Obeying the current restrictions, wreathes will be placed.

We thank all for their support and hopefully we will be able to hold our Vietnam Veterans Commemoration on Sunday the 16th August, at the Memorial. All will be welcome.

Our office is closed till further notice. For any enquiries please ring the office number and the call will be redirected.

On ANZAC Day please pause and remember all those who have served our country and especially those that paid the ultimate sacrifice. Lest We Forget

Ian Birch, President, Vietnam Veterans Association- Illawarra Sub Branch, Wollongong

Response to the page 10 article "Australia 'is in a good place' as curve is flattening: CMO" Mercury, Monday April 6, 2020. This clearly seems to be positive news for a change. The strict rules of distancing, washing of hands and self isolation if your sick are working. Also, I am following the additional harsh rules that have been put in place.

However, a huge concern is looming and I ask this question, "If the current rules and controls are working (according to the medical experts) then why is there talk of more harsh restrictions which could go on until Christmas?

Minimizing or stopping the coronavirus is one thing, but using it as a means to control and suppress people is another issue?

Adrian Devlin, Fairy Meadow

With respect to Ryan Park, and other letters contributers in response to the docking of the Ruby Princess at Port Kembla. This issue should not be politicized now. We are trying to deal with a challenge that is unprecedented in any of our life times. These are ordinary hard working people on this ship. People like us. Approximately 1000 crew, from possibly dozens of different countries. These people were doing nothing other than working hard to support their often poor families in their country of origin when they became caught up in this ever evolving crisis. Sounds historically like the people that make up the unique tapestry of the Ilawarra to me. If this ship and her crew need food supplies, fuel and medical attention then Port Kembla is the perfect place to dock her. The time will come in the not distant future, for the analysis of the root causes of any failures and subsequent improvement opportunities in the responses that were enacted by both the federal and our state government. Our elected representatives are having to make decisions on extremely difficult issues and challenges as they present daily. They do this without the benefit of hindsight that other opinionated apparent experts posess. I applaud them and thank them. Lets do what the people of the Illawarra do so well. Show support, compassion and empathy to those that need it in a crisis, and please show no support to the politicization of this issue at this most difficult time.

Lisa Kentwell, Lake Illawarra