Anzac service is worth the early start even a century after the war’s end

It should not be a matter of convenience to rise for the Anzac Day service at Villers-Bretonneaux, but of dedication.

Mark Day has nailed the reasons why the publicly-funded bureaucrats are wrong to axe the dawn service at Villers-Bretonneux (“Dawn service axed, moved to ‘more convenient’ 10am”, 25/2). Because they are isolated from the public that pays their wages, the bureaucrats do not understand that many Australians are willing to undergo “inconvenience” to attend. Those brave Australians from a century ago who gave their lives suffered the ultimate inconvenience.

Remembering our Anzacs outranks any inconvenience that a bureaucrat would suffer by getting out of bed early.

David Waye, Pyalong, Vic

Children need activity

“What is the response of the medical fraternity to depression in children?” asks John Partridge (Letters, 25/2). Richard Harris, one of the two Australians of the Year, expressed his concern about children not being challenged enough physically and mentally. Harris and his caving partner Craig Challen are using their award to address this issue.

They believe outdoor adventure involving risks and challenges can give children the capacity to deal with modern life and the skills to internalise self worth. Thank heavens we have these two, who aren’t trying to browbeat us with identity politics, but offer considered, practical suggestions.

Sarah Childs, Lithgow, NSW

It’s not about the PR

That Catholic archbishop Mark Coleridge can describe the collapse in community trust in the church prompted by sex abuse scandals as a “most spectacular own goal” says it all (“Catholic Church ‘must win back trust’”, 25/2). It says that the church is still more interested in its image than in the lived reality of its adherents; that protecting the institution and its employees is more important than the men, women and children whose lives have been destroyed by the actions of some church employees; and, by implication, that all the church needs to do to re-establish itself is conduct a better PR campaign.

Jennie Morris, Wollongong, NSW

Make a contribution

John Anderson (“Shining a light on the endlessly divisive social conflicts of our times”, 25/2) sums it up when he states “Jordan Peterson understands the danger of modern identity politics”. My view is that, over a lifetime, each one of us should make a net contribution to our generation and to the generations to come, and not indulge in destructive identity politics.

P. Clarke, Corinda Qld

A tough road for teachers

The issues of teacher workload and pay (“Teachers walk away from low pay and 60-hour week”, 25/2) were canvassed in the senate’s 1998 inquiry into the status of the teaching profession, A Class Act. Nothing came of it, and I expect nothing from the current inquiry. Teachers have lower pay and worse working conditions than when I first taught, 40-plus years ago. If teachers want the pay and conditions of the past they will have show the professional solidarity of my generation and fight for them.

Chris Curtis, Hurstbridge, Vic

Society should put pressure on parents and students regarding school performance, instead of expecting others to perform the duty of parent.

Augusta Monro, Dural, NSW

Not all agents the same

It is “education agents” who sell courses to international students and receive commissions, not registered migration agents (“The value of international students remains debatable”, 23-24/2). A parliamentary committee recently acknowledged the ethical behaviour of the great majority of registered migration agents.

Richard Davies, Algester, Qld