The main objective of this article was the donation of $3868 to the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service. Over the years we have made three donations to this vital service.

The word ‘disbands’ in the article actually means we will cease to be a registered not-for-profit association Incorporated with NSW Fair Trading. This, we found, was rewarding to our group in many way. Having the community support we did over 14 years enabled us to purchase all the sound equipment we required, carry public liability insurance and volunteer insurance, our performing rights license and also enabled us to hold a liquor, gaming and racing licence, necessary for fundraising.

This covering came with a modest $5 membership fee.

The article also states that ‘while the association is formally disbanding, the group would still be ‘popping up’ on occasion”, which means we are not retiring from entertaining altogether. At the moment I am making inquiries into the running of a community country music group, such as Mr Hicks describes in his letter.

If there are not too many obstacles involved, a full day of country music could be possible. Lastly I wish ‘Steve’s Country’ group many more years of bringing country music to our community.

In the Tenterfield Star of April 12, page 13 (Remember the reason for it all), in the second sentence of the fourth paragraph from the end there is a very significant mistake that would disturb Christians and mislead a non-believer.

The Gospel (meaning ‘good news’) has sadly been so watered down and maligned that I’d like to see the word and meaning changed to what it is meant to be.

The world can accept that Jesus died on the cross, but he was also raised to life on the third day, not ‘reborn’ as the writer misquoted. First Corinthians, Chapter 15, Verse 7, “If Christ be not raised from the dead, our faith is in vain.” Even if there were no heaven it’s wonderful to be able to love and trust Jesus who said, “I have come that you might have life” etc, and I have. May you too. Bless you.

The aim of this letter is to encourage the present management of TenFM to re-adopt the accepted management principals of running a Community station namely, installing a retained executive manager for running the day to day operations of the station and answerable to the station board.

And secondly, to limit the terms of the President and Vice President positions which shall become volunteer rolls. This will allow other interested members of the community to play a meaningful roll, as well as gain hands-on experience.

My reasoning is that today, and for many years, TenFM  has been a "closed shop." It is a fact that the longer people remain in power, the more covert and protective they become. This has clearly happened at TenFM. By definition, the station is no longer a community entity. Further, I am not sure if this present structure complies with the governing body guidelines of the, Community Broadcasting Association of Australia (CBAA).

The primary function of a “community” station is just that. Members of the community shall have access without hindrance or discrimination. Volunteers should not be excluded from TenFM for personal reasons but clearly, this is the case with me and others. While ever the present structure of the station remains, the more isolated the community shall  become.

The latest casualty is Yman who had a loyal following over a number of years for his Sunday afternoon program. Then there was Gabby, producing excellent media with some of her work still aired today. Then there was me after eight years.

These people and others were volunteers. If you believe that the present structure of TenFM is unfair and not in the communities best interest, please sign my petition at www.change.org. This is the first time in my memory that the station has been run by two paid managers namely, the President and the VP. These positions have historically been voluntary positions.

Dear Mothers,

We have reviewed your employment contract for Mothers’ Day and have found that it does not meet the National Employment Standards.

Your normal hours of work (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) are well above the maximum weekly hours. You receive no penalty rates, no loading and no leave. In fact, your child (Employer) requires a weekly salary from you in the form of pocket money.

Bathroom breaks are not permitted unless they are a group activity and the Fair Work Act does not recognise tantrum-based dispute resolution procedures.

However, the annual incentive of breakfast in bed and a hand-painted coffee mug on Mothers’ Day and your total fixed remuneration of the priceless love of your children are sufficient to know that you would not trade a single sleep-deprived moment for the world. Happy Mothers’ Day to all the hard-working mums.