AS I walked down Hunter Street on Monday I saw three more trees being cut down and fed into a wood chipper. The coming of the light rail has now removed 12 beautiful mature trees from the short stretch of street between Wheeler Place and Worth Place. Trees in a city soften the hardness of the built environment and ease the eye. I hope that there are plans to replace them along Hunter Street after the rail work is finished.
Kevin Harrison, Newcastle
CONGRATULATIONS to the good people of Grafton (population 19,000) in the state electorate of Clarence, held by the Nationals in the last state election in spite of a 22% swing. On Tuesday you received a $7.6 million state grant to redevelop your regional gallery and help protect your $3.7million collection (The Daily Examiner 29/5). Please tell us how you achieved this! I think it behoves us all to remember that next month’s state budget is an election budget, being the last before the March 2019 election. How that budget treats Newcastle will be as good as it gets for the next four years.
Robert Henderson, The Hill
MALCOLM Turnbull is distinguishing himself as the Prime Minister championing tax cuts for big corporate Australia, including the major banks and AMP, despite the unconscionable conduct exposed at the royal commission. I wonder how many votes he will get at the next election?
Susie Johnson, Adamstown
BRYN Roberts (Short Takes 29/5): take the short trip to Singleton. Several pubs have $4 happy hour schooners and $5 schooners in general. You can also get a great pub meal for $10. Make a day of it and check out the hub of the valley. The coalmining industry is abuzz, and there’s plenty to like and see.
Brad Hill, Singleton
RON Elphick (Short Takes 29/5) thinks the “house of review" should be sacked and the wages that are saved should be used to pay down national debt. I couldn't agree more. We certainly should sack the Senate, as soon as we can trust the House of Representatives. My guess is no time soon.
Brett Patrick, Pelican
AFTER much debate the on-again off-again hairdo summit between Kim Jong-un and Donald Trump is on again in Singapore. Here for an unspecified time Kim and Donald will go head to head. In the red corner we have Kim with a high-level slick double basin cut with horizontal frontal horns and in the blue corner we have Donald with a fluffed and blown combover with a semi ducks tail. The world awaits with baited breath.
Sandy Buchanan, Largs
REGARDING Robert Green (Letters 29/5): that's just typical of our illustrious pollies’ attitudes. If something doesn't affect them personally, they just don't care. Personally I think Berejiklian is an utter disgrace.
Peter Russell, East Maitland
WELL may we say a nice little nest egg for Barnaby Joyce and Vikki Campion's son. I remember getting 5 shillings (50 cents) a fortnight for my first-born.
