I write this Wednesday morning, ignorant of the result (“History for the taking”, August 16). I hedge my bets, saying whoever wins, presumably, deserves to win. Irrespective of the result, the Matildas will always shine. They gave us intense moments of excitement, joy, respect, wonder, and much-needed diversion from personal and global worries. Enough said. No. Congratulations and thank you, Matildas! Jennifer Fergus, Croydon
Illustration:Credit: John Shakespeare
Cathy Freeman’s epic performance to win the Olympic 400-metre title at the Sydney Olympics was invoked in the hope that it will help inspire the Matildas to beat the Lionesses and then go on to win the world crown. I was at that packed stadium on the day to see Freeman win in that unforgettable suit and under immense pressure – a triumph for herself, her people, and all Australia. It was the greatest sports performance I have experienced. I am feeling the vibes again for our great women’s football players. Win or lose, they have captured the nation’s heart. Ron Sinclair, Windradyne
I just hope that whatever the outcome on a public holiday or not we get to celebrate the Matildas with a ticker-tape parade (“Don’t jinx Matildas by declaring public holiday too early”, August 16). Lisa Clarke, Watsons Bay
Just replace the King/Queen Birthday with Matildas Day. It wouldn’t cost a single extra cent, and we would have a public holiday that virtually all of us would be proud of. David Atherfold, Avalon Beach
There is only one way to acknowledge the Matildas, win, lose or draw – an in-perpetuity public holiday,
George Fishman, Vaucluse
Having watched Spain playing Sweden in the first semi-final of the WWC, maybe the final should be called the WWC diving championships (“Spain books place in final with dramatic late winner”, August 16).
Kevin Farrell, Beelbangera
This testosterone-fuelled sledge is exactly what I have not missed with the Women’s World Cup and is straight out of the contact sport playbook despite cricket not being a contact sport (“Warner’s sledge for Matildas’ Cup rivals”, August 16). I have had enough of this type of rhetoric. David Warner is a member of what was the most reviled team in world cricket and seems to have learned nothing from his experience. Men’s sport has a lot of catching up to do. David MacKintosh, Berkeley Vale
Matilda must now be an odds-on favourite to win in the baby-naming stakes.
Joy Cooksey, Harrington
Just remember. Whatever the result. It’s just a game! Brian O’Donnell, Burradoo
Since the early exit from the World Cup by the Americans, I’ve shifted my allegiance to the Matildas and with good reason. I’m no “Johnny come lately” because several of the Aussies played for the Portland Thorns a few years ago. I like to think that Foord, Catley, Carpenter, and Raso benefited from my cheering for them and made them the players they are today. Tim Hedges, Vancouver, Washington (USA)
You know they’ve hit the big time when a Matilda can say “We’re trying to take it one game at a time”, as one did. Spoken like any male NRL or AFL player. May a reported thousand cliches bloom; a real sign of success. John Macdonald, Kings Langley
Go Matildas – we all support you! David Nicholson, Karori, Wellington (NZ)
Note to Matildas: No matter the result of the competition, the jubilation of watching the joy in the Matildas when they play will long remain with us. Janice Creenaune, Austinmer
Households can’t bank on ‘less painful’ inflation fix
Gittins starkly reveals the intense unfairness of only using monetary policy – increasing interest rates – to fight inflation (“There are less painful tools to fix inflation. So why aren’t we using them?”, August 16). Low-income households who should be able to live a decent life, are battling due to high mortgage repayments or high rents – landlords are using the excuse of high mortgage repayments to justify rent increases. It is clearly absurd that the least well-off households are having to bear the brunt of the impacts of high-interest rates, while those outright homeowners who have substantial disposable income benefit. Alan Morris, Eastlakes
Illustration by Simon LetchCredit:
Gittins’ suggestion to lever the GST to reduce demand for non-essential goods would improve government revenue, help fund social housing, the environment and other deserving underfunded projects. Anne Matheson, Gordon
Gittins neglects to say that all the alternatives he proposes are equally “distributionally unfair” in one way or another. For instance, a temporary increase in the GST rate would massively disadvantage poorer households relative to wealthy ones. He also neglects to mention that most alternative measures he proposes involve direct government fiscal action such as tax increases or cuts in government spending, both of which are politically unpopular. Governments, therefore, traditionally prefer to distance themselves from unpopular measures by allowing the RBA to be the visible “interest rates ogre”. John Slidziunas, Woonona
The suggestion that there are other, less painful, means to fix inflation leaves me perplexed. There is no such beast as a temporary tax. Once a tax is in that is it. Gittins should apply his expertise to examining the limited levers given to the RBA and suggesting a framework which combines both monetary and fiscal policy. This would give the RBA some real leverage. Erik Kulakauskas, Port Macquarie
The fading governor of the RBA says monetary policy is effective. He would say that after earning his bread and butter being a practitioner of it for decades. However, the assertion needs to be questioned. Notwithstanding the demise of monetarism, history shows that inflation, especially the more serious bouts, has been permitted, even created, by central banks. These institutions then seek kudos by turning up as inflation fighters. They seek forbearance for the woefully inadequate tool they have to repair the damage. They readily admit they are in the dark as to the relationship between their policy actions and the variables they seek to affect. Have they earned their keep or have they hidden behind a mystique which is truly wearing a bit thin? Mike Bush, Port Macquarie
Vets deserved better
The Vietnam War was a very difficult time for Australia (“Posthumous award in limbo 55 years after conflict”, August 16). Joining in a conflict to gain favour with the US government created bitter dissension at home and overseas. The McCarthy years in America, the dreadful sufferings of the Vietnamese people and the method of birthday selection of our troops is not a part of our history to make us proud. What does make us proud are the staunch endeavours of our young men who did what the government considered to be their national duty and participated in the war effort. The very least the Australian government can do today is to honour those efforts by acknowledging their bravery. The saga of Private Richard Nordern is just one example of courage under fire. Of course, he should have received the highest award for his actions long ago, and the only pity now is that it is posthumous. Nola Tucker, Kiama
Richard Nordern (second left) was among servicemen who received awards from NSW governor Sir Roden Cutler in 1969.Credit: George Lipman
My grandfather, having just returned from the Ypres battlefield in WWI, made a substantial donation to the newly formed RSL in his town (Letters, August 16). His gesture was eagerly accepted, but his subsequent treatment meant that he never went near an RSL for the rest of his life. This arrogance seems to have been part of the founding attitude of the RSL. Similarly, after rejection by some clubs, Vietnam veterans built their own war memorials, ran their own memorial days, and even have their own representative group, Nasho Fair Go, which doesn’t run pokies and bars, but represents the welfare of this group. Some RSL clubs have collapsed, until they are now what they started out to be: a welfare office for returned service people. Donald Hawes, Peel
Yes, the Vietnam Vets were often treated poorly. Conscription was rejected by the electorate in WWI and not even contemplated in WWII. No wonder there was so much anger and frequent anti-war demonstrations in the late 1960s. Sadly, many returned vets copped some of this through no fault of their own, and there is certainly no excuse for the reaction of many in the RSL in not welcoming newcomers. There is now a beautiful memorial in Seymour to the famous battle of Long Tan fought by members of D Company who had trained at nearby Puckapunyal army base – certainly worth a look for any Vets or others who are passing by. My late uncle, a WWII veteran and president of the local RSL for many years, was a driving force in its construction. Glenys Quirk, Forster
Some claims of the treatment of Vietnam veterans returning to Australia have been found to be “false memories” created by the repetition of unfounded claims in the media. All returning veterans need to be treated better. Governments are quick to send them off to futile wars based on lies but not so good dealing with the consequences of their return. Graeme Finn, Summer Hill
Vietnam war veterans justifiably complain about their treatment by the RSL and the Coalition government that sent them there. As a student anti-war protester at the time I can’t forgive the authorities, media and the large section of the public who called us “traitors” and “enemy agents”. There has been no acknowledgement that we were falsely accused and condemned, though ultimately proven right. Also, worth pointing out it was the Hawke Labor government which gave the veterans a belated welcome home despite Labor’s earlier opposition to the war and Australia’s part in it. Daniel Flesch, Bellingen
Half measures
“Bizarre” – possibly. Illogical – irrefutably (“Latham axed as One Nation leader, blames Hanson for ‘bizarre’ takeover”, August 15). So, does that mean One Nation is now divided by two, resulting in two half-parties, or has it simply “cloned itself” into two separate One Nation parties? Imagine One Nation squared. The mind boggles. An explanation, please, Pauline Hanson. Cleveland Rose, Dee Why
Friendly deal
Your writer asks the wrong question (“Should corporates air their Voice or mind their business?”, August 16). With the Labor government protecting Qantas from foreign airline competition, and Qantas subsequently announcing corporate support for the Voice, are these respective positions part of a quid pro quo? Riley Brown, Bondi Beach
Hollow victory
What will the No campaigners feel is their main achievement if they succeed in defeating the upcoming Voice to parliament referendum (Letters, August 16)? Will they see it as a strike for equality of representation, or equality of social and economic opportunity? Neither of these justifications seem to stand close scrutiny, given the history of disadvantage and discrimination affecting First Nations people. More likely it will merely be seen as base political victory against the government and reflect poorly on us as a nation. Simon Bartlett, Coogee
Venting frustration
I am not sure that “gas does feel the heat” (Letters, August 16). A gas vent for releasing vapours from a heating system in a new-build house next door has suddenly appeared opposite my living area. The Environmental Protection Authority has informed me that they have no regulatory control over gas. The local council has now informed me that the installation met the Australian standards and manufacturer’s specifications and that the matter is closed. No one, however, can point me to any regulations that address safety and public health in relation to venting systems. I have now written to the offices of both the federal and state minister for the environment and asked where I can find the regulatory guidelines for a green energy framework on new-build housing. Rod Leonarder, Roseville
Keep it local
It was good to read that two new digesters has been added at Manly sewerage treatment works, as your correspondent said, making a useful fertiliser for our farmers (Letters, August 16). However, we could have had more for our buck by installing underground compact treatment plants in suburbs where the waste occurs, thus being able to reuse the treated water and fertiliser without transporting raw sewage to our coastal outlets via old, inadequate leaky pipes, which currently pollute our waterways and harbour and pose a health risk to nearby residents and visitors to our waterways. Brian McDonald, Willoughby
Labour of love
Grandparenting leaves grandparents feeling used, under-appreciated and resentful, writes Hannah Vanderheide (“Should grandparents be paid for childcare?”, August 16). Not a bit of it. I’m deeply aware that in five minutes’ time, for my five littlies aged between four and nine, it will be “See you later!” I treasure every available moment with these precious human beings. That’s payment aplenty. Vic Alhadeff, Kirribilli
I argue that reciprocal love and inclusion as part of the family unit is what the majority of grandparents desire. Katriona Herborn, Blackheath
I have three grandchildren with parents who work more than full-time, and a 100-year-old mother who still likes me to take her on social outings, so at 77 my “retirement” is yet to eventuate. With Baby Boomers’ parents living healthier and longer we are often pulled in two directions, with limited time for our own needs. Christine Tiley, Albany Creek (Qld)
I declared that I would not be a regular carer for my grandchildren, having been in a caring profession nearly all my life and considering retirement. Then our first grandson arrived and it was lovely to care for him regularly and share those special moments. My husband (who had dementia) once asked “Who’s this baby who keeps coming here? Are we being paid?” An old bank manager never misses an opportunity for payment! I’m off to pick up my second grandson to go to the park. Happy days! Claire Edmonds, Floraville
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