Anyone got a copy of Sydney's Saturday April 23rd edition of the Daily Telegraph?

Seems I got a letter to the editor published, and now I'm trying to
track down to see exactly what they printed.

Much reward in the form of beer

 

Reply in letters dated 26th April

Why we acted

In response to Brad Jayakody (Letters, April 23), I am a member of the
executive on the strata board where Brad lives. We do not condemn Brad
for his patriotism, we just want him to take the Australian flag off his
balcony and mount it somewhere a little more discreet.

Only one person complained, but we in the strata board had to act
because hanging anything off a balcony is not allowed under the Strata
Titles Act.

Balcony hangings degrade the look of a block of units, through lack of
standardisation of the external appearance. We also have to avoid the
possibility of conflict among neighbours. What if another person hung a
flag of another country or even the swastika?

Each strata board is obliged to keep its property looking smart, so that
it blends in with the rest of the community. You only need to go to
parts of Asia, the US and Europe to see a balcony free-for-all.

These are the reasons why we have acted, and they should be noted by all
who live in units to ensure harmony and overall aesthetics.

Taro Munn, Cremorne

=====
Original letter as published
======

I have been reading with interest your stories about flying flags.

I recently got in trouble with the strata board in the apartment
building I live in for hanging up the Australian flag on my balcony.
They asked me to remove it "as it's not in keeping with the rest of the
building".

After asking the other residents what they thought (it was an anonymous
person who complained), I decided to keep it up. I'm facing a $550 fine
if they decide to pursue the matter.

I'm a second-generation Australian and my fiancee became an Australian
citizen two years ago. As we are both proud of the country we are living
in, we fly the flag. Flags are powerful symbols, though, and do create
different emotions for everyone who sees them. The person who complained
about my flag never gave a reason. When I asked the strata board why,
they didn't respond either.

Brad Jayakody, Cremorne

 

"Strata board" is actually a french term, means "gutless turds".

Whilst there generally isn't a lot of plate glass in your
average block of strata-titled units, the fundamental principles
of "plate glass justice" still apply.

If, as an example, there are seventy five sub-properties in the
particular strata scheme where you live, and *someone* puts the
proverbial brick through an hypothetical plate glass window, then
you're only ever going to be up for one seventy-fifth of the
cost of fixing the aforementioned window!

(It's a lot like telco-bashing really)

GB

 

(Not JLs words)

Yeah, 'cos blocks of units are like, beautiful...

Can't have free expression now, can we? Next we best ban any and all vehicle
modifications. Wouldn't want to upset the "standardisation of the external
appearance"...

It'd look like the UN?...

Been done...

 

"Don't ask don't tell" patriotism? Perhaps he could hang it discreetly
in his closet?

Ah, those teeming Asian hordes, with their unstandardized, free-for-all
balconies. You let them hang up one Aussie flag and the next thing you
know it's nothing but dusk-till-dawn Mah-jong sessions and shocking
outbursts of filial piety!

-----sharks

 

Fantastic. Thanks for that John. Owe you a drink.

Brad

 

It's just the one person who is complaining.

When it happened I wrote a letter to the other residences. There's
like 24 apartments in the building.
2 of which got back to me straight away saying they loved it and it
should stay up. One even offered to pay the fine for me.
1 person told me in person while they weren't in favour of the flag
(they are south african) they were strongly in favour of me keeping it
up.
1 other told me to keep it up, they liked it.

In my letter I had some anonymous ways of getting in touch with me
(e-mail and even letter/voicemail), but the person who complained never
bothered. Also in the original letter to the other residents, I said I
feel strongly about it, but I will go with the majority view, if most
of you want me to take it down I will.

I am highly curious as to why they would have an issue with it.

Wrote a letter to the Strata, they never responded, which is why I sent
a letter to the paper (didn't actually expect to get it published, had
a quiet afternoon when I did it).

Ah beureocracy(sp?), take it down because it's against the rules, not
that we have a problem with it.

At worse I get a $550 fine, which while it will hurt, I can live with
it. Anyhow, we'll see how it goes

 

Personally reminds me of how lucky I am to be born in this country and
live here.

But flags are powerful symbols, and mean different things for different
people.

Shrug, I've never had a problem in the last 5 years, at 3 different
places. Got it pinched once from a second story balcony, but apart
from that, all good

 

I offered to discuss it with them. They never bothered to reply (until
I sent that letter to the paper). I was (still am) more than willing
to move it. Sent them a letter 3 weeks ago saying that. No response.

Don't like it when someone orders me to do something for absolutely no
reason.

As one of the other residents told me, his 4 burner BBQ is more of an
eyesore than that. Legally they could tell him to get rid of it as
well.

 

I'm not into flag waving, but if someone told me I couldn't...

How about some nice cheap patio furniture. Get Smee to photoshop it
fluoro pink.......

Moike

 

But you got better ?

JL

 

Knobdoodle wrote:
Answer:

Moike

 

I didn't come here to discuss it, only to post I was looking for a copy
of sat's paper.

Discussion happened after the article was posted.

 

Hint #1: Include some context so we know who you're replying to.

Hint #2: Aus.moto comes with discussion whether you like it or not.

Hint #3: He's not called "GYAFWN" for nothing ...

-----sharks

 

Threaten him with the comfy chair!

Cheers
Goaty

 

HEY!!!

Postman Pat

 

You missed a fanatical devotion to Pope RapSinger ...

Cheers
Goaty

 

Dunno, never seen him light up a globe ...

Cheers
Goaty