Park’s bat colony of great ecological value
If you look after the bush you'll look after the bats. If you look after the bats you'll look after the bush.
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These little guys spend their entire lives pollinating trees and forests just like bees and they live in hive-like colonies all together like bees.
They only have one bub per year and a high rate of infant mortality – it isn't easy birthing and breastfeeding upside down. And then you've got owls and other urban dangers.
Do the bats smell? We'll I've raised two flying fox bubs at home and also shared with young blokes and I don't need to tell you which of the two groups is the stinkiest.
Lawrence Pope, North Carlton
Let the Latrobe Valley return the favour
Having recently spent a week in your great city, I thought it appropriate to thank you for such an enjoyable time.
There was plenty to do and see, and your streets were clean and welcoming.
Being from Latrobe Valley, it was good to get some contrast as to how others in regional Victoria live. Some things were totally different, and others were eerily familiar.
Recently there has been a lot of exaggerated negative press with regards to the closure of Hazelwood.
And it’s intriguing that your readers are equally engaged with the topic (“Looking forward not back on power”, Letters, May 22).
However, while Latrobe Valley does indeed face challenges, I assure you the economy is relatively stable and there is plenty to do and see here as well. So I hope that at some point you all will be able visit us, and I trust we will be just as welcoming.
Anthony Wasiukiewicz, Yallourn North
Game, set and match to Margaret Court
Tennis great Margaret Court is to be commended for her much-publicised comments regarding same-sex marriage.
It is no coincidence that the decline over many years of respect for, and adherence to, biblical authority has laid the crumbling moral foundation Western societies are in vain attempting to build on today.
The consequence of ignoring the biblical blueprint, i.e. "male and female He created them", that marriage as ordained by God was to be between one man and one woman, is but to hasten the fragmentation of society.
As individuals and as a nation we reap what we sow.
Frank Salmon, Eaglehawk
Immigration minister all at sea over refugees
Having been contradicted by a number of sources over his attempt to blame asylum seekers on Manus Island for the shots fired into the detention centre by members of PNG’s armed forces on Good Friday, Immigration Minister Peter Dutton now turns his attention to onshore asylum seekers seeking protection.
He stigmatises these people as “fake refugees” and accuses them of refusing to apply for protection.
The truth is that, until recently, many were prevented by his department from applying for asylum.
The application process requires people to complete a very long, complicated form in English, without departmental help.
Pro bono lawyers and other volunteers are working frantically to assist applicants but the workload is such that the October deadline proposed by the minister means many will be unable to get the help they need.
Minister Dutton is concerned about how much it is costing to support asylum seekers while they undergo processing.
It’s reassuring that Minister Dutton is so interested in saving our taxes, especially as he has just authorised a $250 million upgrade to his Immigration Department’s office buildings.
