Maggi Barnard

Tomorrow is Vietnam Veterans Memorial Day at 10:45am at Memorial Hill when Australians have the opportunity to share in the pride felt by Vietnam veterans.

It is not a memorial about issues, about glorification of war, or the justification of political decisions. Rather it recognises sacrifice and suffering and the honour and sense of duty carried out by 50,000 young men and women. Over 500 gave their lives and some 3,000 were wounded in the biggest conflict in which Australia has been engaged in over the past two generations.

In part because of the divisiveness of the war, and the anxiety of government to put it all behind them, there is a widespread feeling that those who served in Vietnam have and were treated shabbily in the years since. It was a major effort, achievable only by conscription (itself very controversial in Australian history) but the scale never reached anything like that of World War 1 and 2: not every household was profoundly affected, not everyone knew someone who had gone or who had been killed and wounded; the economic and social activity  of the nation was not mobilised around prosecution of the war. Life simply went on.

The conflict was a strange one of fighting an often unseen enemy. The war initially commanded support, but over 10 years became increasingly unpopular at home with some actively campaigning against it.

Those who returned were not welcomed as heroes, instead people were somewhat embarrassed and keen to have it all forgotten.

That indifference left a scar on the psyche of many. Some found it extremely difficult to adjust, while others re-joined the community but remained pained by the want of recognition. The belated “Welcome Home” parades of 1987 signalled a reintegration and the beginning of a reconciliation which should have begun much earlier. Today’s dedication of the Vietnam Forces Memorial should and will continue the healing process.

By Paul Thomas

The inaugural open day of the NSW SES Parkes Unit last Saturday was a huge success with a large crowd turning up to learn more about the services on offer.

“We are very happy with the turn out and support of the community,” said Phil Snow, Local Controller. He was even happier that six new volunteers have signed up filling out applications forms, with another four interested in joining up.

“We are about 18 volunteers at the moment, and could do with at least another ten,” said Phil. “I would be happy with whatever number we get.”

He said all volunteers would have to undergo basic training, but there were different roles for different people. “Whatever your fitness level, background, skills or training, you can always contribute in some way,” he said.

Different fields of interest include operations management, communications, logistics, community education, catering, maintenance or planning. These are all valuable skills that support the more visible field and response work. “Each volunteer puts in how much time they are able to, and take the opportunities they would like to,” said Phil.

Visitors last Saturday were treated with show bags, sausage sizzles, displays on preparing your property for storm damage, flooding and general rescue techniques, while the rescue demonstrations proved to be the highlight of the day. Volunteer Matthew Hando’s vertical rescue demonstration was not for the faint hearted.

After the success of the inaugural day, the Parkes SES Unit is motivated to make it an annual event.

August is Pet Dental Health Month of the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA).

This year’s theme is Quality dental care is good medicine. Four out of five dogs and cats over the age of three years have some form of dental disease and it will often become more severe with age. Dental care is not only important for dogs and cats, but also smaller pets such as rabbits and guinea pigs. Pets may not show signs of dental issues and it is often missed or forgotten about by owners.

Periodontal disease, a bacterial infection of the mouth, is one of the most common problems in pets. If it goes untreated, severely affected teeth need to be removed and can lead to other serious problems such as infections in the kidneys, heart and liver.

In its early stages it is reversible. However, it can often go undetected until it is quite severe as pets often won’t show signs of pain.

Signs of periodontal disease to look out for include: bad breath; tartar build up on teeth; swollen, reddened or bleeding gums; broken teeth; reluctance to eat harderfoods or evidence of pus near the gums.

If you notice any of these signs in your pet it is best to get into contact with your veterinarian. Conducting an oral exam during your pet’s routine annual check-up can help identify any emerging dental health issues.

Just like we brush our teeth twice daily, preventative dental care is also important for all animals. (Source: www.ava.com.au)

Visit Parkes Pet Barn at 6 Bogan Street for a good variety of items to choose from for your pet’s dental health.