Sadly, in early January 2015, a second break-in at our North Wollongong facilities resulted in a bill running into the thousands of dollars to replace additional stolen equipment.

We are grateful to the Wollongong Police and our judicial system that has resulted with an individual arrested and refused bail for this second event which was again accurately reported in your press. We were also humbled by the tremendous support shown by the members of the Illawarra community after reading our plight, again courtesy of your media coverage. Despite these setbacks, the Illawarra Live Steamers will continue to offer and provide our steam trains and facilities to members of the Illawarra and visitors, to young families with toddlers often accompanied by their grandparents, and to community groups.

Derek Warner, honorary secretary, Illawarra Live Steamers

I recently walked on Coledale's dog beach with a friend who was knocked over and scratched by a hound which barrelled into her.

Just months before, both my friend and I had signed the petition in favour of the dog beach. We know several local dogs and enjoy their company and antics on the sand and in the water.

When we said to the dog's owner it would have been nice if she had been able to control her hound she said, in a somewhat aggressively defiant tone "This is a dog beach." Just a few metres on, another dog bumped us and the same thing happened again, provoking the same comment from us and receiving the same reply, in a more overtly rude tone.

Somewhere along the line the victory of the dog beach has missed the point of shared usage; that this beach is a beach for everyone including owners of dogs, but not exclusively and not at the expense of the safety of people.

A public education campaign with some good signage and graphics about dos and don'ts of dog owner etiquette may be necessary to establish some basic principles of good beach manners for canines and their owners: i.e. do not throw a ball for your dog towards oncoming walkers; keep your dog under control around toddlers.

I don't blame the dogs for their unleashed exuberance. But their owners showed a disappointing lack of consideration and community spirit.

The beach is the very best of public spaces for everyone to enjoy. Let's keep it that way, whether on four legs or two.

Caroline Baum, Coledale

I'm horrified at the cavalier attitude of some people to the execution of the two Australians in Bali. The thing that confuses me is the moral contortionism the goose stepping ideologues have to go through to end up with the absolute conviction that these men deserve to die.

They say these people didn't care about those dying from the drugs they tried to import. I'll bet those saying that also hold drug addicts in contempt and would never grieve over deaths from overdose.

They say that we must respect the laws of another country and their right to kill evil people with no conscience about whom or how many their offence kills. I don't recall any letters of praise for the Indonesian justice system from these people when 36 of the Bali bombers were set free. How much respect does that system deserve?

Andrew Sefton, Thirroul