Hillcrest Heritage Must Not Become 'history'

Illawarra Mercury

Thursday April 13, 2006

THE page three article on the development planned for the Hillcrest property at Stanwell Park (Mercury, April 6) indirectly said it all.

So, the premier historical home of the Illawarra is to be turned into a function centre for dwellers in an up-market retirement village.

Were the heritage staff asleep when this application went through? They were certainly not present at the informal planning conference. So much for community consultation. Where were the heritage-minded councillors on this one?

The elevated hillside on which the home was deliberately sited will be cluttered by two dozen new multi-storied villas, some up to 150sqm in size. But crucially, the enormous international significance of this location in the history of early flight will be lost forever.

In the article Mr Walkerton also forgets to mention the renovation of the house done 10 years ago was inspired and partly funded by members of the community, as a historical and cultural site.

The applicants want staged development. Let the northern part of the plan go ahead, and give council and the public a full year to investigate to see what is truly possible on the south, including the house.

Councillors, on April 24 please, a recision motion. In the interests of our scientific, national and international heritage.

If this decision is not changed, please stop calling Stanwell Park the birthplace of flight. Stop talking about the visitor appeal of the northern Illawarra and talking up Illawarra Innovation Week.

Will the majority of ALP councillors who control council decisions please live up to the first word of their party name?

- GEOFFREY SYKES,

Stanwell Tops.

Let Harry lap it up

WHY is Prince Harry in trouble for visiting a lap dancing club?

As a young man and soldier, he should be expected to participate alongside his comrades in such activities. In this day and age, to assume that he wouldn't is utterly naive, and quite possibly hypocritical.

I would think the royal family would be relieved to see such normality among its heirs, given Prince Charles and Prince Edward.

The down-to-earth behaviour of Prince Harry and his brother Will might well be the link with young Britain the Crown so desperately needs for its own survival.

- TERRY SUGDEN,

Kiama Downs.

A time of faith

IT was said on these pages last week that Jesus' resurrection was just a faith experience, unable to be assessed in historical terms. This Easter, alongside many others, we, the undersigned ministers of Wollongong, will confidently proclaim the resurrection of Jesus Christ was not merely ghostly or spiritual, but also bodily and historical.

Various biblical documents indicate after his suffering, Jesus "showed himself to these men and gave many proofs that he was alive" (Acts 1:3). It presents the artefact of the empty tomb, which even his enemies acknowledged, and needs to be explained. It names eyewitnesses of his resurrection and indicates that, at the time of writing, many were still alive. This invited people to check their testimony. Doubting Thomas even had the chance to touch Christ's raised body.

It was the fact of the resurrection that produced the faith in the disciples, not their faith that invented the resurrection. Meeting the risen Christ turned their fear into boldness, to the point they were prepared to die for their faith. For the disciples of Jesus it certainly was (and is) a faith experience, but one that is solidly grounded in the historical, bodily resurrection of Jesus.

In these days of Da Vinci Code speculations, we invite believers and sceptics alike to check the evidence with their adult minds, by reading the primary historical documents in the New Testament this Easter. You would also be welcome at any of our Easter services.

- Rev Sandy Grant, St Michael's Anglican Cathedral;

Rev Sam Reeve, Wollongong Baptist Church;

Pastor John Vidler, Wollongong Christian Family Centre.

Cyclone damaging

AFTER spending nearly a month on holiday in the Atherton Tablelands which was also hit by Tropical Cyclone Larry, I feel that I can answer the questions posed by P Ferguson (Letters, March 28) regarding the damage to property experienced in Innisfail.

Yes, the majority of new homes are built to withstand a certain category of cyclone, mainly category three, which may contain winds with a velocity between 170 and 244km/h, which would cause minor structural damage.

However, the category five cyclone that hit Innisfail head-on packed winds with a velocity of more than 280km/h, which any building would be lucky to survive even if they are classified to withstand cyclones.

Then of course we must also consider the building materials used - pine is one of the cheapest and also the weakest woods to use in building construction.

However, the older homes made of hardwood stood up much better due to the strength and weight of the timber. I have seen 4x3 hardwood bend more than 30 degrees without losing its structural integrity.

I believe no house can ever be considered "cyclone proof". If it is not the winds that destroy the house, it would more than likely be the debris caused by the destruction of vegetation and other buildings within the area or the massive storm surge of up to and over in some cases four metres.

- MICHAEL JONES,

Bellambi.

© 2006 Illawarra Mercury

Back to News Index | Back to Home