YOU SAID IT! Outpouring of tributes for Dr John Archer

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• A small selection of more than 130 comments

Rosie Wang

His manner might have been brusque but he deeply cared for his patients - such a loss to the community. I saw him last Friday and he seemed well and happy... such a shock.

Lauren Gratas

This is sudden and shocking news… thank you for the care you gave me where you went above and beyond, and the arguments that came with it. But mostly appreciate sitting with you at parties and sharing a scotch and bantering about ancient civilisations. You were one of a kind John. Incredibly sad news. RIP

Vicki Hichcliffe

My mind goes back to the mid 80s and I still picture Dr John looking as he did then. Vale young man. Quickly and quietly. Good for you. Healing wishes for your family and friends who miss you.

Samantha Robertson

What a sad time for Port Douglas. John is a local legend and icon. He was one of my doctors since my teenage years. I loved his style, he was real, straight up and honest. Thanks Dr Archer - you will be missed! Deepest condolences to his family.

Jimmy Astill

Very sad news, was a wonderful doctor and an even better bloke. My doctor since I was 18. Some of the stories we shared over the years always made me laugh. Will be greatly missed in the Port Douglas community. RIP Dr Archer, sir. xo

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Lucy Brown

Thank you for highlighting the worsening issue of the beach area given to off leash dog walking. On a regular basis it is impossible to safely access the entire area because of fallen trees and buried branches. 

The latest trees down have been ignored. I have met more than one tourist family staying at Pullman who wanted to walk into town and have asked how to navigate around the blocked section of beach. 

Over and above a little respect for dog walkers, Douglas Shire Council needs to realise that there are many people, children and dogs that will actually struggle to navigate some areas depending on tides.  

As one family said "not what it looks like on the internet pictures".  How sad. 

So many people are walking dogs off leash further towards the Bruno Riedweg Park because they have nowhere else to go and they all seem to manage to respect each other. No one wants to flout laws but they are not being respected. The coconut trees were trimmed recently at Four Mile. Why on earth the fallen trees not cleaned up seems odd. 

Well done for highlighting this issue where people are being punished because of the lack of council respect. 

Jodi Green

How about letting the beach from the Sheraton south be off leash until 7am? Then it all becomes on leash? Works for loads of beaches all over Aus.

Cheryl Wellham

What about extending the off-lead beach from the Four Mile Park to the Sheraton? Do not agree with having the only area designated for letting pooches roam freely at the crocodile end of the beach. Looks like an afterthought by council. And what about the long ago planned offlead park? So many responsible dog owners in Port Douglas would appreciate the council considering these initiatives. The kiddies have their splash park, may be time to cater to our pooches.

Siobahn Richardt

All for off lead beaches, great. Not all for irresponsible owners with aggressive dogs approaching others with no recall. If we can all be responsible, no issue with it, let us all have a good time.

Jo Harty

It isn’t clear when walking as to where the off lead area is. Perhaps council could consider a couple of park areas as off leash. Hutchings Park opposite end to playground?

Moo Man

It's just a lazy throw-away council decision. You go down to Cairns and there are beautiful well-maintained off-leash fenced parks for dogs. Here you get the crap end of a beach when the tide is right with a croc creek at the end of it and a couple of dog-poo-bag dispensers. Council half arsed started a park at Hutchins and then backtracked and abandoned it. Yet you drive into town and there is a massive completely empty park next to the tennis courts that never ever gets used for anything... and BTW... what does all the money for our yearly dog rego go to?

Michelle Simone

Can the cat lovers have their say and say ALL dogs in public should be kept on leads?! Why SHOULD the dogs be allowed to run free on our beaches? You would have something to say if I walked my cats on the beach unleashed ... oh hang on there, cats are NOT allowed away from their lot!!! Dogs foul in our bushland and their pee kills native plants. Dogs can be aggressive when least expected and even kill (this I have unfortunately witnessed on Four Mile Beach). Should I go on? Summary = Dogs in public spaces shoukd be kept on a leash at ALL times and the leash length should be questioned too and made to be a maximum length! Before you allscream back at me, I like dogs and I have owned dogs but I am making a point here as I see a double standard of rights here!!!