It was a brilliant concept let down by poor execution. The cost for a couple travelling from Albury-Wodonga started at $50, that being two adult entries of $20 plus $10 for petrol, return. That was way too much money for what was on offer.

We day-trippers didn’t want to experience geriatric highly paid rock and roll musicians playing to open air crowds. We were seeking the old cars, trucks, motorbikes, street rods and old farm engines displayed so well in the town triangle area. We also spent our money at the shops and at the market stalls which were a feature for two decades.

The format could be changed and the entry fee halved by limiting live rock to the evening dance. Retain the market stalls and outdoor displays which have drawn crowds over the years and re-build the festival for Tallangatta and the whole north-east region. Does nobody else care?

The Anglican Church is taking the right approach in wanting to support blessings for same-sex unions.

There are too many in our society who are phobic and insulting to people in same-sex unions. Too many in our region think it is OK to make cheap comments that cut deeply into people.

Education is required to get minds and hearts caring and understanding.

The Church is a leader and can help make people more understanding. Parts of our community and region have warped, nasty minds and are like the middle right-wing USA in regards to many issues.

Albury City Council must be congratulated for its proactive effort in supporting community sponsorship of refugees (‘Different views on refugee lobbying’, The Border Mail, June 26) and, thereby, its endorsement of practices that respect basic human rights.

This decision has highlighted Albury as a welcoming community that fosters a spirit of inclusiveness. The actions taken by Albury City Council to effectively settle and integrate people whose lives have been torn apart by violence are vital. Such actions facilitate these new citizens to rebuild their lives and to contribute to society in a meaningful way.

I look forward to council's ongoing efforts in generating opportunities for broad-based community networks (involved in raising funds and offering support to refugees) so that people requiring asylum feel safe and valued, are able to live and work legally in Australia, have access to health services and a right to education.

Australia will prosper from a humanitarian Community Sponsorship Program as adopted by Albury City Council.

I just turned 73 on June 26. Being curious I wondered how many days that amounted to, so I multiplied 73 by 365, and got 26,645. I thought that was quite a number, but then I looked again and realised that it was the day that I was born. The 26^th of June, 1945. How much of a coincidence is that? How many times can that come up?

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