Tennis louts are bringing the country into disrepute

Australia is a nation of contradictions, perhaps no more epitomised than by the controversy surrounding our national day. However, the transition from long weekend to a day of national reflection has enabled important conversations and honest recognition of the good and the bad of our past and present. As the saying goes, we need to know where we have come from and who we are now if we are going to make the most of where we are going together. Philip Cooney, Wentworth Falls

Regarding sanctioning and sanitising events that happened on January 26, 1788 (“Smoke and mirrors”, January 22-23), could someone remind me what happened on that day? I know that the First Fleet had arrived in Port Jackson the day before and in Botany Bay on the 20th, but are we not getting upset about something both less and more than the 26th? Surely, Australia is now mature enough to fix its national day on a day (not a date) that is significant and not contentious, like the last Monday of the summer holiday month? Ian Bowie, Bowral

What happened on January 26, 1788, was basically inevitable, given the capacity of Western nations for worldwide travel and trade by sea, their naval and military power and competition between them at the time. Fifty or 100 years later, that likelihood was even greater, with many countries potentially in “the game”. Some of the powers had been trading for a century or two and needed only some commercial or strategic incentive to move to colonisation. Indigenous Australians were very badly treated despite some genuine attempts by Governor Phillip and some of his officers to establish harmonious relations. Lack of communications and ignorance of each other was a major problem and setting that right is where we need to go now. The broader population needs to know and understand more about not just visual aspects of Indigenous ceremony, art and general cultural practice but what it means, where it comes from, what is spiritual and what is really just practical bushcraft. Fire management and burning the country might be a good starting point, given the recent impact of fires on our tree-changers and farming communities. Mike Seward, Port Fairy (Vic)

‘Good bloke’ not enough to lead

As Malcolm Knox states (“Be warned: we’re not wearing beer goggles”, January 22-23), being a good bloke to have a beer with is a pretty low hurdle to jump over to be a leader of a country. His suggestion of “competence” as a minimum requirement could also be complemented by “integrity” and “vision”. Can you imagine it – a competent leader, with integrity and vision? Adam Liberman, Randwick

There are a lot of Os in Malcolm Knox’ s excellent review of the beery swill that clutters our current leaders’ photo ops. Scomo and Albo and Bojo. The only good O was the matzo and that can be pretty flat unless you mould it into an O shape and add it to the chicken soup. A mummy state is more desirable than a nanny state (unless you are an au pair). A daddy state buys you future-proofed submarines and another big announcement with many 000s at the end. We’re not fooled by barramundi, barbecues and beer. Give us a clean environment, a living wage, equitable healthcare and wealth, a streamlined process and safe haven for refugees, and a Makarrata. Then we can talk. Beverley Fine, Pagewood

Malcolm Knox’s review of politicians drinking beer puts Albo and Scomo in the same keg, but there’s as big difference: Albo has a beer named for him, Albo Corn Ale, an inner west favourite for six years. Perhaps “Corny” would have been better than “bitter” in Letch’s cartoon. Tone Wheeler, Surry Hills

Success beyond school

How do you put a value on education and learning? Your article (“Low-fee schools beat expensive counterparts”, January 22-23) suggests you can draw a line from fees charged to school success rates when examining private school achievement and the HSC. The question that should perhaps be asked instead is what schools – both private and public – excel at in better preparing students for the transition from formalised schooling to the adult world beyond. A longitudinal study with measures inclusive of academic success, critical thinking, decision-making and social skills that takes account of student progress in life 10 and 20 years beyond the HSC, may well provide some illuminating answers on “school success”. Rod Leonarder, Roseville

Parents make personal choices about which private school to send their children. The success of low fee-paying schools versus high fee-paying schools in the end will not matter to those parents financially able to decide what will give their children the best chance to succeed in life post-HSC. The analysis should be sent to government and those that decide how much public funding these schools should really receive. Michael Blissenden, Dural

Liberals economy fail

Even after so many economic failures, surveys continue to show the Liberal Party ahead in economic management (“Morrison caught in omicron wave”, January 22-23). Refugees held in hotels for nine years at government expense, instead of them being in the community earning, spending and paying tax. Federal government happily paying $79 per PCR COVID test yet refusing to pay $15 for a RAT. JobKeeper’s $20 billion handout to big business. Not to mention the ongoing rorts and accepted pork barrelling. This is not good economic management, this is a waste of taxpayers’ money. Mark Nugent, Lugarno

Defect to the West

The citizens of Western Australia are lucky they have Premier Mark McGowan, who has put their welfare above all else, whereas in NSW, for Premier Dominic Perrottet, the economy is more important (“Sandgropers in no hurry to get up close to COVID”, January 22-23). It is a pity that we haven’t a premier of the calibre of McGowan, who cares about people, rather than “let it rip” Perrottet. There must be thousands of NSW folk wanting to migrate to WA, I know I am. Robert Pallister, Punchbowl

Anxiety ripple effects

Frank Bongiorno reminds us how human behaviour changes over time and how the pandemic is already affecting social intercourse (“Uncertainty is with us to stay”, January 22-23). Perhaps a little slice of family history can illustrate how the Spanish flu pandemic was still impacting my darling Gran, some 40 years after her brother died. Despite being an otherwise healthy woman, forever after she was terrified of “germs”. A generation later, I had difficulty with the constant handwashing required whenever we visited. Gran was truly a sweet little old lady, but with more than a touch of OCD and agoraphobia. Anxiety is a common response to uncertainty. Let’s just remember to be kind to one another along the way. And anyone who might need professional help should be able to access it readily. Otherwise, the ripple effects can be long-lasting. Margaret Johnston, Paddington

Women’s cricket wins

Contributing to the discussion on cricketing terms being gender-neutral, your correspondents (Letters, January 22-23) approve of “He’s/she’s a good bat” and the heightened recognition of women’s cricket. Hopefully though, their batting won’t be modelled on the men’s recent performance, some of which has been rock-bottom. Harry Polley, Dural

Rodents to nowhere

Yes (Letters, January 22-23), come the election, I’m sure the RATs will definitely be out of their nests and plentiful in some areas of NSW, having bred for a few months. Suzanne Wicks, Potts Point

Blizzard of Oz

Why is that our political masters seem unable to utter more than a sentence or two without using either “Australia” or “Australian”, as in “older Australians”? We know who we are and where we live, so why not just “older people”? This practice has also become endemic in the media. Today, I read a newspaper article in which “Australian(s)” was used unnecessarily nine times. Brooke Broughton, Leura

Real-life lessons

Interesting to find out how much time will be allocated for teaching and learning in schools with the massive task of controlling, administering and applying RAT tests twice a week for all students and teachers, and monitoring symptoms. The Premier’s idealistic approach reminds me that realism opens the eyes blinded by idealism. As someone once said: “An idealist is one who, on noticing that a rose smells better than the cabbage, concludes that it makes a better soup”. Tony Moo, North Sydney

The digital view
Online comment from one of the stories that attracted the most reader feedback yesterday on smh.com.au
Schools to hand out millions of RATs under twice-a-week testing regime
From Remediator: ″⁣So what happens on the other three school days? Premier just closing his eyes and hoping Omicron will behave on the other days like it did on December 15? Here is what will happen. Someone gets it on a day they are not tested, the entire class including the teacher will get it and probably pass it to most other teachers and the schools will need to close or parents will decide to keep their children home anyway and lose complete faith in the process. Same as what is happening in retail right now through virtual lockdowns. If not testing every day then a better plan is a hybrid remote learning model where everyone is tested on the day before and on the day they attend in person until the outbreak is under control. Face to face learning is important but so is avoiding days away from school and further fear, uncertainty and doubt that poor policy has already inspired.″⁣

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