Undeserved heartbreak
I AM writing on behalf of my 85-year-old nan, a resident of Willagee for well over 50 years.
Sadly, in June 2012 Nan lost her beloved son to cancer. After the tragic loss she decided to dedicate a portion of her front garden—something she has always taken great pride in—to him by filling it with natives plants and butterfly ornaments.
All the family soon got involved and before long it was a beautiful shrine to someone we all miss.
Not long after Nan lost her son, her husband of 60 years was diagnosed with cancer, and was cared for in the family home by everyone who loved him. Often, Pop would spend his days just sitting on the front verandah, staring at “Wayney’s Garden” for hours on end.
Again, we were dealt a hard blow and my Nan lost her best friend and soulmate almost a year to the day that she’d lost her son. After the passing of Pop we added more special things to garden and it became a place where we could reminiscence about the amazing men we had all lost.
On March 26, 2014 it was noticed that many of the garden ornaments had been stolen. It has us frazzled as to what kind of person would steal something from someone else’s yard, especially things that to anybody else don’t hold any monetary or sentimental value.
We are asking that if you are the person who stole these items, or if you know the person who did, please return them, no questions asked. It may not seem like a lot to many people but to my nan it means everything. This is one bit of heartbreak which she doesn’t deserve nor need.
A Sullivan
Cincotta Loop, Beeliar

Election day elation
ON Senate election day my grandchildren’s school—Bicton primary—held its fete.
The parents should be very proud of themselves: it was wonderful to see such a dedicated group of young parents all working hard to raise money to give their children the very best education and to support their school staff.
There was an amazing variety of stalls and entertainment. I was so impressed by the variety of food, crafts and raffle prizes. All parents, children and locals were very polite, cooperative and having fun. Young children were playing musical instruments and helping out on the various stalls. The media don’t give enough time and publicity to the honest, caring parents and children throughout WA: we only hear about people who find life a huge challenge.
Well done, Bicton primary school parents, students and the local community. I was proud of you all.
Helen Doig
Royce Grove, Booragoon

Labor reform no walk in the Parke
FEDERAL Fremantle Labor MP Melissa Parke is right when she says the ALP needs to undergo major reform and draw talent from a broader pool than union officials in the wake of last weekend’s disastrous Senate result.
Hmm, so where does that leave her Labor state counterpart, Simone McGurk, whose preselection was allegedly part of a deal to get Joe Bullock the top spot on Labor’s Senate ticket, thereby denying Senator Louise Pratt, who was relegated to second spot.
The deal also delivered Dave Kelly the numbers to stand for the safe state Labor seat of Bassendean. Now, let’s see…McGurk was a union official, Kelly was a union official, and let’s not forget Bullock’s union pedigree. Ms Parke, you and the Labor party have your work cut out.
Natacha Hammond
Fremantle
The Ed says: Ms Hammond is a former adviser to Adele Carles, the former Greens/independent state MP for Fremantle whom Simone McGurk defeated.

We need road to rail
DAVID AUSTIN from Coogee (Herald letters, March 29, 2014) seems so intent at thumbing his nose at “Labor clowns” and “Labor voters” that he fails to contribute any real solution to the traffic congestion he has identified.
Simply suggesting we restart the stalled Roe 8 extension or reinstate the tired old Fremantle eastern bypass does nothing but promise to provide new roads for more traffic.
These roads will become just as congested over time and a new generation of David Austins will say we should have built them longer and wider and more numerously than before.
It is becoming increasingly obvious the answer lies in investing in road-to-rail solutions for freight and investing in light rail networks for public transport—this could be achieved by not building more roads and redirecting those taxpayers’ dollars to better fund both these strategies which surprisingly appear to have some sort of non-partisan support from the Liberal, Labor and Green clowns.
Merrick Belyea
South St, White Gum Valley