Like the banks, the farmers can't be allowed to fail.

So vital to rural and regional Australia and even more vital to the needs of cities, priority must be given to them.

We are now at the stage of needing to save the breeding stock of our farm herds as a priority. We are past midnight on this need and an emergency declaration is needed as to ensure the retention of our generic animal capital.

The plight of the farm herds must take priority. Past failures to secure water security initiates such as dams, must be given a lower priority and addressed at a later date.

Demands from the government for past failures will increase in frequency and costs.

This will require the PM and his ministers to temper their responses with much compassion and a clarity so that they might satisfy the unease and the fear gripping many in our drought ravaged communities.

With early shots of candidates for Shoalhaven City Council the local Labor Party's venture into local goverment leaves a lot to be desired. It is hoped if Labor runs again in the council election they put up some true believers to represent the battlers and push good sound infrastructure for the city and ratepayers as independent councillors Bob Proudfoot and Patricia White have done.

I'm writing to express my absolute disgust at this decision. Clearly the people making the funding choices are not walking around the Shoalhaven and seeing the clear need for more action on mental health issues.

There are people in the community working hard for terrible money to make a difference, that work is negated by the message that 'mental health takes a holiday at Christmas' when these people feel most alone. Shame on them.

Earlier this month, the world celebrated International Day of the Girl (October 11). In many ways, 2019 has really been the year of the girl. We've seen girls finding their voice and campaigning for change.

Plan International Australia, the charity for girls' rights, surveyed Australian girls about social justice and 91 per cent said they were eager to lead positive changes for the future.

Girls want to be heard and when they are given the chance, they do amazing things. Just look at the impact Swedish teenager and climate activist Greta Thunberg has had in just a year.

Unfortunately not every girl gets the chance to be heard. Right now, millions of girls are being married as children. Forced out of school. Half the world's population is being held back by inequality, but it doesn't have to be this way.

That's why we have launched our Give Equal campaign, a fun campaign every Australian can get behind to help us to lift girls out of poverty so they can realise their potential and pursue their dreams. And a better now for girls, means a better future for everyone.

You can sign up to our Give Equal at www.giveequal.org or call 13 75 26.