Helen Pitt brings personal history,not just as a journalist,but one with a true sense of community based on her early years living in Oatlands (“”,November 28). I cannot begin to imagine the grief that still impacts the Abdallah and Sakr families since the tragic event 21 months ago that robbed them of the young lives of those so loved. The Oatlands community,along with a broader constituency,also felt that loss and pain,yet the attitude of the nearby select group of neighbours – the Oatlands Golf Club – would seem at odds with the majority’s care and concern. Having a sense of entitlement through running an exclusive club should not extend to an attitude of resistance towards creating an appropriate memorial for their neighbours. Surely,a spirit of generosity should be par for the course.Allan Gibson,Cherrybrook
Thank you,Helen Pitt,for your sincere and personal piece concerning the Abdallah and Sakr families. It is all well and good for the Prime Minister to say that he is “very distressed” when he learned that the Oatlands Golf Club was pursuing development on the site it had rejected for the family memorial,but will he actually be doing anything? The Oatlands area will soon be part of Premier Perrottet’s Epping electorate,and he must intervene. Or will he simply delegate? What a shocking divide between the affluent and powerful and the rest of us. A terrible indictment on our society.George Zivkovic,Northmead
Advance the anthem
The campaign to modify the national anthem to better recognise Australia’s Aboriginal heritage warrants our immediate attention (“”,November 28). We cannot allow racism or politics to get in the way of this symbolic change to the anthem.Graham Lum,North Rocks
Sword or shield
We want to say “that’s not who we are”,but Jacqueline Maley is right to criticise (″”,November 28). Many are appalled that any faith community thinks it’s OK to sack an elderly church organist or a dedicated young English teacher on the grounds of their sexuality. We wonder why,in God’s name,anyone would defend,let alone take such punitive action in the first place. We certainly don’t think there should be extra protection against unfair dismissal laws,yet that is what the federal government is proposing. Does it help them to know,after they are publicly victimised and stigmatised,that Jesus would have been very glad to sit down and have a bite to eat with them,and had a few choice words to say about judgmental hypocrites? Margaret Johnston,Paddington
Maley may well be correct in her assertion that the religious discrimination bill really boils down to one issue,that of sexuality. In any case,this whole tangled and potentially deeply hurtful debate has no appeal whatsoever for the many religious people who never wanted such legislation in the first place,and still don’t. A great many of us neither seek nor need the freedom to discriminate,condemn or exclude;to be nasty to anyone,at any time,from any platform. Our belief system is not threatened by those who don’t agree with us or who differ from us in aspects of their human make-up. Rather,our lives are enhanced by mutual encounter,respectful dialogue and peaceful co-existence.ReverendMeredith Williams,Northmead
Wearied by inaction
Parnell Palme McGuinness is “greatly exhausted” by those advocating for “meaningful change” (“”,November 28). In defence of advocacy groups who use this “overworked language”,I believe calling for meaningful change is borne out of necessity. Many Australians are deeply frustrated with lack of progress on important issues. They therefore grapple for something to say that might spur governments to translate their legitimate concerns into clear and targeted policy. Take climate change,for example. In the recent Climate Change Performance Index,Australia was the only country to score zero on climate policy. Environmental advocates are right to be livid. Until the Morrison government “actually acts” and we see emissions fall,activists can rightly call for meaningful change.Amy Hiller,Kew (VIC)
A localgripette
The developer of the latest shocker at Oxford Street,Bondi Junction says it will have a “publicplazette” (“”,November 28). I guess that’s reasonable,like saying there are postage stamps,and mini postage “stampettes”. Will locals be given a magnifying glass to enjoy their generous new public space-ette?Patrick McGrath,Potts Point