Ed, The NSW Berejiklian Government continues with its cavalier display of arrogance while at the same time managing to plumb new depths of incompetence in administering anything that might benefit the citizens of regional NSW.   First there was the proposal to ban greyhound racing, then the forced amalgamation of several Councils (and we all know how successful Council amalgamations are), then we had the ludicrous proposal for an “Emergency Service Levy” which would have caused some property owners to pay a premium up to 4 times more than they were paying on their existing home insurance (remember the Government’s advertisement – It’s Simply Fairer). Now we have an extra Government levy/tax on beverage containers, part of which is generously refundable.  However, if you want to collect your refund and you live in the Clarence Valley or anywhere else on the North Coast you will need to pick a day when the return centre is functional, pack your containers and travel to Woolgoolga, which for some would entail a round trip of 200 plus kilometres. The only area where this Government has shown any competence is in the selling, as cheaply as possible, State assets like the generation and retailing of electricity. The only beneficiary being the purchaser of these assets.  Chris Clews, Gulmarrad  Salvation Army Christmas Appeal Ed, With all of life’s distractions, we sometimes forget the true meaning of Christmas. When we are caught up buying presents and over indulging in food, Christmas can be a time when we often forget what really matters. But bad experiences and misfortunes can culminate at Christmas time, which means for vulnerable and marginalised Australians, Christmas can be the hardest time of the year. For the Salvos it’s our busiest period, with more than 300,000 families and individuals seeking assistance. We give out more than 500,000 gifts and toys, and serve over 10,000 meals to those who don’t have the means to celebrate Christmas.  We can only meet this need because year after year Australians come together and stand by those doing it tough. This, I believe, is the true meaning of Christmas.  So this holiday season let’s remember those going it alone. By donating $29 to The Salvation Army’s Christmas Appeal, you can help put a present under the tree and food on the table, bringing hope where it’s needed most. Neil Venables, National Secretary for Communications   The Salvation Army