On 3 March more than 600 people walked or ran at North Wollongong's Stuart Park in support of those living with dementia in the local community.

An incredible $40,000 was raised, and these funds will be used to boost dementia education services and support delivered by Dementia Australia throughout the Illawarra.

In New South Wales there is an estimated 146,000 people living with dementia. With that figure projected to increase to about 345,380 by 2058, events like Memory Walk and Jog play an important role not only in funding support, but also in raising awareness of dementia.

Everyone who participated in Memory Walk and Jog can be confident the money they raised will have a direct and positive impact for the members of their community who are living with dementia.

I’d like to thank everyone who’s participation and contribution made the 2019 Illawarra Memory Walk & Jog so successful.

Planning has already commenced for the next Illawarra Memory Walk and Jog when we aim to to build on this year’s success.

Maree McCabe, CEO, Dementia Australia

Who, in a moment of opacity, permits young and impressionable aged students to partake in a public demonstration designed to instill fear in the young about alleged ‘nasty’ carbon dioxide emissions?

Smith's Hill High, Wollongong, et al, does.

School children will, inevitably and without exception, always obediently follow life’s role models i.e. their educators, unless parents vehemently object to their children being utilised as pawns to advance a Leftist cause.

This cause materialised on Friday, ironically, to coincide with ‘The Ides of March’, the assassination of one J Caesar.

Given this backdrop, children beware.

‘Brutus’, J Caesar’s assassin, is metaphorically lingering with intent to indoctrinate you in the rudiments of socialism by marching in a Leftist cause that is not completely understood by you.

Children need time to make up their own minds up in the absence of undue influence and have confidence to make an informed decision about what philosophical beliefs best suit them to follow.

D J Preece, North Wollongong

In response to the article by Simon Bourke, "Pell's conviction and the murder of God" (Illawarra Mercury, Thursday March 7, 2019) regarding, Mr Bourke's comments I wish to make two points.

Firstly, as a practising Catholic I am not ashamed at going to church and attending Mass, but rather disgusted with the paedophile priests who committed these crimes and those Bishop's who covered it up.

Secondly, the great Catholic President of Ecuador Don Gabriel Garcia Moreno was assassinated on August 6, 1875.

As Garcia Moreno was dying he proclaimed "God does not die".

Faith in God, goes beyond scandal and our increasing secular society.

Adrian Devlin, Fairy Meadow