The realities of texting scams have hit home for one Sunshine Coast News reader – a Queensland mum who narrowly avoided being caught out by a random sneaky texter asking her for money.
More than 1150 Australians have been fleeced of $2.6 million from January to July – more than two-thirds reported by women over 55, who have suffered more than $1.4 million in losses.
It’s a reminder that we all need to be vigilant because cyber criminals will stop at nothing to win over our trust and then try to pounce on our money.
And the challenge of homelessness has again been raised – there is increasing sympathy for those who for find themselves without a permanent or adequate roof over their heads, and concern that society is not doing enough to solve the problems.
Do you have an opinion to share? Submit a Letter to the Editor with your name and suburb at Sunshine Coast News via: news@sunshinecoastnews.com.au
Here are some thoughts from this week about the issues in the community:
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Scammers warning
I had a supposed text message from my daughter saying she had taken the wrong card shopping, five hours away from her home.
I immediately transferred $200 to her account and rang her to see if she had got the money – only to find it was a scam.
I was lucky.
I contacted my bank immediately and they refunded my money.
Name Withheld, Mackay
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Homelessness challenge
I am an avid reader of your newspaper and find it a great community asset.
With regard to the issue of homelessness, I am appalled at the lack of support for our homeless community.
The issue of homelessness is the most important issue in Australia today.
Governments/Councils are sitting on their privileged hands and doing nothing to provide emergency housing for our community. I am sure there are established homes/buildings throughout this State that are vacant and which could be refurbished for short to long term leases to accommodate the homeless.
The report of the young homeless man living out of his car in a Sunshine Coast National Park, who was told to clear out, was upsetting and unfair and he should have been allowed to stay, or at least given adequate time to organise himself to move on.
The missing part of this story has not been reported – where is he now, like all the others who are told to move out and on?
The recent Queensland Housing Summit was supposed to have provided solutions, however, I have not heard any media reports of homeless people transitioning into housing now.
This would be at the very least confirmation that something is happening.
Perhaps the recent Mental Health Week (8 – 16 October) could have been specifically focussed upon and included the homeless in their agenda of supporting mental health.
Robyn Wilson, Palmwoods
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Worse to come?
The cost-of-living crisis will really rear its head in 2023.
Should councils and governments be planning now to help those in need? How many empty mining camps could be moved or utilised to house the needy? What about allocating land and building temporary accommodation for those who will be down on their knees and requiring a roof over their heads?
As jets land at the Sunshine Coast Airport and visitors strut their stuff in the boutiques, cafes and restaurants in Noosa, people will be desperate.
This is a national issue.
Which states and territories will tap into their radical, empathetic leadership to help their fellow Australians the most?
Doug, Sydney (regular visitor to the Sunshine Coast)
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New city hall
If you have a close look at the outside of this building you will see miles of decorative metal screens, odd-shaped shade screens, hanging gardens and wall gardens plus miles of curved and inverted tiled surfaces.
The metal screens will be hard to clean and ideal for spiders and other insects, the gardens will be difficult to maintain, water and update and there is no easy way to clean and maintain the tiled surfaces.
The building across the road has already experienced major problems in maintaining the health and appeal of their wall gardens that currently look like they are half dead.
The idea with any building is to keep moisture away from the main structure but wall gardens and elevated gardens and trees on patios is requiring water and dampness into the building and creating risk of mould and mildew.
On top of all that, it is all dark colours and shades – this is the ‘Sunshine’ Coast and should have been bright and airy and easy to maintain.
Bob Carroll, Maroochydore
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Fuel confusion
I have always been of the understanding that it costs less to refine diesel fuel, than unleaded petrol, from crude oil.
If this is in fact the case, then why are we paying more for diesel?
Somewhere a ‘middle man’ is making quite a profit.
Jan Olde, Maleny
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