In an age when school teachers are under unprecedented pressure, it is warming to reflect on the enduring influence many of them have had on generations of young minds, particularly as we celebrate World Teachers’ Day. Melissa Coburn’s reflections on her school days (“A letter arrived at Dad’s funeral. It contained a life lesson”, October 31) invoke many such fond memories of big personalities that, consciously or not, offered meaningful lessons well beyond the subject they taught, and well into adulthood. It is fitting that Coburn’s piece does not name her wise benefactors for it serves to pay homage to them all. Bradley Wynne, Croydon
Teachers provide the foundations for almost all other occupations.Credit: istock
I remember my teachers from primary and secondary schools with affection and gratitude. I’ll never forget the conversations and debates that opened my world to wonder and possibility. There were no books in our family home and I relied on teachers for ideas and facts that expanded my mind and imagination. The magic of music and art became part of me to this day. And a special thanks to the teachers who gave extra time and encouragement to our granddaughter, who has a disability. She has just flown to California in the Australian Para Surfing Team to compete in the World Championships. Teachers really do change lives. Bea Hodgson, Gerringong
We cannot have too many articles in praise of school teachers. This profession, so sadly undervalued and too often regarded as a second-best option to some other more lauded career, is, in fact, the most important one as it provides the necessary foundations for almost all other occupations. And rather than parents becoming, as reported, increasingly demanding and aggressive towards their children’s teachers, it behoves them to show, as role models, respect for these important people who play such a vital role in their children’s lives. Anne Ring, Coogee
Fall from grace
Fittingly, Andrew’s well-known sense of entitlement and privilege eventually sealed his fate (“King Charles strips Andrew of ‘prince’ title”, October 31). Virginia Giuffre’s photo with him is the only physical evidence that proves she met him. In her book Nobody’s Girl, Virginia said Ghislaine Maxwell told her it was going to be a special day. “Just like Cinderella, I was going to meet a handsome prince.” So impressed was the 17-year-old, she asked Epstein to photograph her with Andrew. Fortuitously, Maxwell was also captured in the photo. That a powerless, underage girl could one day bring them all down was inconceivable to this controlling cadre of wealth, privilege and untouchability. Andrew has been hoisted on his own petard. Rest in peace brave Virginia. You beat impossible odds at a terrible personal cost. Gerardine Grace, Leura
I’ve never been a fan of the British royal family, but it strikes me that if your mother is a queen then you are, ipso facto, a prince, and no palace announcement can ever change that. Charles is wielding the modern equivalent of a guillotine – “you’re too much trouble so off with your, er, title”. But it seems more like “psst, Andrew, if you do this for us, we’ll look after you”. Of course, all would be quickly forgotten if the firm’s PR department could come up with another royal wedding toot sweet. Aren’t there any second cousins that could be hurriedly marched to the Westminster Abbey altar? Even better if one of them is a commoner – that scores more points with the flag-wavers waiting outside in the rain. Thank heaven Princess Anne is due down under – a royal visit in time to quieten any republican rumblings. Honestly, you couldn’t make this stuff up, unless it was all just fiction to begin with. Patrick McGrath, Potts Point
Andrew has been stripped of his royal title by his brother, King Charles.Credit: Alamy
Andrew, formerly known as prince, reminds me of a character in Monty Python’s Life of Brian. “He is not the Messiah, he’s a very naughty boy.” If Andrew is looking for a job I believe the Principality of Hutt River Province in Western Australia may still be vacant since Prince Leonard died. Gavin Williamson, Wheeler Heights
So Andrew’s association with Epstein has been so damning that he has been stripped of his title and evicted from his house. It’s common knowledge that US President Donald Trump was also closely involved with Epstein. Release the files. Shona Kirchen, Kiama
Art attack
It will be a sad day indeed when the Australian Design Centre has to close (“Centre latest casualty of arts funding crunch”, October 31). The centre has been running since 1964 and is staffed by an executive board of volunteers. It has been responsible for fostering creativity in thousands of artists and yet it has failed to secure funding of a meagre $350,000 to remain viable. This seems extremely unfair, especially when considering the billions of dollars spent elsewhere, like building (and rebuilding) stadiums. There are five or six major (and many minor) stadiums just in Sydney. On the occasions these stadiums are used, they are often sparsely attended, with many sports fans choosing to stay at home and watch the TV. Is it just me or does this seem like an imbalance? Maybe the funding squeeze in NSW should be directed elsewhere. Judith Rostron, Killarney Heights
We all know Albo is a proud and ardent footy supporter. Sadly, the same cannot be said of the support given to the arts by Labor. The latest casualty to funding cuts is the 60-year-old Australian Design Centre. I have two questions: why did they lose $200,000 in annual federal funding in January, and why was their four-year state operational funding of $300,000 a year pulled in April? Surely the state and federal Labor governments aren’t working together to close them down. Incidentally, the ADC nurtures the talents of emerging young creatives and designers – and most of them are women. Come on, give them a fair go. Deborah Smith, Moss Vale
Executive Director Lisa Cahill inside the Australian Design Centre in Darlinghurst.Credit: Sam Mooy
On one hand we have a report of Kevin Rudd trying to find investments to “use” our $4.5 trillion superannuation funds (“Rudd in town to sell Sydney to the world”, October 31) and on the other, an important local arts organisation faces closure if it can’t find $350,000 in funding. Perhaps a bit of investment in our own institutions would be a good idea. Heather Johnson, West Pennant Hills
Meaning of terror
Mathew Knott writes of Hamas’ attempt to be delisted as a terror organisation (“Hamas’ court bid to overturn its Australian terror listing”, October 31). In 2006 the Palestinian people in Gaza elected Hamas as their governing authority. The Israeli Defence Forces attacked them repeatedly, killing thousands of Gazans in 2008, 2014 and 2018-19. This was followed by the attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, and the consequent annihilation of Gaza, which has claimed more than 60,000 lives. So if Hamas are officially terrorists, why are the IDF and Israel’s leaders not, particularly as they have been accused of genocide in the International Criminal Court? Alison Broinowski, Paddington
Following the October 7 atrocities Hamas visited upon Israel, Israel fought the war in Gaza with one aim in mind: to try to make sure Hamas could never keep its promise to attack Israel like that “again and again”. In doing so, it was entitled under international law to strike any and all military targets, provided it took steps to protect civilians. That is the meaning of proportionality. It doesn’t mean, as your correspondent suggests, that the numbers killed on either side need to be roughly proportionate (Letters, October 31). That’s not how war works. And Israel wasn’t appealing to religion or history to justify its actions, as another correspondent claims. It was Hamas’ thorough and illegal embedding of its military throughout and under civilian buildings, and its booby-trapping of many, that caused the destruction. Israel complied with the law regarding proportionality by warning civilians of attacks and evacuating them. Alan Shroot, Forrest (ACT)
Israeli soldiers with tanks near the border of Gaza this week. Credit: Getty
Your correspondent Terry Hansen refers to those whose god would justify starvation and mass slaughter (Letters, October 31). Sadly, many so-called religious people have a slippery grasp of the tenets of their religion. Christians’ views often contradict the spirit of the gospels. This attitude is represented by Italian composer Verdi’s characterisation of Iago, the villain in Shakespeare’s Othello. A translation from Iago’s aria reads: “I believe in a cruel God who in his likeness fashioned me”. Indeed, only a cruel god could have justified the carnage in Gaza. Derrick Mason, Boorowa
In response to Victor Ziegler’s question about the apparent lack of concern over atrocities in Sudan compared with Gaza (Letters, October 31), I would suggest that although both conflicts involve ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity, we have a tendency to hold developed countries to a higher standard. Also, our demonstrations are more likely to be effective when they are directed towards a country we trade with, one that until recently many of us held in high esteem. Richard Tainsh, Potts Point
Further to your correspondent’s views on a “proportionate response” (Letters, October 31), could someone please remind me which religion it is whose holy book contains the injunction “life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth” to prevent excessive punishment and vengeance? Geoff Walker, Glebe
Butler’s bulk billing
Health Minister Mark Butler’s prediction of a 90 per cent bulk billing rate won’t happen. For 10 years GPs were betrayed by successive governments, freezing their Medicare rebates. Due to doctors’ loyalty and care for their patients they resisted private billing for an extended period but ultimately economic pressures forced their hands. Having now experienced financial freedom and increased income, many are unlikely to once again trust this and subsequent governments to maintain a viable medicare rebate. The only practices likely to take up universal bulk billing are corporate mega-clinics that survive on six-minute medicine as this is the only profitable business model. And this will also only be maintained if rebates are increased over time and maintain that profitability. Meanwhile, “family doctors” and non-corporate clinics will continue to privately bill as is required by their business models and to maintain their new-found freedom. Medicare has become a universal health insurance, not a public service, due to government neglect. Rowan Godwin, Rozelle
Regulate for rental relief
What an insight into the Airbnb game, however, the activities of these TikTokers is just the tip of the iceberg (“So simple a six-year-old could do it’: The 22-year-old cashing in on Airbnb loophole”, October 30). Short-stay accommodation, such as Airbnb, is sucking Sydney’s rental market dry. As NSW grapples with a severe housing affordability crisis, we must address a critical contributing factor: approximately 100,000 residential properties have been converted to short-stay accommodation, representing five to 10 per cent of rentable housing stock statewide and up to 20 per cent in tourist hotspots such as Bondi. With 850,000 households relying on rental accommodation, and vacancy rates at a critically low 1 per cent – far below the 3 to 5 per cent needed for market stability – this diversion of housing stock is creating artificial scarcity and driving up rents. We are living with the ramifications of these extraordinary statistics, and the need for action to limit and reduce short-stay stock levels is clear. The solution: implement regulatory measures to return a substantial portion of these properties to long-term rental accommodation. This would stabilise vacancy rates, moderate rent increases and prioritise housing for residents over tourist convenience. John Wakefield, Mosman
Good karma, bad karma
Thanks, Elyne Le Faou, for the lesson in pronouncing frequently used French words, (“Sacre bleu! You’re all pronouncing Louvre incorrectly”, October 31). I am sure many people will be practising them while reading your piece. Dropping French words into a conversation, and pronouncing them correctly, are seen as a sign of refinement. Ordering cabernet sauvignon with your cuisses de grenouille at a posh restaurant can get you ahead on the social curve. But spare a thought for other languages that don’t hold the same cachet, like Hindi. Many of its words have been Anglicised and their original pronunciation forgotten. As a Hindi speaker when I use “karm” as the actual pronunciation of “karma”, incorrectly pronounced “kaamaa” by English speakers, people usually try to correct me. Or “avatar”, pronounced as “uhvv-taar” but Anglicised to “av-a-taa”. I guess incorrectly pronouncing Hindi words is bad kaamaa for you, but good karm for me. Manbir Singh Kohli, Pemulwuy
Power on
Ian Costley’s problem with his energy bill increasing substantially when he switched from gas to electricity for his hot water system is easily solved (Letters, October 31). Simply get it wired to run during the day when he has excess solar power. My hot water system is set to start heating at 10am for this very reason. Michael McFadyen, Kareela
The New England Solar Farm in Uralla.Credit: Janie Barrett
Ian Costley is right to be concerned about his costly power. Until rural landholders, urged on by climate-denying pressure groups, stop resisting wind and solar power projects, along with transmission lines needed for power distribution, renewable energy projects will get nowhere. Was there ever such resistance to powerlines from coal-powered generators? Meanwhile, Ian, get solar panels and set your water heater to run during the day when you are able to use free power. Donald Hawes, Peel
Former deputy prime minister Michael McCormack is worried about the feelings of farmers who have wind farms next door and don’t like them. I hope he is just as supportive of farmers who don’t like coal mines next door. Funny, I haven’t heard him say a word about that. Philip Dowle, Wickham
Ignore influencers
The death of young mother-to-be Stacey Warnecke, who may have been swayed by unqualified home-birthing influencers, is a tragedy that hits close to home (“Save mums, babies from influencers”, October 31). My second grandchild was delivered against the bathroom door after my daughter was sent home from hospital to wait for the contractions to increase in frequency. Thankfully there were no complications like in Stacey’s case, and she received wonderful care. We were fortunate and thankful that our four other grandchildren were born in a hospital. Those influencers who promote home births and discourage using a hospital should be ignored, and held accountable when home births go wrong. John Cotterill, Kingsford
Concern for the unborn
I’d like to ask correspondent Larry Woldenberg what is wrong with men opposing abortion (Letters, October 31)? His letter implies men have no right to speak about it. What Larry forgets is that a child is involved. Those supporting abortion seem to forget this. It’s always represented as a move to impinge on women’s rights. Many of us oppose abortion, whether we are male or female. We are simply concerned for the rights of the unborn child, and do not seek to hurt anyone. David Ashton, Katoomba
Game of politics
Credit: Alan Moir
Real books rule
Book-streaming outfit Audible claims “there’s more to imagine when you listen” (Hitch a ride with Harry on his broomstick, October 31). With the addition of a soundtrack and various actors imbuing the J.K. Rowling book with their own take on the text, I’d argue they’ve left considerably less to the imagination. Give me a real book any day. Colin Stokes, Camperdown
Shopping charts
The prime minister is my local member and I’m curious: does he, like many locals, ever hear Joy Division’s Love Will Tear Us Apart piped through the Coles speakers in Ashfield Mall? While Ian Curtis would never have imagined it ending up as supermarket muzak, it’s a great excuse for fans to put on that special T-shirt. Kate Wilson, Dulwich Hill
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