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Population in prime
circulation area 30,000 - Published Wednesday (Free).
The Jimboomba Times circulates through Jimboomba and surrounding areas
including Cedar Grove, Cedarvale, Woodhill, Flagstone, Tamborine, Logan
Village, Buccan, Park Ridge, Greenbank, Maclean, Munruben, Chambers Flat
and Stockleigh. On the 18th of February 2004, this "Letter to
the Editor" was published:- |
"W. Irbitis, in "Be a Bus Monitor" completely misses the point. In 1989, 52 people died in the Kempsey/Grafton bus disasters. They were victims of poor coach design - and lack of seatbelts. Professor Joubert, Australia's top expert, led the inquiry. In 2000, I wrote to him about our local school buses. He replied:- "The bus you describe loaded with 103 children and 40 standees together with school bags, no seatbelts, low backed seats with no energy absorption in an impact with another vehicle of equal or greater mass would, in my opinion, give rise to an accident greater than the Grafton disaster. In a roll over that might occur there is great potential for an equally disastrous event. I would forecast a 40% to 50% death rate and over 90% injury rate for the remaining children." Chilling, isn't it? I also resent the slimy insinuation that Kim Limburg and myself are out for Government money. Us? Get cash? Hell would freeze over first. The Minister's office still won't speak to me, and my application to the Labour Party was rejected - no reason given. In one easily written letter, W Irbitis rubbishes us, kids, parents, drivers and teachers. Believe me, writing 100,000 word submissions to a Government committee, camping on Beattie's office steps for a week and paying $1,000 phone bills was a damn sight harder. Our research is freely available to the community at:- www.oocities.org/seatbelts2004
Kim Bax - Cedar Grove"