This year marks the 50th Anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan.

On Sunday, August 14, at 11 am the Vietnam Veterans Association-Illawarra Sub Branch will commemorate the day with a service at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Flagstaff Hill, Wollongong Harbour.

Maureen will deliver the address.

Courtesy of HARS a Caribou Aircraft will fly over the Memorial to Honour the Memory of the 521 Aussies that did not make it home.

The Caribou aircraft was a workhorse in Vietnam and the sound of its engines is well known to all who served.

All are welcome.

Ian Birch, Fairy Meadow

I woke up to a beautiful front page photo of the four golden girls in Monday’s Illawarra Mercury.

How lucky we all are to have these gorgeous girls win that prestigious medal for us.

All their hard work came to fruit.

To have a local swimmer in the squad was even better.

To see their smiling faces, really made my day.

To Ron and Mike and family we congratulate you.

John Pronk, Wollongong

Several years ago after returning from a visit to Denver Colorado I submitted an opinion to this column on the merits of the light rail in that city.

I obtained details from Denver confirming the success they had in a situation not unlike that in Wollongong.

The benefits of  light rail in Wollongong would allow free movement of shoppers, tourists and business people to be able to move around the city and open up the areas west of the main CBD.

Denver have two light rail services either side of a very long street similar to Crown Street and are free to all.

The result being that all places of business along this long street are thriving.

If there is parking at one end of the street it does not restrict shopping etc. at the other end. Check it out.

Barry Hartley, Shell Cove

I refer to comments made by Ms Bev Langton (Illawarra Mercury, August 9, 2016), regarding her decision to seek pre-selection for the recently vacated seat of Wollongong. 

She is quoted as saying that she had dropped out of the contest in 2003, when Ms Hay was given head office support and that her first project this time would be to contact head office to find out who they see as the right candidate.

A very worrying mind set.

Her first priority, if she is seeking to represent the people of Wollongong should be to present herself to the people she hopes to represent. 

These people are in particular the long term rank and file members of the local ALP branches and in general, all the people who live in the electorate. 

The involvement of head office and its power brokers should be minimal. 

It’s called democracy.

John Martin, Woonona

When Bulli Pass is closed for repairs surely the speed limit between Thirroul and Clifton should be raised to 60km per hour.

Jaywalkers at Thirroul should be fined and cyclists banned from using Lawrence Hargrave Drive during that time.

Keep it simple stupid.

Dawn Crowther, Wollongong