o sung wu,

Thank you for your interest. We do the Christian thing of showing care for those we care for in our lives. Time together breaking bread and making good company. Need to use the car for that, but like many we choose our times to avoid congestion and concentrate just that bit more.

However, in the broader world of present-day Australia, decency, being a good citizen and caring are not so valued as they once were. Or so it seems.

The nastiness and ferocity of the personal attacks against Tony Abbott that have extended to his support staff and wife and girls previously, are no different from the disgraceful attacks made on Kevin Rudd (and his family too!) from within his own party.

Leave the flickering box and internet and care to step out into the world and there are still the wonderful selfless (as opposed to the self-seeking) people who are the glue of society.

Holidays including long weekends are very busy times in community volunteering. Of course there are thousands on beaches who need protection for example, but apart from them there is the hidden layer of vulnerable folk who could do with a helping hand and importantly, some company. Monday I am in for some yard work and I need it for exercise anyhow. Petrol driven machines would have been too noisy on Sunday and out of common decency one shouldn't disturb the many for whom it has sacred meaning.

Anyhow, what I am meaning to say is that for any who are mobile and can spend a bit of time visiting the vulnerable in their homes, make a cup of tea and just be there when relatives are not (increasingly common), there is a welcome reminder that there is always a lot of very nice people around and so often they cope bravely, although there are limits to that.

Got to say though that the spite against that young lady Peta Credlin is a real turn-off.

osw, nice sentiments 'cept for the politics. I thought Rudd copped as much from your side as from the inside, but let's leave that out.

My attack on Abbott here is not personal. He is simply unfit to uphold the office of PM.

You are ded set rite there. Without the likes of Credlin being there Abbott is a bumbling twit, unable to put two words together. Credlin would be a much better choice for PM. You have to be a fanatic to put up with the likes of Abbott, or Hockey for that matter with his face pulling exercises.

For my money, the oh so delicate young lady, Ms Credlin, is the most dangerous thing in politics these days. She's the IPA facilitator.

otb,

We nasty lefties aren't averse to a bit of community minded volunteering.

Last Thursday my son and three of his friends, aged 14, 12, 11, and 10 went up to the Catholic cathedral to fill bags with Easter eggs for the old folk at one of the old age seniors villages.

These same children travelled to these homes to distribute Easter packages and good cheer for the seniors....quite heart warming it's been over the years.

There's decency and respect everywhere you look if you open your eyes to it - and there's no need for the LNP/IPA to destroy our social democracy to engender that spirit more fulsomely

Correction. Not osw, but otb, of course

Dear Poirot,

What a beautiful act from you and your children.
Something that will stay with them.

My family also spent Easter Sunday at my
mother's aged-care facility. We brought
coloured Easter eggs, arranged in baskets,
and baked brioche for her, and the residents.
My children and their families helped with
this as well. It is something that we've
done since my mother moved into this facility.
Eventually she'll be moving into a nursing
home and we shall continue with this tradition
(as we did for my mother-in-law - who had
alzheimers - but has now passed away).
Other families of the
residents also contribute in many ways as well.
We feel like members of the one family.
Looking out for each other.