It's a 'testing' time in more ways than one. With the wildfire season, among those not directly affected (house, property burnt) not everyone behaved with compassion towards fire victims. With COVID 19, there is no turning away: we are all affected. But there is still a choice: we can ignore official medical advice and carry on as usual, risking infection of ourselves and others, or we can pull together and support one another through this global crisis, perhaps in the process overcoming our petty differences and getting to know each other better by focusing on our common humanity, the things we all share in common. Maybe, too, those of us in obligatory or self-imposed isolation will get to know ourselves better, become more reflective, even creative, as we learn to depend on our inner resources. Close relationships will be challenged, but this can be healthy. The pandemic can be a time to ask ourselves: what really matters?

Certainly the planet with heave a little sigh, thanks to the global cutting back of flights,cruises, and public transport!

Suzanne Ferris, Valla Beach

In these times of social distancing and self isolation many people are spending their time sorting out wardrobes and cupboards, generally decluttering. Yesterday, I spoke to a friend who said she had a garage full of boxes to bring to the op shop. My heart sank; we don't have the storage, or the amount of volunteers to deal with everyone's cast-offs.

Prior to the current health crisis we were not accepting winter clothes, we had an abundance stored already. We just wanted clean clothes in good condition that we could sell for the current season. When we reopen (eventually), we don't want to be deluged, so please consider very carefully what you will donate to us. Ask yourself, would you give these items to your best friend?

New volunteers, when we can find them of course, are usually horrified by what people bring us. We get dirty, torn, stained clothes, grubby underwear, boxes of cracked crockery, obviously stored in dirty garages with mouse droppings, spiders and cockroach dirt, stained dusty books, musty bedclothes ... he list goes on. Our two red garbage bins are overflowing before the fortnightly pick up; several of us have to take rubbish home to put in our own bins, or make a special trip to the tip. We are treated like the tip in fact.

I am sure most op shops will welcome useful, clean, saleable items, but please don't overload us when we are back in business. Sometimes there are only two of us on duty and we barely have time to unpack, restock, fold and tidy, serve customers, let along do any ironing. It would be greatly appreciated if you could ensure clothes are clean, folded and preferably ironed (well you have more time now), so we can just price things and hang them in the shop.

Good luck with your clearing out. When in doubt, chuck it out. My 90 year old friend who is self isolating, says the highlight of her week is her weekly trip to the tip, perhaps some of you would do the same?

Linda Hillman

Volunteer for 14 years at the Anglican Op shop, Bellingen

Re Sean Tuohy's letter (Courier-Sun, March 25). Same old story, "I am right, you are wrong and how dare anyone express an opinion contrary to my own". I thought it was a good letter, on a couple of issues, spot on, the remainder though was well wide of the mark.

I am a bit critical of some from the younger generation - but not their fault, just victims of their upbringing in times of plenty and have been overly indulged. I am certainly critical of some of the educated fools out there, but accept that the majority are highly qualified and make a huge contribution.

As Sean claims, I do tend to remain in the past, where for many of my generation there was more freedom and less greed, greater respect, and certainly greater appreciation.

I miss that individuality, those characters, a community where we knew everybody, and shared.

The corporate world has consumed the little man, the small businesses, the corner store. The will to strive to improve one's lot, and the sense of satisfaction after a hard day's grind, and appreciation for those little treats, gone now.

There was no Centrelink as a backstop in those days.

Sean, your distaste for the Nationals does nothing more than divide our community. Myself and most of my counterparts feel a high sense of responsibility for the environment, but deeply resent the propaganda promoted by the radical element within the Greens to shut down everything but fail to practice what they preach, and just continue to consume and indulge themselves in all they claim is destroying the planet.

A drive up to 1377 Darkwood Rd, a cup of tea and a chat followed by a poke about my little farm may not gain a degree, but could just be a valuable learning experience for some.

All that aside, the present crisis is something none of us have experienced in our lifetime. It's still early days but has the potential to develop into something resembling the Great Depression.

Most of the Western world - as opposed to the lead up to the Great Depression - have had a dream run since the Second World War and will be ill prepared for such a calamity.

The one difference today which I don't understand is how governments can suddenly create trillions of dollars to just pass out? Could there be a day of reckoning, or just like outer space, is there no end?

Having always been a 'what if' and prepared for the worst, I generally accept it as a bonus if 'if' doesn't happen.

I hope sooner rather than later my 'what if' negativity will result in just another bonus, and happy days return.

Darcey Browning, Thora

Doctors touched by town support