So Ann Sudmalis sees fit to criticise Fiona Phillips' ability to see the things that really matter in Gilmore. This is the Ann Sudmalis who has just returned from an undeserved fully taxpayers' funded trip to the United Nations with no direct benefit to Australia or Gilmore in particular.

Fiona Phillips has not just been "bobbing around" as Sudmalis rudely states. Fiona has been travelling all over the district for nearly two years listening to people and their wishes. Fiona is a local person born and bred here. She has an excellent grasp of what people in Gilmore need. I have observed that in the last six years of Sudmalis representation, Ann was rarely seen before elections and did not answer several letters that were sent to her by constituents. When she spoke at pre-election meetings with other aspirants she spent a lot of time talking about herself.

Under Ann Sudmalis' watch, our TAFE has severely deteriorated, our hospital has shut its maternity ward and we nearly lost the Milton Library. Ann should be wishing all candidates well, not pouring out contempt for one who is bringing so much hope for a better representation for Gilmore.

On Thursday January 31, my sister and I had a minor accident in the car park next to Annabel's coffee shop.

We would like to thank everyone who came to our assistance. Joan from the coffee shop helped with tea and water and an offer of a bed for the night. The lady who called the ambulance, those who rang a tow truck, the people who helped us out of the car. Police also attended and were very supportive, as were the staff at Milton Hospital.

We cannot thank them enough for the kindness they showed us. We are now back home sans car. Someday we hope to be able to repay the kindness they showed us.

Once again, the news is full of stories about the horseracing industry. This is not surprising, considering the immense abuse that goes on there. This time, charges have been laid after police raids, which found four  "jiggers" at a trainer’s property. A jigger is an electronic device used to stimulate a horse to run faster. It is used in training, and the action is simulated on race day so the horse believes he or she is about to be shocked. 

Imagine being pushed beyond the point of exhaustion: the bones in your legs straining to hold up the weight of your body, your bleeding lungs incapable of taking in enough air, and you're forced to keep running despite it all. This is what life is like for racehorses.

The entire horseracing business causes enormous suffering and death every year to thousands of horses. They suffer broken bones, gastric ulcers and bleeding into their lungs from over-exertion. Doping with anti-inflammatory and other drugs can affect their respiration and muscles, and pain killers will allow trainers to push the horse well beyond safe levels. Horses that don’t win immediately are often classified as ‘wastage’ and are sent, with the ageing winners, to the knackeries for pet food or on long journeys to abattoirs for human consumption. Government figures show that as many as 40,000 horses are slaughtered each year in Australia.