In your own electorates of Wollongong, Keira, Shellharbour, Heathcote, Kiama and South Coast there are an estimated 7800 people living with dementia. That figure is projected to increase to about 17,900 by 2050. These numbers show how essential it is that we pave the way for future generations to live in dementia-friendly communities.

I encourage your readers to find out more by going to www.dementiafriendly.org.au.

John Watkins, chief executive officer Alzheimer's Australia

If anecdotal evidence can be taken as even marginally correct, some children in our region rely entirely upon schools and voluntary community centres for their daily sustenance, medical and personal hygiene care.

If indeed correct we are confronted with a situation requiring urgent remedial action. This urgent need for action is borne out by the shocking revelation in recent days, where children were discovered at a Fairy Meadow residence existing in abject squalor; unwashed and without shoes, adequate clothing or edible food and exposed to illegal drug use.

What if any hope of a normal healthy future is there for these children; should the authorities decide to return them to this environment of child abuse?

Among the questions society should be demanding to be answered are; is the Fairy Meadow case an isolated incident; and if not what does the Illawarra community need to do to put a stop to it?

Barry Swan, Balgownie

Ann Sudmalis, federal Member for Gilmore, schedules regular "Village Visits" in her electorate. I took this opportunity in May, August and September to raise issues about the government that I find concerning.

She described my questions as Labor policy and to answer them would be wasting both my time and hers. I have issue with major broken election promises - education, health, pensions. I am aghast at what is proposed for the unemployed and handling of asylum seekers.

Her reaction tells me that for Ms Sudmalis, her intention as a local member is to represent only those who share the Liberal view.

Maria Ellson, Minnamurra

I'm hoping Tourism Wollongong takes this suggestion up. There is fantastic scope for tours of our inner city garbage dumps.

The tour would start along The Blue Mile with a qualified anthropologist giving commentary on the local ferals' predilection for junk food and junk mail as evidenced by the dumped packaging.

The tour along various inner city streets would have prizes for the first one to spot a burgeoning footpath garbage pile (bit like koala spotting really).

The highlight would be a circuit of the ever growing pile of mattresses and furniture on the vacant land on the northern part of Corrimal Street. It would give our visitors a great feel for how a city can erect tourist vistas to rival the Pyramids.

Don Driscoll, Wollongong