Personally, I am quite satisfied with the status quo.

However, if there is discussion about changing the date, there is one point that I think should be brought up and which I have not seen mentioned so far.

The present date of 26 January effectively disbars all of our schools from being part of any official celebrations coming as it does right at the end of the long vacation.

This would also apply to many of our major youth organisations such as scouts, guides, cadets etc etc,  many of whose local units are inclined to close down for the same Christmas school holidays.

David Coates OAM, Wollongong

In response to Dave Cox in his contribution ‘Minister for loathing’ (Illawarra Mercury, Saturday January 27)  writing about the existing standard of rail service on the South Coast line.

He identified the very real fact that, on most days, it is cattle class only for South Coast commuters.

However, what is currently horrendous for South Coast line commuters could become even worse should carriages from the $2.3 billion Korean built inter-city fleet ever be assigned to the South Coast line.

The possibility of this occurring for a while is unlikely as it has been discovered the Korean built inter-city fleet of carriages are too wide to fit through some tunnels in the NSW rail system.

Added to this problem is the Korean built carriage design is totally incompatible with some NSW railway station platforms.

NSW Minister for transport, Andrew Constance and his advisers, who signed off on this deal, have delivered to the people of NSW an expensive transport “lemon” of monumental dimensions.

 No doubt Andrew, “the boy from Bega” Constance as is his habit, will find someone else to blame for his incompetence on this occasion.

Barry Swan Balgownie 

Just read the paper and Bernard Tomic is going to be on that show ‘I’m a Celebrity, Get me out of Here’.

Firstly, what makes him think he is a celebrity.

 Secondly, how is he going to get his millions of dollars to the jungle to count.

Warren Fleming Balgownie

After watching the news, and reading the Illawarra Mercury today. I just have to say, the justice system in America is the best.

I'm referring to the doctor who was sentenced to 125 years.

I just wish we had a handful of judges and magistrates here that would rule with an iron fist.

No penalty is too harsh for the crimes he committed.

Let's all get behind a change for the better.

Throw out the “do-gooders” and rewrite the penalties we wish to have them serve.

Lawrence Wren, Wollongong

Wollongong already has a senior's park, it is called Cliff Road between Bourke Street and Marine Drive.

The only improvement needed is for the council to close this area to all vehicles and just let the seniors get on with exercising as already occurs daily.  

We seniors are old enough to continue unsupervised and without needing additional government funding or organising.

 All other ages are invited to join in the fun.

Ben Morris, Wollongong