Letters: Men need their own space as much as women

I will probably lose my right to label myself a feminist for saying this, but I feel sorry that Tattersall’s could not stay an all-male club (Letters, Dec 21).

Tattersall’s Club will admit women members for the first time.

I WILL probably lose my right to label myself a feminist for saying this, but I feel sorry that Tattersall’s could not stay an all-male club (Letters, Dec 21).

Since the 1960s, women have been diligent in creating “women’s only” spaces.

From women’s rooms at universities to places like the prestigious Moreton Club, I have heard no arguments that men should be included in these spaces. And to me that reeks of a double standard.

Yes, clubs like Tattersall’s potentially breed snobbery, arrogance and a sense of self-entitlement within a particular group of men, but so do elite boys’ and, for that matter, girls’ schools, and yet I have heard no plans to merge Brisbane Grammar School and Brisbane Girls’ Grammar to redress this situation. And nor should they.

So why is it necessary to make a male-only club inclusive?

Men need spaces that are their own just as much as women, and I, for one, am sad that Tattersall’s will no longer be such a space.

Shani Doig, Coorparoo

PREMIER Annastacia Palaszczuk has hailed the Tattersall’s vote to accept women as “historic”.

This was a ballot in a private club of 3000 members, not a general election.

Roseanne Schneider, Toowoomba

SO, THE right decision has been made and women are now able to become full members of the Tattersall’s Club.

Are we now going to see the membership of the Lyceum Club, the Brisbane Women’s Club and Zonta vote to allow men to become full members?

Frank Aldred, Carseldine

A HAVEN for wealthy privileged men will now open its doors to wealthy privileged women.

What a great leap forward.

Meanwhile, over on struggle street, people are doing it tough putting food on the table.

How about the self-obsessed denizens of Tattersall’s, now of both genders, start caring about people other than those they deem worthy?

Ian Fraser, South Maclean

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The State Government is to blame for the bushfire disaster.

GOVERNING DISASTER

IS TIM Carfrae (Letters, Dec 22) joking?

Mike O’Connor’s column (C-M, Dec 21) was spot-on in relation to politicians taking the limelight during disasters.

Regarding the disastrous Queensland bushfires that devastated towns, farms, residences and, more importantly, lives during the past year, the cause and result can be sheeted home to the State Government and Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s comments blaming “climate change”.

Australia has always been a land of droughts, flooding rains and bushfires.

In 1957, as a teenager, I spent most of a fortnight fighting bushfires in the Blue Mountains of NSW.

There was no mention of “climate change” in those days.

The efforts by the Palaszczuk Government to appease the “greenies” by not defending Queensland and its residents against devastating bushfires is despicable.

The best way to defend the state against bushfires is to reduce fuel and cut firebreaks around towns, farms and residences, and to practise proper land management during autumn and winter.

I’m surprised the insurance companies haven’t sued the Government for their costs because the Government hadn’t taken proper and responsible action to protect Queensland.

Norm Coleman, Slacks Creek

FULL marks to Mike O’Connor for his comments regarding our Premier.

It’s time that all politicians realised they are only in parliament for a short time.

We do not have to listen to their rantings forever.

When is the next election? I can hardly wait.

A.J. Macnaughton, Clayfield

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Unit owner Stephanus Potgieter measures the narrow distance between his home and a neighbouring apartment block. Pic Annette Dew

DEVELOPERS DON’T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT NEIGHBOURS

IT’S unbelievable that a developer is building a twin-tower luxury apartment block only centimetres from a neighbouring apartment (C-M, Dec 22).

Due to this “Great Wall of China” being so close, Stephanus Potgieter says his apartment has been plunged into 24-hour darkness.

This only proves that developers are a breed of their own and don’t give a damn about the consequences and feelings of others.

Having a concrete monstrosity only 23cm away proves that this developer

and those who signed off on this monstrosity have no common sense.

Helen Holdey, Brighton

THOSE responsible for designing and approving a high-rise development 23cm from an existing building should be sentenced to solitary confinement, without weather break access, for a lengthy period, so they can enjoy the benefits of being perpetually close to a brick wall.

This is bureaucracy at its most hideous.

Peter Corran, Wakerley

IF YOU can reach out from your unit’s balcony and touch the neighbouring building – a mere 23cm away – this can only mean that both apartment blocks are constructed up to the boundary line.

It makes no difference if your building is there first. 

Anyone who buys or rents an inner-city unit without first checking on what can be built next door has only themselves to blame for any loss of amenity. 

Ross Anderson, Bardon 

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