Stop the division No explanation

My claim to be principal ballerina with the Bolshoi Ballet has more credibility than the claim of feminists at the Baw Baw meeting on April 3 that there is a direct correlation between a high frequency of domestic violence and a low frequency of female place naming.

In the Country song ‘Rock of My Soul’ Rodney Crowell sings:

“I’m a first-hand witness to an age-old crime.

A man who hits a woman isn’t worth a dime”.

No decent person of any gender would disagree; but to jump from that to an assertion a 70 per cent female place naming policy will make a difference to violence against women is a million miles away from reality.

Deplorable men who hit out at women are not going to curb their reprehensible behaviour simply because a new policy has been adopted favouring female place names.

Contrary to claims by speakers at the council meeting and repeated in letters to the Gazette, there has not been one shred of genuine tangible evidence put forward to show a demonstrable link between domestic violence and place naming.

Disingenuous claims of this nature are counter productive to the cause of gender equality. They create resentment in the wider male population who wouldn’t dream of assaulting any woman.

The sisters would gain more sympathy and support in the wider community if they refrained from demonising half the population and stopped vilifying anyone who dares to disagree with their point of view.

Matthew Laverack, Warragul

With all the debate regarding the Place and Feature Naming Policy at the recent Baw Baw Shire meeting, I thought it strange not one councillor on the place naming committee explained what the guidelines are.

I believed the person had to have some historic connection to the land or building, done something of merit for their town or country over a period of time or lived in the area for some considerable time.

Now after listening to the mayor and others, apparently none of the above criteria is necessary, you just have to be a woman so you can put her name on it.

I find that rather insulting to the women and men who, in the past have done great things for their communities or country over a long period of time)have their name on a street or building in recognition of their tireless work. But that doesn’t seem to matter anymore in our new woke society.

I guess Cr Firdous was disappointed there were not many willing to donate to the appeal for donations to the Go-fund-me page to help pay for a second full page ad in the Gazette wanting more men to come and support the place and feature naming policy being debated in council.

I would say judging by the number of men in the gallery the first ad was a waste of money,

Finally what do ratepayers think of council spending $148.50 on a small plate of sandwiches for councillors to sustain them for the meeting, do you think they are getting value for our money?