Imagine a woman who is also a mother, working full-time and enjoying it, in the 1970s. Mum began her career in Australia, an immigrant from Scotland, as a classroom teacher. 

Over the years this amazing woman rose from teacher, through the ranks to her position as head of senior student studies/deputy head of school at a time when these leadership roles were not generally held by women in co-educational schools.

From my female peers I have heard from so many times that they were inspired to teach, or inspired to work in something they love beyond having babies by my mum. 

More than this, when I meet ex-students of all ages, men and women, I am told repeatedly that they loved my mum as a teacher, a role model, and somewhat surprisingly the person who managed the discipline because she was always firm but fair.

While I know that Mum is looking forward to retirement and doing all the fun things she really didn’t get to do as a mother working full-time, I also know that she will be leaving a hole that despite her petite proportions will be very hard to fill.

Anna Beniuk, Mount St Thomas

 Tim Barrow –  journalist or political hopeful?  Is he writing about sport or trying to get a job with the NRL?  

He launches a political tirade at the A-League for holding two games in Wollongong providing the local fans with a chance to see their sides play without the trip to Sydney or interstate.

  I think Tim suffers from short-term memory loss if he has forgotten that previous A-League grand finals have had to be held on sub-standard grounds because the other codes had pre-booked major grounds on the off chance they would make their own finals.

  I thought journalism was supposed to tell the story and not promote a code the journalist supports individually.  

The same happens on TV with David Koch relentlessly hijacking the Sunrise program to talk about AFL because he is on the board of directors and has his own agenda.

   How about a level playing field Illawarra Mercury? 

Tom Franciskovic, Thirroul 

 We have a suggestion for Wollongong City Council, the now-idle pop-up kiosk at North Beach could very well be utilised on top of Mount Keira lookout, as thislocation is also a highly visited touristspot.  It’s a sad state of affairs when the mostpicturesque tourist location has a locked-up falling-apart cafe. 

Step up WCC, maybe they can get some ideas from China?

Nihal Uckan, Gwynneville

 During a break in the rain last week I decided to take my dog for a walk and ended up bogged. 

I am in an electric wheelchair and somehow went off the footpath and had three wheels stuck.

 Lucky for me I saw a truck with three council workers and was able to get their attention. 

These angels came and took the dog while one held me and the other one pulled the chair out. 

I want to thank them for their care and help.

J Mallon, Bellambi