Having looked through the Queen’s Birthday Honours list,I see that it appears few,if any,nurses have been honoured for their selfless and outstanding service during the pandemic. This is an indictment on us all,given that our nurses have played a major role in keeping us well and safe. Their dedication and sacrifice should be honoured as soon as possible.Helen Ketelbey,Mosman
Your three correspondents (Letters, June 14) lament their individual omission from the honours list. To at first be nominated for an award is an honour in itself and,then,if selected,a humbling privilege. I must admit I was quietly chuffed in2015 when two fellow correspondents acknowledged my post nominal,one suggesting jokingly,“however,it should also have been awarded for services to letter writing to the Herald”.Allan Gibson OAM,Cherrybrook
As usual,the honours list is a mix of those who deserve to be recognised and those rewarded for just doing their (often very well-paid) jobs. On the other hand,how good was it to see Dr Kerry Chant recognised for her tireless work in keeping us safe,and Carolyn and David Stedman,who have been fostering children since the 1970s.Susan Hunt,St Ives
School gender cliches fail the test
To say that boys are not as capable as girls in English and languages is not strictly true (“Boys falling behind in HSC,uni”,June 14). They can equally learn and have the same opportunities. It is all part of the social construct that is going on currently – girls can’t do maths and science,boys are weak at English and languages. Look at the history of great literature and science and those myths can be dispelled. The earliest computer was invented by a woman and some of the greatest works of literature were by men. Perhaps society needs to concentrate on ensuring each child is nurtured to see their learning as an important individual asset and not as one belonging to a certain group. It is the individual who must take charge of their own learning and not allow it to be derailed by gender stereotypes and such generalisations as in the article. Sadly,much of boys’ learning attitude comes from socialisation,and not from their classroom experiences.Augusta Monro,Dural
For a long time it was presumed all great writers were men. If a woman wanted to be taken seriously and published,she had to resort to a male pseudonym. Now we’re being told that boys are falling behind because of the compulsory inclusion of English in the HSC,“which tended to favour girls”. Mmm,something isn’t quite adding up for me with this finding – but maybe it’s because I’m a female and there is still this belief that “difficult maths” tends to favour boys.Alicia Dawson,Balmain
A school I once knew had a sign in a previously male-dominated classroom that stated:“Girls can do anything.” Many girls and boys became trailblazers. When teachers are up to the challenge of resisting detrimental societal and bureaucratic pressures and bungling,they can create quality learning experiences that overcome most negative trends. Those who can,teach. Those who can’t,and are slaves to faulty pedagogy,should not be in the classroom.Joy Cooksey,Harrington
Tunnel vision
The South Coast rail extension suggested by your correspondent (Letters,June 14) is going nowhere until or unless the bottleneck of 2 kilometres of single track at Clifton Tunnel,north of Thirroul,is duplicated. This tunnel is one of eight original Illawarra tunnels built in 1888,all which were bypassed with double tracks by 1920,except this one. All sorts of excuses have been made not to do anything about it,such as the instability of the Illawarra Coastal Range under which it runs,yet the tunnel has stayed intact for 134 years. The obvious solution is a long tunnel from Thirroul to just south of Waterfall. Such long tunnels are common in Europe,using modern construction methods. It might cost the equivalent of three football stadiums,but the benefits for the region would be far greater.Bruce Stafford,Tascott
I beg to differ with your correspondent when he brings in that tired old chestnut that “difficult territory” stops a rail line being built to the NSW Victorian border. Has he not heard of the Gotthard Tunnel? If the Swiss can build a tunnel through the Alps,I think some Australian hills should not be too difficult to excavate.Anne Elliott,Balmain
Outdated gossip
In these days of social media,does the Herald need to have a gossip column (“I made mistakes in handling of Rebel article”,June 14)? The Herald has carried out and hopefully will continue to carry out excellent investigative journalism. However,there is a fine line between gossip,reporting which is in the public interest and that which is of interest to the public. Great newspapers of the world know the difference. Unfortunately much of the recent journalism in the Herald borders on the salacious and,while it may be said that that is what the public likes,great newspapers should seek to educate,not titillate,and set higher standards than the norm as does outstanding literature. Perhaps Mr Hornery’s extensive contacts in the Sydney celebrity world could be used to carry out the extensive investigatory work needed to bring wrong-doers to justice,obviating the outdated need for a gossip column.Ann Grant,Randwick
Blood donations
It seems Lifeblood is going to relax rules to allow more gay and bisexual men to donate blood/plasma (“Move to lower bar for gay blood donations”,June 14). It’s good this unnecessary discrimination is beginning to change. The discrimination against people with minor health conditions should also end. In many cases,there would be minimal risk to the donor and nil risk to the recipient,however,rules are enforced without individual assessment. Perhaps clearance to donate from a GP would be a workable solution.Dennis O’Hara,Wanniassa (ACT)
Big wave impact
Who needs an ad campaign for Sydney when all you need is the awe-inspiring photo in the Herald of the surfers on Dee Why Beach (“Big-wave riders brave high seas as warning raised”,June 14)?Chrissie Whitlock,Earlwood
Heritage heartbreak
Megan Gorrey’s article (“Tower plans ‘dwarf power station‴,June 13) draws attention to yet another state government scheme that is wrong. Every time they seem to get it wrong. They have destroyed Parramatta,again burying what historic items survive in overscaled developments. Even the two spires of St John’s Church,the oldest in Australia (1818),are headed for burial. Everything they do is so destructive and insensitive. Have a look at Thompson Square in Windsor (Australia’s oldest) and see what has happened there.Clive Lucas,Neutral Bay
Cricket’s MVPs
If Warnie was good enough to get a posthumous AO (Letters,June 14),why not make him posthumous president? At least he wouldn’t cause any trouble.Ian Adair,Hunters Hill
Kersi Meher-Homji now has an OAM. Howzat! Well done.David Gordon,Cranebrook
Poverty unmasked
A high correlation between taking a free ride and not spending money on masks is understandable (Letters,June 14). Poverty sorts out where money is spent. Yesterday,I came across my first beggar on a train working from carriage to carriage.Suzanne Wicks,Potts Point
Conflict of interest?
The big four banks have passed on the Reserve’s increased interest rate for mortgage borrowers. Does the same apply to the fifth,BoMaD (Bank of Mums and Dads)?John Fryer,Ryde
Date with data
I’d not considered the invasive potential of dating and data (“You,me and Alexa? Consent required”,June 14). We live in the age of Tinder,there’s little connecting via community,most hook-ups involve swiping left or right,and I’m nostalgic for when we were left to our own devices with dating.Janet Argall,Dulwich Hill
The digital view
Online comment from one of the stories that attracted the most reader feedback yesterday onsmh.com.au
Aussie home values are about to tumble. We should let them
From robertk:“If falling prices reflect higher borrowing costs and lower repayment capacity,how does this help new buyers get into the market? They may not need to borrow as much but it is the cost of servicing the loan that determines affordability,not the size of the loan. The only hope for new home buyers is if a sustained price correction chases investors out of the market because they no longer have an assured capital gain. A price correction over a year or two will be of no benefit to new buyers.”
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