If they had just looked across the road, into the nature conservation reserve, that they claim is their mountain bike park, they would find plenty of rubbish left over from unauthorised trail building. 

LOL.  It’s no laughing matter actually because LOL in this instance stands for ‘Lack of Leadership’.

For some time now it has been accepted science that climate change will cause increased extreme weather events and these will happen with increased frequency.

The best many of our elected representatives did during the recent extreme and record-breaking heat in Australia is to try and score cheap political points by denigrating the ‘other side’.

This was a display of disgusting behaviour and a total and complete lack of leadership.

Politicians again need to be reminded that the Australian electorate is fed-up with behaviour more akin to a drunken brawl than to a nation’s government.

Somehow we need a system so that instead of waiting till the next election to turf the bludgers out on the streets, we can take and make that decision ourselves.

So Malcolm, et al, show some leadership.  You are, after all, the prime minister.

I WRITE in response to the letter ‘Don’t quash passion’, The Border Mail, February 9). Wodonga Middle Years College has a strong belief that students need to be given optimum opportunities to follow their passions, particularly in the areas of arts, technology and languages.

We know student outcomes improve when students feel connected and can pursue their interests. This belief underpins our year seven elective program, where students are given an opportunity to explore all areas, including music, drama, art, sculpture, technological studies in wood and metal, as well as languages and Information Technology. It’s probably why we have achieved such outstanding results on a state and national level.

Notably, one of our drama students winning the coveted National Class Clowns’ award, being awarded winner of the State Poetry Competition and our music students being invited to tour regionally and indeed perform at the North East Victoria Region concert at Hamer Hall, in 2016.

Our programs and vast elective choices do not diminish in year eight and nine. Indeed in an effort to cater for students’ needs, we ask that they select their electives, prior to our invaluable “Head-start” program. After the students have chosen their electives in the previous year, they are then given another opportunity to review and change their electives. In effect this means that teachers in the first few weeks of the new school year go to great lengths to change students’ first choice.

There are sometimes constraints, such as class sizes, given that this is not the first round of preferences.

Our teachers work tirelessly to facilitate student interest and passion because we know, this ultimately leads to greater student connection and ultimate success.

ON February 6 I posted a letter in an A4 envelope to my son in Sydney. As of today (February 15), he has still not received it. I had to send another letter with the paperwork again today. This time I sent it express post. Hopefully he will get this one before next Christmas.

How can Australia Post condone paying their CEO over $5 million and they cannot deliver a letter in an acceptable timeframe.