My family was lucky this time, but it's only a matter of time before a precious life is lost due to politics.

The Government's priority is dollars and not people. I guess given the population it makes financial sense for Stawell and Ararat to 'share' resources. However, the 6000 plus residents of Stawell and the 6000 plus residents of Ararat are not just figures, we are real people; mothers, fathers, children, spouses, friends and family.

Last week my husband was in desperate need of an ambulance. He was choking severely. Not the type of momentary choking on some water or food that we've all experienced, he was choking on a piece of steak in a way I could never have imagined. Blows to the back weren't working and it was clear the situation was escalating by the second. An ambulance was called, and it was dispatched within minutes of our call. What a relief, or so we thought.

Whilst on call to 000, we were being told that it was 'just around the corner' and 'it's almost there'. The "patient", as a Government report would read, was in real trouble. In reality, this "patient" was my husband, the father of my young children, who was heading dangerously close to death.

Within a couple of minutes his head was very swollen, blood was dripping from his nose and mouth, his eyes took on an appearance that eyes never should and his colour was far from healthy. Where was the ambulance? If we had transported him to the hospital ourselves, he would have received assistance within minutes. However, we called 000 for help as it was a true emergency.

The steak dislodged itself after about 20 minutes. When he was in our car, and on the way to hospital we cancelled the ambulance, after almost 17 minutes on the line. Where was this ambulance that was 'on its way' and 'just around the corner'? Where was this help my world so desperately needed? It was coming from Ararat. Had we known this information at the time, we would have cancelled immediately and got him to hospital and medical help within minutes. 000 operators aren't ever allowed to give an estimated time of arrival, but they are allowed to tell you where the ambulance is dispatched from.

They aren't trained to offer up this information voluntarily but if you ask, they will tell you. Please keep this information in mind if ever you need to phone 000. With the knowledge that your help is coming from the next town you can then make the call to get that person to hospital yourself. Sometimes waiting 20 minutes for someone to come to you is just going to be too long and will justify the risk you take to move the person yourself.

The doctor was amazed my husband survived. The injuries he sustained are significant and will take weeks to heal properly. However, they will heal. The next family might not be so lucky.

By no means do I blame the local paramedics. They are special people doing a valuable job. They are doing the very best they can in a system that is seriously lacking in funding.

However, the Government needs to view country people as real people and not figures. As a community let's get this message across by supporting our local Ambulance Officers in their fight for better conditions. It might be your family who needs help next.

I want to put in there that you can always ask where the ambo is coming from and make up your mind if you want to wait. Don't know where though.

Jess Dunn

Action on

Lonsdale

It was pleasing to read in the Stawell Times News (10-12-13) that Northern Grampians Shire Council is finally going to do something at government level, after the Lake Lonsdale Action Group raised their concerns as to where the lake's water was going.

Ever since GWM Water was formed under the Bracks/Green Government to control the pipeline water, Lake Lonsdale has become a political issue.

Our current State Government has National members as our Water Minister and the Member for Lowan. This speaks for itself when you see all the Horsham area's water recreation places full or at around 50 percent or better of their capacity.

Locally, Lake Fyans gets used up as a town reservoir and Lonsdale ends up a disgusting mess. GWM Water have other options to maintain a sensible environmental flow through the weir at Horsham and they know that.

Is it because Stawell is in the Labor held seat of Ripon, our State Government could not care less about our town and districts rights to having a decent amount of recreation water left in Lonsdale, especially now that most of the old water wasting open channels have been decommissioned.

Take a walk up Main Street and ask business owners if a healthy Lake Lonsdale benefits their trading at all, from the people enjoying a time of rest and recreation at the lake.

It's a very funny thing, but prior to the last state election, a poster was circulated through Stawell, telling us that the Lonsdale gates had been closed.

Pity some State Government people with power couldn't show common sense.

Geoff Reading

United

voice?

Is it possible for community groups to join forces?

Stawell is fortunate to have a great array of community groups doing positive things in and around the town. I have been fortunate enough to be asked to assist on the Mother's Day Classic steering committee, coordinated wonderfully by Merrilyn and Pat. (Stay tuned for more information - but keep Mother's Day morning free!)

It is while working on this event, that it has occurred to me how many events are held in Stawell, but could we possibly be working at full potential for maximum exposure? Is it possible to look past - 'this is how we always do it' and 'that's extra work' to create events that can bring separate groups of our community together.

An example? The Christmas Festival. A wonderful idea. But hampered by the fact that the Farmer's market is on at the same time.

A suggestion? That the Christmas Festival include - the main street blocked off, the farmers market set up in the main street, and let's go totally wild and have the Yzett's shopping spree on at the same time, while Carol's by Candlelight is on out the front of the town hall. Three independently great events combined to one wonderful event that would cross the whole population of Stawell.

Kerry Wilson