Blues, no wonder, along with NSW, you exploded with relief, with an impossible win, on the death knell. Well and truly outgunned for much of the match. Still two to go. Try hitting your stride from the start, and sticking to it. Getting real worn out, after so many years of underperformance, since 1980.
Your headline "End of an era" (Newcastle Herald, 27/5), is only partly correct. Liddell was one of 27 steam power stations built in NSW over the past century - from Tamworth in 1888 to Mt Piper in 1993. Each reflected the ambitions, engineering confidence and energy demands of its time. Just as importantly, they were built, operated and maintained by generations of engineers, operators, tradesmen, support staff and contractors whose skills and commitment kept the state supplied with electricity for decades. Entire communities and working lives were shaped around these stations. No more will be built. Only four remain - Vales Point, Eraring, Bayswater and Mt Piper - and all are likely to close within the next decade. So yes, it marks the end of an era for the Liddell site itself. But more broadly, it is part of the ongoing end of the era of coal-fired generation that shaped NSW: powering industrialisation, the growth of cities, and the standard of living many Australians have long taken for granted.
Thank you to the Herald for sharing the stories of those whose lives were powered and shaped by the Liddell coal-fired power station ("Workers share Liddell memories", Herald, 27/5). The Hunter Valley has a proud tradition of energy generation and, even as the coal stacks come down, that tradition continues in the form of clean, renewable energy that is cheaper and better for the health of workers and the community. As Grant Hunter said of Liddell, it was "her time to go", but the memories will live on.
I often don't agree with Steve Barnett but I am 100 per cent with him on expectations and reality. I grew up having extra jobs as well as my main one. I started off in a small one-bedroom house which I extended twice, as I got the money to do it. I would never have been able to afford the numerous things Steve lists that are commonplace for young people these days. They mention how much more the cost of houses is now in relation to a person's income, but back then there was usually only one income earner paying off the house unlike the double incomes now, and interest rates were far higher. I looked at the government payments that are handed out today and stopped counting at 20. None of these were available in my day, you looked after yourself, the government didn't look after you. Sit outside a supermarket and look at the trolleys as they go past you, laden with things you don't need, and, in many cases, are bad for your health. As you walk back to your car, look at the other cars. I have a small four-cylinder car that gets me anywhere I want to go and it is dwarfed by cars that cost three times as much and use double the fuel. Cost of living crisis, not really.
For a nation that brags about being democratic, its actions show the opposite. The actions of the Israeli defence force (IDF) towards the flotilla, a group of courageous, dedicated humans that, without hesitation, speak out and demonstrate in support of anyone who is abused, shoved from pillar to post, and, worse, killed in their homeland, show clearly the IDF and the Israelis' true colours. The allied nations that allow and still support Israel's behaviour, by continuing to be allies are just as guilty. If such a behaviour is what democracy is about, we must change the definition of the word democratic.
Your editorial ("Humanity transcends religious divides", Opinion, 25/5), describes the many benefits that come from a society with a diverse population. To the fortunate convergence of major religious festivals for the three Abrahamic faiths between May 22 and 27 can also be added the celebration of Vesak Day on May 31, the most sacred holiday for Buddhists, when followers will give thanks for his life. Our community has been enriched during my lifetime of more than eight decades by the arrival of immigrants from all corners of our planet, bringing their cultures, food, ways of life and religious practices. While accepting we need a balanced discussion about the number of permanent arrivals, the political debate blaming migrants for all the problems is not a good climate for such a discussion. The values advanced in your editorial are ones I would hope all Australians might embrace. As you conclude, "our shared humanity and ethical treatment of neighbours can forge a stronger global community defined by unity rather than conflict".
What a paltry excuse from NSW Police - they had no indication of a terrorist attack. Didn't the attacks on Jewish establishments, dismissing the Iranian ambassador and ASIO saying the threat of a terrorist attack was probable raise a few red flags? Was there a threat of a terrorist attack when Israel's president was here and the riot squad was deployed and New Year's Eve where there was a massive police presence? I doubt it. The way I see it, the hierarchy of NSW Police and state government are an absolute joke and need to be held accountable for the Bondi attack.
My threepence worth: leave the food as it has been forever. We were lucky enough to have a canteen serving the basic food that beachgoers want: drinks, freshly made sandwiches, hot chips, good old hotdogs. Not fancy prices, just honest ones, certainly not $12 for a small cup of coffee. Our best-selling item was cartons of flavoured milk. Please think of the ordinary clientele.
Ben Roberts-Smith's arrest was a very public event - almost staged. Yet we have so-called Isis members being ushered out the back door of airports, protected by private family-organised militia. All managed by AFP. Hardly balanced treatment.
I agree with Dave Sharpe (Letters, 27/5), in his comments about Zack Schofield knowing full well what he was letting himself in for by joining that flotilla. He and his other Rising Tide protesters are referred to as "professional activists". I feel a more appropriate title for them is "professional pests". All the disruption these attention seekers cause will have absolutely no effect on what they have been protesting about. All they do is make a nuisance of themselves.
Karl Stefanovic and other whingers have short memories. In 2024, NSW were forced to play with 12 players for 73 minutes after Joseph Sua'ali'i was sent off in Origin game 1. I did not see them complaining. By contrast, Queensland had enough start to win with some "lucky" decisions, and only played without Ponga for 23 minutes.
