As an “old boy” of Newington College (1967),I am concerned at the reaction of others about Newington becoming coeducational. My views were sought in a questionnaire,which I completed. I assume all old boys received the same document. The decision made by the college council was apparently based on the information supplied. Now I understand that objection is being taken by some old boys based on a trust that is 160 years old. Times have changed but it appears the attitude of some old boys has not.Raymond Hood,Illawong
One of Sydney’s oldest private boys’ schools,Newington College in Stanmore,will become a fully co-educational campus for kindergarten to 12 within the decade.SMH
The Newington old boys are concerned about the threat of bequests being withdrawn if the school moves to a co-ed model. By inviting an additional 50 per cent of the population for enrolments the database of prospective parental contributors,and government funding,will surely improve the school’s overall income to offset any withdrawn bequests.Mark Nugent,Lugarno
In 1873 the documents establishing Newington stated that “the purpose of the college was to educate boys and young men”. Only 160 years later we face a catastrophic loss of amenity and things we hold dear if our “boys and young men” are forced to share their classrooms with “girls and young women”. So,what is being protected here? Just imagine – actually having males and females in the same classroom. Our boys will have to learn to respect and work with girls even before they enter the workforce. Respect girls? Work with them?Michael McMullan,Avoca Beach
As the parent of two girls,I would not contemplate sending them to a school where other parents are prepared to drag out a 160-year-old document as evidence they are not valued. That some of the alumni are prepared to withdraw financial support and future bequests smacks of misogyny and demonstrates a clear lack of understanding of the messages that need to be given to boys with regard to the position of girls and women in a modern society. It is high time Newington and other like-minded boys’ schools come to realise that perpetrating the “old boys’ club” is no longer valid in the 21st century.Peter Cooper-Southam,Frenchs Forest
We’re stuck on the road to nowhere
What is it with transport infrastructure in this state (“‘”,December 1)? A multibillion-dollar interchange that behaves predictably by moving the traffic jam up the road. Three vastly expensive metro systems with incompatible electric drive systems. Three light-rail routes where rolling stock is not interchangeable. Hundreds of brand-new intercity train carriages sitting mothballed for years. Ferries that don’t fit under bridges. Trains that are too big for tunnels and platforms. The place has truly gone mad.John Burman,Port Macquarie
We may feel sorry for the motorists stuck on Victoria Road due to the Rozelle interchange bedlam. But what about the bus passengers? The bus lane now merges with two car lanes on approach to Anzac Bridge. So,buses join the commuting congestion conga line. The Drummoyne-to-city bus trip of 15 minutes is now more than 35 minutes. Despite some signage tinkering,the new road design is flawed forever,unless there is a mode shift from cars to buses. Bring back the continuous dedicated bus lane.Brian Hastings,Drummoyne
Illustration:Alan Moir
We should have created an underground rail system throughout the whole city,including the Northern Beaches,that should have been financed through wealth generated from the mining boom,just as Norway has done with proceeds from oil and gas. Reliable,environmentally friendly and owned by us all. Wait ’til the second airport is up and running.Tony Maunsell,Bellevue Hill
It is clear that the fragmentation of the Ministry of Transport and the reliance on private enterprise has left the government without the skills either to plan road projects or to review those proposals put before it. We desperately need a revitalised road authority with the responsibility,authority and skills to manage and develop the arterial road network. As the Rozelle spaghetti junction is well encased in concrete any review will be an unenviable task.John Crowe,Cherrybrook
Welcome to WorstConnex – Sydney’s latest taxpayer-subsidised tribute to the toll-road gods. Every traffic expert in the world (except,I guess,our Sydney contrarians) will tell you that building more highways generates more traffic and that throttling local roads adversely impacts public transport and residents. I know the last place I want to be is gridlocked in a tunnel in a country with no fuel standards. Even walking in Rozelle can be a health hazard. There is no joy in saying we told you.René Vogelzang,Haberfield
Title fight
Having been known as Prince Charles for 73 years,I still find myself thinking “King who?” whenever I read or hear “King Charles,blah blah blah” (“”,December 1). Perhaps it would help if he was referred to as “the king formerly known as prince”.Alicia Dawson,Balmain
Fair Verona
Where are the two gentlemen when you need them (“.”,December 1)?Jim Dewar,Davistown
Sorry statesman
It amuses me that the man who walked out on the apology to the stolen generations,and who has not apologised for any of the unethical actions under his watch,is now demanding a sorry for his hurt feelings in a heated parliamentary debate (“”,December 1). Posturing for the headline,I guess.Peter Hull,Katoomba
Steady ton
Like a batsman struggling after a long innings,Henry Kissinger finally made his century (“”,December 1). No doubt his innings will be analysed for its successes and failures,but one thing’s for sure:he occupied the crease for a long time.Ian Adair,Hunters Hill
Unspoken PTSD epidemic plaguing paramedics
At the end of a shift the paramedic is alone with their thoughts (“”‘,December 1). There are some things that can’t be unseen. Some go home to an empty house and sit with them. Some tell their partners,others choose not to. The comprehensive suite of supports the health minister speaks of are bureaucratic tick-the-box exercises. All current serving and retired officers know it. The large number of PTSD cases is underestimated as many like myself chose not to speak of it during their careers.Mike Keene,Stanwell Park
It is no wonder our ambulance paramedics feel devalued. NSW Health cannot even bother to keep data on how many of their ambulance employees have been medically terminated. This is industrial negligence. Surely,any employer has a duty of care to know how many have been medically terminated and to ensure that number is kept to a minimum.Mark Porter,New Lambton
Easy cuts
It would be easy to abolish the Stage 3 tax cuts if a few things were to occur simultaneously (“”,December 1). Firstly,the media and the public would need to accept that it was possible to go back on an election promise if the economic circumstances warranted this,without whipping up hysteria. Secondly,Labor politicians would need to be prepared to stand up for what they actually believe in. Thirdly,Coalition politicians would need to have an epiphany and start believing in helping those most in need in our society as guiding principle.Phil Peak,Dubbo
Yes,the government is going through a low patch and appears to be dragging its feet on issues and needs to regain the momentum it had when it took office. However,I think a large proportion of the population understand,want “meddling” with the stage 3 cuts and understand that keeping them is reckless and will harm the government. Sure,Peter Dutton will use any changes as ammunition and no one expects him to do anything different. However,I think most people recognise it for what it is;default destructiveness and not reasonable debate. Anthony Albanese would do well to rise above the opposition’s attacks,not take the bait and bring the dignity to parliamentary debate he promised. The opposition bully would soon get the message and realise that few are taking him seriously.Tim Douglas,Dulwich Hill
I agree the stage 3 tax cuts should be abolished (,December 1). However,the political mileage that Dutton would wring from this “broken” election promise,is akin to political suicide.Nick Walker,Suffolk Park
Big picture
What can Anthony Albanese do to avoid being a one-term prime minister and cursing us with a Peter Dutton-led Coalition government after the nest election (,December 1)? We need transformative big picture reforms which benefit ordinary people,relieve cost-of-living pressures and reverse the steadily widening inequality in wealth. Obviously,ditching the Stage 3 tax cuts is a no-brainer and the vast majority of voters will thank the prime minister for breaking his promise not to do so. But a more radical reform,which no doubt the Greens could support,would be dramatic anti-trust and cartel laws to break up monopolies like the two supermarket chains and stop the obvious price-fixing of petrol. The consequences of genuinely tough legislation would have far reaching consequences throughout the economy and in every household in the country and set the scene for long-term federal Labor government.Karryn Coleman,Waterloo
Critical thinking
Bravo,Vivienne Pearson (“”,December 1). More than ever,we need graduates with broad,high-level critical thinking skills and an over-arching understanding of the world. Degrees such as medicine,engineering,law,economics,journalism and education are,essentially,vocational. They train people for jobs. In contrast,humanities degrees offer graduates the ability to understand and critically analyse the interplay between politics,society,economics,history and geography. As time goes by,it is becoming more and more obvious that people with these higher-level,“deep and contextual” thinking skills are desperately needed in our halls of power.Pam Timms,Suffolk Park
Sensible position
What a considered,well argued position is presented by Vanuatu’s Climate Change Minister,Ralph Regenvanu (,December 1). He emphasises the disparity in the contributions to global carbon emissions of Australia compared to the relatively miniscule amount produced by Vanuatu. He makes the valid point that his country,and many other similarly placed nations,are nevertheless obliged to meet the increasing costs inflicted by climate change. In addition to contributing to financial support,Regenvanu rightly believes it is essential for Australia to demonstrate a genuine commitment to and empathy with Pacific Islanders by prohibiting approval of yet more fossil fuel extraction.Roger Epps,Armidale
Cookie cutters
Back in the seventies in Sydney,there were a number of estates constructed for first home buyers(””,November 30). The houses were brick veneer,three bedrooms on smaller blocks of land with a good-sized backyard. The houses didn’t come with luxury appliances or granite kitchens or even media rooms they had a single purpose to get you on the housing ladder. These houses also came with special finance packages through Building Societies. I am at a loss why we don’t do this any more and instead building cookie cutter mansions often more than double the size of what first home buyers really need. Why?Ray Smith,Guyra
Not much chop
Those justifiably outraged by the wholesale chopping down of trees by rogue lumberjacks in Longueville might do well to recall the example set by the government-sanctioned removal of a few hundred mature trees to make way for the light rail to Randwick (,December 1). Government lumberjacks are not OK,either.Craig Forbes,Lewisham
Illustration:John Shakespeare
I do not understand the fuss about the destruction of a few trees in Longueville and Castle Cove. In our upper north shore neighbourhood,when a house is sold it is invariably demolished;most,if not all,of the trees on the block are removed;and a huge house is constructed that does not allow space for new trees to be planted. Here,chainsaws are providing the soundtrack to our lives.Ian Falconer,Turramurra
April pool
Your report about the pool delay of 1004 days appeared on the first of December (“”,December 1). If only it was the first of April. Then at least it could have been treated as an April Fool’s Day joke. Instead,as your editorial puts it,it’s become “a running joke”.Edward Loong,Milsons Point
Postscript
“Yes minister. The design of the Rozelle interchange is outstanding,it’s just the motorists who don’t understand how to use it,” wrote Catherine Turner of Cremorne,as experts warned traffic chaos on the newly-opened spaghetti junction was unlikely to improve. Motorists and residents were incensed. “By what mathematical wizardry did the previous Coalition government think 10 lanes into four would work better than seven into four?” asked Wayne Duncombe of Lilyfield.
As if we didn’t already have enough social division in Australia,this week Boomers were asked to give up their houses and stop spending to help younger generations through the cost-of-living and housing crisis. Most letter writers were not impressed,believing it wasn’t a fair request and suggesting help should be found elsewhere.
“My three kids are struggling with high rents,education fees and low salary rates. I want to help them,not through the bank of Mum and Dad,but through a fair tax system that spreads equity among the generations,” suggested David Ramsay of Bexley,and many other Boomers.
Neville Turbit of Russell Lea wanted to remind Gen Zs and Millennials that Boomers don’t run the country any more. “If anyone wants to wind back negative gearing or CGT discounts,you have my support. If you want to loosen building regulations,count me in. If there is something else you would like me to do,let me know. Otherwise,I suppose I could just die. Let me think about that for a while.” Please,take your time.
You can read more online as well as our wrap on the topic of the week,.Pat Stringa,letters editor