RoelfBy ...Thank you! Thank you to all those people who expressed their sadness and views, when they learned of the death of my husband, Roelf D.Roos (Ruebezahl) of Roses Tier. He was only just over 71 years old, when he died suddenly and unexpectedly. His passion for the environment and nature in general was overpowering. He was writing letters to the papers long before we came to Tasmania and long before the advent of computers and internet. He never learnt to type or use the keyboard, but wrote everything in longhand and after editing, dictated to me. I was always happy to take his letters, which rarely caused any objections on my part. I do not have his talent in putting thoughts into words onto paper (or screen), but I do support his ideals and do my best in that regard. Thank you again for all your thoughts and wishes.
Ursula Roos,
My sincere condolences to those who loved him and knew him, I loved his snippets, although I visit the website only occasionally (sorry Linz). ............ So sad to learn of Mr. Roos passing away, a man who always could see the truth clearly and had a gift to pass it on.Sadly missed. Ian C.Rist ............
I'd be happy being half the writer you were. I wish I could have met you. Shine on Mr. Roos. ...........
Sad to hear. RD Roos' articles were always worth the time to read. ...........
So sorry to hear this. Roelf was always sincere in everything he said and did and one of the few individuals in Tassie that wrote regularly on the ongoing environmental catastrophe in Tas. ...........
I too felt very sad to see that Roelf had passed away.
He was an amazing correspondent who cared and wrote passionately for this place What about a retrospective of his best? ........... I did not know Roelf Roos but always noted R D Roos of Roses Tier in the articles and letters. I recognised his opinions and the critiques of others . If one causes a response then one has caused another person to think. On this basis I will convey a collection of thoughts and opinions. When the Wilderness Society organised the last protest against old growth logging in Hobart I remember walking towards the Aquatic Centre. As I walked, there was an old man and his wife on the pavement. Emblazoned on my memory is his smile as lent down towards a small child and his words, "Old people for forests." Perhaps Roelf had the same message. I will continue with some political observations that I have been reluctant until now to commit to print. The Labor Party requires the vision, integrity and passion of true leadership. This may appear a risk but I am sure the majority of Australians would be attracted to complete reviews of our taxation, health, welfare, education, foreign affairs and environmental policies. Australia is too small and remote to maintain state views and petty jealousies on key policy issues. Unfortunately, the Labor Party is a captive of the union movement and can only consistently articulate an industrial relations policy. It needs to break the nexus of the eleven masked men, as Gough described. I'll call a spade a spade here: The amalgamation of unions created several super unions including the CFMEU. Its history lies in numerous inquiries and its current representatives could best be described as uneducated, aged bogans. The Labor Party's decision to block Green preferences can be likened to taking careful aim and blowing away both feet. I assume the resignation of John Faulkner as leader of the opposition in the Senate was due to either their loss of the balance of power, his role (or the roles of others) in the preference deals or tiredness. The irony is that the industrial relations policy held so dear by the Labor Party will be the first to fall. The Democrats are not far from a lost cause. There is a distinct lack of leadership and their hatreds of the Greens in Tasmania and themselves across states couple with an uncanny ability to back the wrong policy horse. Nor do the Greens escape lightly. Although I do not blindly accept the reported policies within the mainstream media, any party attempting to capture a balance of power has to capture the hearts and minds of middle Australia. This will not be achieved by any mention of drugs, sex, religion, euthanasia, abortion or homosexuality when the political reality dictates a minor party cannot achieve such change. Maybe it's time to sack your strategy and policy team. John Howard is not a clever politician. I remember a quote from him in parliament where he referred to the Australian population as "the mob." The mob of political parties and the mob who voted at the last election delivered his win. He allowed the hatreds to divide his adversaries and the media was willing to accommodate the swing. I noted the Fairfax media correctly recorded the swing to the coalition but The Australian (Newspoll) sang John Howard's tune, "It is too close to call." Murdoch and Packer can now celebrate in changes to media ownership laws which coincidentally John Howard flagged on the Monday after the election. By the way, did anyone else notice the similarities between the advertising techniques of the Coalition and Family First? Anyway Roelf, may you meet your god and always remember, "Old people for forests." Temby
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