She was our neighbour in Bolwarra Heights for a time, and she is the essence of kindness and as her name says – JOY! She has a heart larger than herself.

When she downsized to a smaller home, she had to find one that could also accommodate Barney and the gang. When we stayed over, we had to share our bedroom with Barney and the gang  but he was quite generous. And his costuming is magnificent.

Fortuitously the Mercury’s new offices are in one of the highest places in the CBD.  In the 1955 flood there was no water in Elgin Street from High Street down to the point.

 Hopefully the present staff will not be in the position of the staff in the Hunter Street premises in the 1889 flood when the Maitland Mercury of Thursday, May 30, 1889 reported: “The vicinity of the Mercury office resembled a miniature sea, and the compositors and other members of the staff who put in an appearance formed a much bedraggled and odd looking crowd, the like of which has never been seen in any other printing office in the colony, as the majority from the editor down to the ‘devil’ were bare-footed and wet. The engine room, stables and yard were all filled with the flood waters, whilst a stream ran through the front doors of the office, and were carried away in the powerful current from the Horseshoe Bend over Nicholson’s lucerne paddock towards Louth Park.”

This historical report takes back to a different era with the words engine room and stables, reminding us of steam and horsepower being on four legs. The Mercury was then published each Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

It's shameful and should be totally unacceptable to everyone that dedicated, good-hearted people such as those involved in Carrie’s Place, the anti- domestic violence service at the forefront, has been snubbed, disrespected and not the least appreciated by Maitland City Council for the service they provide to our community.

Violence in communities all over Australia is at epidemic proportion, with no signs of improvement. Authorities seem to think that nominating a day to symbolise the opposition to domestic violence, appear on national television wearing a white ribbon and saying WE SAY NO TO VIOLENCE will solve the problem.

The way it's been addressed so far isn't getting us anywhere. How much worse is it supposed to get before the appropriate action is implemented?

Forests are rainmakers, and two Russian scientists with their Biotic Pump Theory have explained how lower air pressures over forests also draw over continents air made moist by ocean evaporation, making forests even greater bringers of reliable rain.

Two scientists have proposed that wide belts of forest be planted across arid areas like outback Australia and the Sahara, watered by solar desalination plants around the coastline, to bring rain over dry regions.

But it will be 20 or more years before replanted forests are mature enough to begin cooling and watering our continent. So an urgent challenge is to place a moratorium on all further deforestation in this country.

The Big Shed Vertical Farm (BSVF) is coming, growing plant protein crops in layers or levels lit by red and blue led lights, hydroponically, in closed environment climate-proof structures. BSVFs will save rivers from over-use and provide countless clever jobs in country and city, from menial to high-tech.