LINES BLURRING ON WHAT OUR FREEDOMS ARE

THERE was an article in last Saturday’s paper (8/5) suggesting that Karen Matthews believes that because of our hard fought for freedom, we were entitled to an Anzac Day march.

I find that rather odd. Wasn’t it Karen Matthews who vigorously opposed a protest march last year?

Is freedom only available for some and not others?

Freedom is a word I have trouble understanding; I’m free to drive my car if I obey the rules. I’m free to walk my dog but must follow some rules. I have to be very careful with my so-called freedom of speech. I am free to ride my bike if I abide by the law.

We can also enjoy our freedom to attend an Anzac Day event, but

– guess what? – there’s more rules. Peter Rodgers

QR CODES NOT THE SOLUTION FOR EVERYONE

HOW am I supposed to scan into place when my phone won’t upload the app? It’s too old. Some places have paper to write your information but not all.

During lockdown, my husband and I went to a coffee shop at Waurn Ponds every day to buy takeaway coffee to help the

owners. When things opened up again we still went there, but now they have more customers again we are no longer welcome because we cannot download the app on our phone (the owners don’t have the paper any more and we were told to buy a new phone).

We now go to another coffee shop who are happy for us and other older people who don’t have or need these new wizz bang phones. They have paper.

Name and address supplied

1788

A gang of convicts under a stonemason starts building a house for governor Arthur Phillip, who lays a foundation stone.

1797

The leader of the only survivors of the wreck of the ship Sydney Cove, stranded on an island in Bass Strait, arrive at Wattamolla Beach, south of Sydney, and are found. Seventeen had taken a longboat from the island to the mainland and were then wrecked on Ninety Mile Beach.

1803

First authorised public Catholic Mass in Australia and first Catholic marriage celebrated in Sydney.

1808

The brig Harrington is seized by 50 convicts in Farm Cove, Sydney, and sails for the Philippines.

1888

Louisa Lawson starts publishing The Dawn in Sydney, a monthly journal for women with household hints, stories and fashion with political comment on topics such as female suffrage.

1948

Israel is attacked by Transjordan, Egypt, Syria, Iraq and Lebanon hours after declaring independence.

1978

Australia’s longestserving PM, Liberal Party founder Robert Menzies, dies in Melbourne, aged 83.

2000

Ian Thorpe, 17, breaks his third world record in three days, in 200m freestyle, in Olympic trials despite illness.

2010

Jessica Watson, 16, sails into Sydney after 210 days at sea, becoming the youngest person to sail solo and unassisted around the world.

2018

The co-pilot of a Sichuan Airlines passenger jet is “sucked halfway” out of the plane after a cockpit windshield blows out forcing. He is saved by his seatbelt.