Reasons Trump didn’t deserve the prize
Brighton falls
Brighton has become a harbinger of everything wrong with the state government’s plans to force housing stock into our low-rise suburbs across Melbourne (″The Battle for Brighton heats up, train car parks are being cut for housing″ 11/10).
It’s a suburb that’s easy to parody and mock for all the reasons that divide communities. The slogan “Builders not blockers” has become a clarion call to completely redesign Brighton’s Church Street and its village environment; without most people realizing that once Brighton is brought to heel it will become much easier to move to Pier Street, Altoona or Errol Street, North Melbourne.
Once Brighton falls, it will be too late for any of Melbourne’s low-lying villages to fight back, as most democratic avenues for appeal have been eroded. Wanting to build, not hinder, the government has prevented local councils and VCAT from doing the things they were designed to do.
If the Brighton battle is lost, every other low-rise community in Melbourne will pay the price when it’s their turn.
reinvention.
Charles Reis, Brighton
paddington bear
″In a big, cruel world, little Paddington Bear stands tall″ (10/10) Tony Wright at his best; touching, meaningful and simply beautiful.
Betty Rudin, Wandin North
Your Fur Ship
Re CBD (10/10): How nice that Wildlife Health Australia has merged with the University of Melbourne and corrected our language (politically) about possums. Now that you’ve killed the lemon tree, would you like your Furship to go to the jugular where the bird of paradise flowers are located? In short, readers, what did the little buggers eat before 1788?
Jim Davidson, Fitzroy
quick message
A direct appeal to “service managers” at major supermarkets: Can you please take more notice of your older shoppers (which contributes to your premiums and billion-dollar corporate profits) by assigning more staff to express checkouts, especially early in the day for ″12 items or less″? Not all elderly people are comfortable with a self-service system and do not enjoy talking to and being served by a cheerful person.
Trevor JenningsLeopold
Exhibition riches
I stand with your correspondent (Letters, 7/10) on the beauty of the upcoming Cartier exhibition at the NGV and his response to Cara Waters’ column “NGV’s upcoming Winter Masterpieces show is a diamond-encrusted sellout” (5/10). A jewelery exhibition is not just about the magnificent pieces, it is also about the stories of those who own those pieces. If the thought of all that treasure bothers you, don’t go. If you feel guilty when passing a homeless person, invite him/her to enter the NGV, but do not write to criticize what will be a rich experience for many.
Margaret Skeen, Pt Lonsdale
