Credit: Illustration: Alan Moir
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SOUTHERN CROSS STATION
Locals and visitors deserve so much better than this
Re Emily Day’s article on Southern Cross Station (Comment, 29/6). Certainly there is a drabness and dullness about it in a building that was once thought to be of world heritage. Another feature is the inescapable background noise from locomotives and diesel rail cars. The one area which was quiet, an acceptable food court, was replaced by a supermarket.
Day’s comments about the food are most apt, particularly when I compare it to what was available at the major British stations I have used. We need to make large improvements. A better bar would be a start. The refreshment room at the former Spencer Street Station served good, hot meals. (However, one outlet at the station sells excellent soups albeit only as takeaways.)
Locating a train is an interesting geographical exercise. I visit family in the Geelong area and the departure platforms must have been chosen using a random number generator. I have detected the following sequence: 5A, 6A (adjacent), 16, 8S and 1. The V/Line app shows the departure platform for just the next Geelong service. Passengers deserve better than this.
Platform designations used to be shown as N (north) and S (south). This has been retained for just platform 8S, which has no easy access to the other platforms. Finally, I agree with Day about the amiable staff, both on and off the trains.
Rod Watson, East Brighton
Look to major stations around the world for ideas
There is little to disagree with in Emily Day’s article, except where she says she is “being a whinger”. She raises legitimate complaints that need to be addressed. Conductors are courteous and helpful, but they are not permitted to ask passengers to put on their masks, or noisy passengers in the “quiet carriage” to be quiet or turn their phones to silent. This is left to fellow passengers to deal with. (“Passenger controlled”, a sign says.)
The trains themselves, while comfy enough, have no blinds against the afternoon’s heat and no fold-down tables on which to rest drinks, computers or papers.
One significant failure, indeed an offence, is V/Line’s insistence on referring to “customers” rather than travellers or passengers. It might consider an upgrade to its language, and also look at major stations in Stockholm, Moscow and New York for a few decent ideas.
Sandra Goldbloom Zurbo, Castlemaine
The danger to our health from the idling trains
”Some pot plants around Southern Cross, maybe a bakery or two”, suggests Emily Day. These will not work in that choking diesel haze. Shut down the idling trains.
Gregory Hill, Brunswick
The beauty – and the terrible misery of Melbourne
Paddy Wagstaff (Letters, 29/6) says Southern Cross Station is “a very depressing experience for tourists and interstate visitors”, adding “what a shocking welcome” to Melbourne.
I travelled by train from Frankston to Flinders Street Station to see a concert at Hamer Hall on June 19 and a ballet at The State Theatre on June 25. These were truly memorable and beautiful experiences – but walking back to the station among all the homeless people was a depressing anti-climax. I am a local, so I daresay the impact is greater on visitors.
Evelyn Lawson, Karingal
THE FORUM
Cold, alone and homeless
Jim Pavlidis’ cartoon (Letters, 1/7) reflects the reality in Glenferrie Road (near Mary Street) in Hawthorn.
A young man has been there for weeks, or longer, in front of two to three shopfronts with “for lease” signs. He, too, has chosen the alcove of one shop door.
Homelessness is everywhere. How can this man sleep when it is six degrees? And with tram works on Glenferrie Road? What more can he tolerate? What choice does he have as one of the many who are homeless?
Maree Williams, Kew
A most powerful premier
Your headline about a possible conflict of interest over Planning Minister Lizzie Blandthorn’s brother (The Age, 29/6) is concerning. Daniel Andrews is now behaving like a 16th century Florentine duke.
The Medici rulers engaged in huge public works and promoted the arts, just like our premier. They also kept aloof from their subjects and made sure that their “spin doctors” kept both enemies and detractors at arms length, just like him.
Because the Liberal opposition is so weak, Dan Andrews will again triumph in the November election.
John Orkin, Mount Waverley
Why weren’t we asked?
Re “Moreland to become Merri-bek” (The Age, 30/6). I am a long-time Moreland resident. When it came to my attention that the council was considering changing Moreland’s name (and this was by no means given any real publicity), I wrote to it asking if there would be community consultation before a decision was made.
In essence: the answer was no. The council made the decision to do so and then asked us, in a survey, which new name we preferred. This is now being presented to us as “community support” for the change.
It would be interesting to know what the results of the survey would have been if we had been given the opportunity to discuss and debate this beforehand.
Rita Thorpe, Coburg
One small gripe, Aunty
I have been a great fan of the ABC since I was a child. I am nearly 67 and I still love the ABC. I have grown up, and older, with it. The ABC is still my “go to”.
On Thursday I watched the ABC’s 90-year celebration special. There were so many great segments. Thank you.
But why did we have Missy Higgins singing in the beautiful outback? Why not Baker Boy or one of the many Indigenous singers of our great country? I am disappointed the ABC did not get this one right.
Mary Learmonth, Northcote
The growth in religions
True, the census found the number of Christians has decreased from 52per cent in 2016 to 44per cent in 2021. But the number of Muslims has increased from 2.6per cent to 3.2per cent in that period.
When I arrived here in 2001, mosques were offering only one Friday congregational prayer but now some offer two services (and the Melbourne city mosque offers three) to cope with the increasing crowds of the faithful.
I assume it is the same with other non-Christian religions as gurdwaras (for Sikhs) and temples (for Hindus and Buddhists) are continuing to be built.
Your correspondent refers to Jesus when he says “no other ancient historical figure is as well authenticated, or as influential” (Letters, 30/6).
The life of Prophet Muhammad is much more detailed than that of Jesus. While Jesus founded a religion, Muhammad founded a religion as well as a political empire.
Amirudin Ahamed, Noble Park
Embracing other faiths
Your correspondent says, “With less than 50 per cent of the population calling themselves Christian, surely it’s time to cancel Christmas and Easter (Letters, 1/7).
The population who identify as Christians do matter. We were once a Christian country and as Christians, we also embraced other faiths. What a wonderful world it would be if we could all acknowledge and celebrate each faith’s significant days but, above all, live by the code, “do unto others as you would have them do to you”.
Nola Cordell, Hoppers Crossing
Nothing is up there
Census data showing Australians are increasingly non-religious is a sign of increasing levels of education and exposure to science, logic, reality, and belief in equality and human rights, rather than blind faith in supernatural beings and magical thinking. And as an atheist, it is comforting for me to know there is nothing up there.
Adele Homburg, Elsternwick
Choosing our own path
Does it really matter that less than 50per cent of the population now describes itself as Christian? A person, far wiser than I, opined that there are many paths to God.
Michael Gamble, Belmont
Philosophical questions
Heidi Nicholl (Comment, 29/6) writes that it is possible to live a life of meaning without any supernatural beliefs. How then to explain externalities such as truth and justice?
Tom Quinn, Rowville
A loss of democracy
By a six to three majority, the US Supreme Court has overruled the Roe decision and ended almost 50 years of access to abortion. How can the US still call itself a “democracy” when six politically appointed justices can overturn laws, against the will of the vast majority of the population, for their own personal beliefs?
Sally Holdsworth, Malvern East
Cleaning up the game
Most football coaches still adhere to the mantra of John Kennedy, Hawthorn’s legendary coach – “Don’t think. Just do”.
If the AFL is serious about reducing the incidents of concussion, it must introduce a send-off rule to deter actions such as the one by Geelong player Tom Stewart in the match with Richmond – described by the tribunal as “having the potential to cause significant injury” (Sport, 29/6).
Kevin Brown, Moonlight Flat
Kick the ball, don’t box
A reasonably simple alternative to the problems of developing a send-off rule is the “send to the courts” rule. Many of the assaults that happen on the football field, in front of numerous witnesses and cameras, would be a matter for the police if they happened on public streets. We want to watch football skills, not boxing skills.
Dennis Fitzgerald, Box Hill
Following party line
Does United Australia Party senator Ralph Babet require any extra staff in his office? He already has Clive Palmer, the founder of the UAP, as well as Craig Kelly, our next prime minister, to advise him on political matters.
I am sure that Palmer and Kelly would prefer to be Babet’s only advisers to ensure he does not stray from their ideas.
Paul Gooley, Ringwood East
The truly hard job
I am 73, had my own business and worked 60-hour weeks. I agree with Anne Richardson (Letters, 28/6) that work is “a snack” compared to working as a stay-at-home mum. Thank you for making me laugh and for your succinct and truthful letter.
Margaret Mitchell, Balwyn
The population crisis
Chris Barrie – “The looming storm of food shocks” (Comment, 1/7) – clearly identifies the current and future problems of feeding the world’s people, but devotes only one paragraph to the elephant in the room: the ever-growing global population, which will require 50per cent more food than today. We need fewer people (but not by allowing them to starve to death, or drown).
Peter Deerson, Mornington
A new view of forestry
Megan Backhouse’s excellent article about sustainable forestry, as practised by forester Rowan Reid (Life, 1/7), needs to be read and understood by anti-forestry activists.
Peter Fagg, Blackburn
The great music debate
Margaret Steel (Letters 29/6), maybe you should also apologise to the next generations that you also had the best music, but why bother. As they used to say, if you weren’t there, you wouldn’t understand .
Ian Anderson, Ascot Vale
AND ANOTHER THING
Ukraine
The most effective way to unite disparate groups is for them to have a common enemy. Well done, Russia.
Erica Grebler, Caulfield North
Bernie Ecclestone says he’d take a bullet for Putin (1/7). If only.
Donald Newgreen, Brunswick West
Russian aggression continues. Ukraine your neck trying to see a solution.
Kevin Rugg, Sandringham
Religion
If people refer to me as having “passed” after I’ve died, I’ll come back and haunt them.
Margaret Ady, Avondale Heights
Well done, Michael Jensen (Comment, 30/6) for giving a clear and unbiased view of where we are regarding transcendence.
Neville Wilson, Rosanna
Ticking no religion does not necessarily mean no belief in God.
Adrian Tabor, Point Lonsdale
Due to regular aisle walking in hushed tones most Sundays, when asked my religion I say “Bunnings”.
Kevan Porter, Alphington
Furthermore
A bitter irony: As the ABC celebrates its 90th birthday, it makes staff from its archives department redundant.
Elspeth McCracken-Hewson, Camberwell
The ABC’s birthday party, all bells and whistles, was great, highlighting its many achievements. Will it now spend time addressing its flaws?
Mary Cole, Richmond, Richmond
In her “Generation Gap” cartoon (30/6), Wilcox is once again spot on at amusingly portraying the underlying issue. Brilliant.
Merryn Boan, Brighton
When drying my washing, I always use the very latest technology – a combination of solar and wind power.
Kate Wilkinson, Elsternwick
Goodbye, Moreland (30/6). Welcome to Wokeland.
David Angel, Queenscliff
Surely your letters editor realised the percentage of Moreland residents who answered the survey on the name change was 6.315per cent (1/7).
Alan Inchley, Frankston
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