Shades of self importance

( A letter to the Wentworth Courier in response to calls on council to build a shelter.)
One can sympathise with Uri Butnaru with the call for a shaded structure at Bondi Beach. Our correspondent relates how pleas for such a structure have fallen on deaf ears at Waverley Council.
I know the feeling. Only last year my suggestion for shade cloth to be extended over the whole of the beach and well out to sea to protect us from the sun's rays even while swimming, also fell on deaf ears at the unfeeling council.
All power to you Uri. But I am a little puzzled by what you want. You say when "council is approached to build a measly little shelter costing only a few thousand dollars
, what reply do we get from the council?" "Oh, maybe we'll place one in the children's playground.".
Uri claims there are hundreds if not thousands of people wanting a shaded area and have petitioned the council. Now my worry is that these thousands of people will find it very cramped and indeed hot and humid under a such "measly little structure" .The idea of crowding people into a small hot place was tried in 1756 by the Nawab of Bengal with unfortunate results for those taking advantage of his hospitality.

So perhaps a better idea may be personal shade structures. I believe these are called hats which, I am advised, can be supplemented with parasols or umbrellas and light sun-safe clothing. Or perhaps stay at home during the hot humid parts of the day so as to avoid discomfort. I am reminded of that old saying if you can't stand the heat stay off the promenade.
But always the democrat, I am open to Uri's ideas and can be contracted on my new website senseofentitlement.com.au. Already we are campaigning on behalf of Woollahra residents who have called on us Waverley residents to walk to the beach instead of driving so that they can park there. We are also moving on the vexed issue of people walking on the cliff walk and impeding joggers. We will not rest until the path is regularly patrolled by Waverley Council rangers with the power to fine unruly walkers who impede a jogger. Our group thinks fines of up to $10,000 should be imposed pour encourager les autres as Voltaire so aptly put it. Uri's campaign for a shaded encolsure capable of covering hundreds of thousands of people would seem to be a similarly worthy cause.

Alan Kennedy