YOU SAID IT! The case of the disappearing cane toads
Letters and comments
Suzanne Robson
I made the mistake, a couple of seasons ago, of offering the neighbour's kids $10 for each toad they caught, figuring they'd collect 20 or so. They got 70 in about an hour. I made the promise, so I paid up, but haven't booked a repeat. Losing 70 has not made a dent in the population. During the season they call their horrible calls all night, just to thumb their noses at me.
Solar Whisper Daintree River Crocodile & Wildlife Cruises
Definitely not as many as there used to be. Back some 20 years or so, people used to trip over them coming for a tour. Nowadays I get people asking me where they would find one of those toads they hear about.
Ron Geary
When the weather warms up they will be out and about. I get about a lot at night (pig hunting) and I see lots of toads.
Sime Coomb
I reckon they've definitely declined over the years. They used to be everywhere.
Derek Brown
We've still got thousands of them if anyone's missing them.
Mossman hospital upgrade
Anne Ingram
Would be great if Government stepped in and upgraded this beautiful hospital. It cares for a huge area and also growing aged clients as well. It’s been my home away from home with wonderful care from Dr Tim, Dr Sue, and Dr Scott along with all other staff. I hope this hospital full of history gets the funding they need to better provide all services and equipment needed to care for our beautiful community.
Derek Franklin
It's a public hospital, so it's up to the government to upgrade, not the public. All good to spend billions on the Olympics, but a couple of million for public health is up to community. That's disgraceful.
Susan Dennis
The district needs a couple of 24 hour, 7 days a week, local doctors surgeries open to take the load off the hospital, and to lighten up the waiting times to get into the private surgeries. Hospital says go see your local doctor after a hospital visit, and then it takes six weeks to get into see the local doctor. More communication between hospital and local doctors should be looked into, as numerous times local doctors can not find information on our records from the hospital.
Cheryl Whitworth
A CT scan would be amazing. Our elderly mother ended up in Cairns Hospital transitioning ward after being transferred from Mossman to Cairns Base for a CT. It took a couple of days to get her transferred back to Mossman - all for an imaging procedure. Definitely a needed service available for this area. We also had many trips to Cairns cancer centre for our father when he was being treated and and getting palliative care organised. A very long trip when someone is so unwell.
Anne Copeland
Great hospital. How about a regular bus service from Port Douglas to Mossman?
Debra Thomas
Where's the Government?
Ian Locke
Mossman Hospital has been upgraded and is great. Is it the new arrivals saying this?
Richard Coxs
As a frequent flyer at that hospital, I think the staff do a magnificent job. What would they want to upgrade to? Dr Tim and his team at A&E are so efficient and professional. I can't think of a negative thing to say about our wee hospital.
Muddied waters around wrecked car at Four Mile
Leith Garretty
Always good oysters on it when the king tides are happening.
Steve Kitto
If you look closely you'll see the driver still trying to put it in four-wheel-drive mode.
Mim Hayward
It's been there decades. I lived in Port Douglas from 2002-2012, when I first lived there it was more recognisable as a car. Used to always walk to it at low tide. Loved going that far out with the dog.
Richard Balmaine
It's a bit more buried now, but after the wet season we might get to see it again. The story is that they used to do races down there during low tide and this one broke down and they could get it back before the next high tide.
Michelle Simone
Must be well buried now as I haven't seen it in four or five years. I did wonder if it had finally been dragged out and disposed of.
Sime Coomb
I thought it was an old Landy owned by the vanilla bean farmers. Shane Down is probably the Lord Mayor of 4Mile, he would know.
Shane Down
It was a Valiant V8 ute, owned by Ian Stek. He went down there to try and catch some bait, but ended up with water in the fuel. That would have been 87-88.
Peter Lewis
I think it's in pretty good nick. A bit of buff and it would be as good as new. Just got to get a starter motor.