an Australian suffers a heart attack. Sadly, many do not survive with 48 Australians dying every single day from heart disease - someone’s family member, wife, husband, or special friend that means the world to them. Given that heart disease is our biggest killer, it would be impossible for all Australian communities to not be impacted in some way. The simple fact is that there is still so much for us to learn about heart disease and research saves lives. Heart Research Australia aims to reduce the devastating impact heart disease has on families and the community by supporting world-class and emerging researchers to conduct ground-breaking research into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of heart disease. That’s why this February we invite all Australians to get involved with REDFEB, heart health awareness month, to raise much-needed funds for ground-breaking research into heart disease. Getting involved is as simple as wearing red and donating to Heart Research Australia during the month of February. For more information or to donate, please visit www. heartresearch.com.au On behalf of the thousands of Australians impacted by heart disease every year, thank you for your support.

Nicci Dent

Heart Research Australia chief executive officer Australia's giant green gamble on solar energy toys

BY the time solar energy reaches Earth’s surface it is spread very thin – even midday sunshine will not boil the billy or make toast. And solar collectors will only convert about 20 per cent of that weak energy into electricity. Thus thousands of solar panels are needed to collect significant energy, and lots more to charge the expensive batteries needed to maintain electricity supply overnight and during cloudy weather. Despite these disadvantages, force-feeding of “green” energy by all levels of government has given Australia nearly three million solar collectors (mainly imported from China). It requires slabs of land to generate significant electricity from the sun’s weak rays. But even in sunny weather they produce nothing for 16 hours every day. And a sprinkling of dust, pollen, ash or salt, or a few splatters of poop from birds or flying foxes can reduce output by 50 per cent, while night, snow or heavy cloud cover snuffs them out completely. Solar energy collection is maximised if the panels face the sun exactly and follow the daily and seasonal movements of the sun across the sky. No rooftop collectors and only 40 per cent of ground facilities can do this. Thus to produce the planned energy requires an even bigger area of collector panels, covering even more land.

Viv Forbes,

Washpool, Queensland

Online comments

JOHN WILLIAMSON LOOKING FORWARD TO SALE SHOW

Corey Dyt: Spewing I'm not home for this! Robbie Chandler: Would love this with the kids.

LOCAL PARAMEDIC EARNS HONOUR FOR FINE SERVICE

Maren Ryswyk: Congratulations, well deserved Bernard. We always felt calm and confident when our son Henry was under your care. Annette Hollonds: Congratulations and very well deserved. Ian Paul: Great. Congratulations mate. Working with you at the Training Centre ESSO was a pleasure. Scott Humphrey: Great achievement and dedication to the industry. Neill Tacey: Congratulations Bernie, your training at Longford Training Centre was always greatly appreciated and respected. Truly deserved award. Well done. Kim Hills: Congratulations. Sharon Boothby: Congratulations. Judith Cahill: Great article. Congratulations on your recognition. Dawn O'Connell: Congratulations Bernie. Say hi to Frank Abela for me. Helen Edgley: Bernie you are the best. Congratulations. Wendy Yarram: So pleased to hear your news Bernie, a well deserved recognition of your ambulance work and compassion for others, congratulations. John Treglown: Congratulations Bernie, well deserved mate, if you could teach me you could teach anyone. Cheers mate. Ashleigh McKenzie: Amazing achievement Bernie, well deserved recognition xx Darren Elliott: Absolute respect for this man. Greg Watts: A most deserving recipient and a very caring person who has been dedicated to his patients and work colleagues for a very long time. So happy to see him get this recognition. Lloyd Dean: Thanks for your service. Heidi Murray: Completely deserving gentleman and mentor. Nikita Dean: So very well deserved and such a kind man. Congratulations.

CHRISTINE DELIGHTED OAM SECRET IS OUT

Robyn Hodge: Proud of you my old housemate!! Lovely to see this recognition for all the gifts and time you give to the community. Tamara Williams: Well done Christine. Gemma Reardon: This is fantastic Christine well done to you! Totally deserved! Maisie and the (now not so) little twins loved your sessions at Mainly Music. Yvonne Coffey: Congratulations Christine, you really do brighten up the community with your generosity of spirit. Well deserved. Sarah Capper: Congratulations Christine, so truly deserved. Such a wonderful amazing lady who I've always admired and never stops helping everyone in the community. So happy for you Christine. You have worked tirelessly to support the community and finally getting some of the thanks you truly deserve. Lotje McDonald Sports Photography: Congratulations Christine. Christine Penpraze: Well done and congratulations Christine. Liz Filmer: Congratulations Christine, we are lucky to have people like you in our community. Jiuliana Rawson: Well done and well deserved Christine.

OPPORTUNITY TO FAREWELL WWII BOAT

Geoff Vivian: I wonder if this was one of the two that competed in the Williamstown to Geelong annual yacht and power boat race back in the 50s. They would be first there and after berthing at the pier the social activities would commence on board. Always impressed onlookers. Jeff Ingram: Know it well….good onya Harry and Karen.

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