Marilyn Monroe sculpture a vision of beauty
I am excited to see the new Marilyn Monroe statue in Bendigo and I wait in anticipation for the exhibition featuring the vision of beauty that was Marilyn Monroe at the Bendigo Art Gallery.
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I saw the statue for the first time on the bus on Tuesday and two young women asked who it was.
I could not believe it. She's only one of the greatest actresses of all time! She wasn't just some glamorous movie star - she had great comic timing and refined her skills by taking dancing, singing and fencing lessons.
I was again on the bus on Wednesday and two elderly ladies commented on how "disgusting" the statue of Marilyn Monroe is. What is wrong with some people?
She is one of the most beautiful people of all time and simply lit up the screen. There is no one like her.
No wonder Andy Warhol created the screen print of her, which is currently on exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria.
I look forward to seeing more of Marilyn when the exhibition comes to Bendigo in March.
Angela Morrissey, Eaglehawk
Councillors, not officers, hold the power
I refer to Michael McKenzie's letter (“How meaningful is your vote?”, Bendigo Advertiser, February 4) questioning the value of having a democratically elected city council with the insinuation that councillors are simply puppets manipulated by council officers.
I'm not aware that Mr McKenzie has ever served on council, but if he has and has read council meeting agendas, he should know that reports to councillors discuss the issues, evaluate the options and recommend (that is their role) a course of action.
Councillors are not compelled to accept the recommendation and can request further investigation where deemed to be necessary. Certainly, often, the majority of councillors will accept and approve the recommendation because it is the most sensible decision.
The councillors are in charge, not the officers, even though there can be some differences of opinion between the individual councillors - and that is democracy at work.
Mr McKenzie, and others, mounted a strong campaign, at the last council election, to favour candidates that supported their demand for an independent review of council operations with a view to, essentially, reducing rates.
The election result may have been affected by the change of ward boundaries and different means of dealing with voter preferences but, essentially, Mr McKenzie got his way.
The review, at a stated cost of $250,000, was conducted and the recommendations have been applied, but Mr McKenzie now wants to abolish the council and have commissioners installed by the state government.
It seems to be very hard to please some people.
Certainly the discord amongst the current councillors is unprecedented, and to be lamented, but it does not mean that the council is producing decisions that hinders council's progress.
The installation of commissioners is anti-democratic, will cost council a lot more than paying a modest stipend to councillors, and place our destiny in the hands of those of the state government – and we will have little say in our future.
Bruce Phillips, Maiden Gully
Response to letter misses the mark
Mr Kitt – a politician in the making – thank you for your response to my letter.
However, not one comment on anything I mentioned.
- Myki billion dollar debacle.
- Jacinta Allan and Bendigo's new bus route mess.