Your Views

• VIEWPOINT

Benching Brett a disgrace
WHAT a disgrace to have seen the best fullback in the game and the fastest man in the NRL, Brett Stewart, on the bench for New South Wales on Wednesday night in the State of Orgin 3 decider match.
   Hang your head in shame coach Bellamy and selectors.
   The game reflected poor coaching decisions and selections for NSW. Benching Stewart showed your true colours of how much you dislike Manly.
Kite, Lyon and Orford would have been a great addition to the NSW team.
   Indeed, the mighty Manly Sea Eagles would beat hands down this underachieving NSW team we saw lose on Wednesday night.
Taylor Smith
Beacon Hill

Educating publicabout penguins
AFTER reading ``Dog attacks fairy penguin'', MD, June 28) I felt it was bad to see that those struggling penguins have to keep on suffering. We recently completed Project Penguin with 500 children from four primary schools, Narraweena, Manly Village, Curl Curl North and my school, Harbord, and Balgowlah Boys and Mackellar Girls high schools. In the project, groups of students worked on Powerpoint presentations, books, boardgames, T-shirts, products, movies, websites and posters to help Taronga Zoo get the message about penguins out to the public, such as keep your dog on a leash and don't tamper with a penguin's burrow or try not to anchor boats near beaches where penguins are nesting.
   If you see an injured penguin you should contact the National Parks and Wildlife Service or Taronga Zoo. The population of the Manly colony is critical. There were 500 penguins but now there are only 50 breeding pairs.
Elysha DuncanYear 5
Harbord Public School

Rural Fire Service causes annoyance
SO the Rural Fire Service is helping to police annoying practices. Who will chastise them and/or police their annoying practices? In the last month, Duffys Forest Bush Fire Brigade replaced the gate that controls entry into Anembo Reserve. In doing so, they blocked off the pedestrian access to those parts of the reserve that are not part of the bushfire station, even the children's playground. Any pedestrian wanting access to the reserve must climb over or under the gate or walk through the dedicated equestrian access, traipsing through the after-rain boghole or natural droppings.
J Alice Hofler
Dee Why

Gasping for air between flags
I FULLY agree with Alan Morris's (Viewpoint, July 2) comments suggesting that smoking should be banned within 20m of designated eating areas.
   But he then left me horrified by suggesting that smoking be restricted to the beaches between the flags. This is the very place where we don't want smokers.
   I go to the beach for exercise and fresh air. The last thing I want is a smoker anywhere near me,  it's amazing how far the stench travels.
   Then at the end of a sunny day, all the cigarette butts have to be cleaned up. The last place where we want smokers on the beach is between the flags. We teach our kids that this is the safe area. At least allow them clean air. Personally, I'd like to declare a cigarette-free zone  Australia. Earth is the next step.
Ross James
Bayview

• QuickVIEW

THERE seems to be a trend for people to drive at night with their fog lights on in clear weather. This is illegal. I was wondering how many people have been stopped by the police in the last couple of months for this infringement. People seem unaware of the law and indeed unaware these lights are actually fog lights. 
Malcolm Hill, Frenchs Forest

IS it a bird?  Is it a plane? No, it's the long-awaited flag flying on the roof of the Top Dog building (now Officeworks on Pittwater, Dee Why) after many barren years. There are two companion flagpoles still waiting for flags (after a much-needed coat of paint) but congratulations are due to the present occupiers for this overdue ``one small step'' for Dee Why.
Bill Cliff, Dee Why

RE: Dr Burns' letter (MD, July 2) about dogs on beaches. It would seem the doctor is unaware that there are unleashed areas for dogs on beaches in a couple of areas on the northern beaches.  As much as I agree it is awful the little penguin was attacked, dogs need a place to run and swim and I'm sure that there is enough space in this beautiful place for all creatures to have their own safe areas.
Anna Warren, Elanora Heights

AS a daily driver to work I find the intersection at the bottom of Sydney Road with Whistler Street consistently dangerous. On regular occasions cars turning right from Sydney Road dart right across the  oncoming Whistler Street traffic. It does not help that from Sydney Road you do not have full vision of traffic along Whistler Street. It's only a matter of time before someone is injured there. 
Sam Condomitti, Manly

IN recent years there has been a spate of pro-atheism books. Philosopher Michael Onfray in his  Atheist Manifesto  postulates a final battle against Christianity. The aim of all of the authors is not to chip away at religion but destroy it altogether. But there are no draconian attempts on the part of Christianity to do away with atheism.
Henk Verhoeven, Beacon Hill

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