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Republicans, back off
The calls for a republic while so many people mourn the death of the Queen are utterly distasteful. It’s like the family picking over the deceased’s belongings while waiting for the funeral. I have been a dedicated republican since the 1980s, but this is not the time to campaign. Elizabeth II spent 70 years in public service, and her life deserves more respect than to be used by political opportunists. It’s undignified and disgraceful.

Margaret Steel, Eltham

First among equals
I respect and admire the Queen for her diligence, devotion and long-standing service to the community. However, a person wearing a crown, sitting on a throne and reigning over her subjects and dominion does not seem right to me. No one is superior to any other. We are all equal from birth.
It is time for a change. Australia needs to welcome in a republic.

Carol Marshall, Williamstown

Not so free
It’s galling, particularly at this time, to read John Howard still spouting that the negative republic referendum result in Australia was via the ″⁣consent and free will of the people who called her Queen″⁣ (The Age, 10/9). The so-called free will was sabotaged by the politicians who constructed the wording of the referendum document.

Brendan O’Farrell, Brunswick

A turning point
Can I assure your correspondent (Letters, 10/9) that he made the right decision and certainly didn’t miss much in 1963 when Queen Elizabeth II opened the Royal Children’s Hospital. My parents took me to Melbourne for the great occasion, where we waited for hours in the crowds for a good position.
After the few moments when we could see the shiny black car with the waving lady driving past, I had the frightening thought that my parents had gone absolutely insane. Who on earth would think that was a good idea, and what was to become of me?
Sorry correspondent, but you were not the only young republican around at the time. I became another one that day.

Liz Levy, Suffolk Park, NSW

Inspiring legacy
The Queen was indeed amazing. While most of us are glad to retire from work at 66, she worked for 30 years more until her death and was able to retain her faculties. During her marathon reign and as head of the Commonwealth, she used her high profile and affable nature to spread messages of comfort and encouragement, peace and goodwill among nations. In doing so, she probably did more to promote racial equality and human dignity than any public figure in the modern era. This I consider to be her greatest legacy.

Ken Hiew, Glen Waverley

Lesson in relevance
Even in 1970 the British monarchy had little relevance to most of the Fitzroy High School students I taught. They were from Greek, Italian and Yugoslav families.
On one particular day, we told the students that the Queen and Prince Philip would be going past close to the school. ″⁣But who is the Queen?″⁣ I was asked.
School finished at lunchtime so the staff could accompany the students to a place where we could wave to the royal couple. We started off with all the students but on arrival we discovered that only the year 7 students had made it. The rest of the students had managed to disappear, giving themselves the afternoon off.

Sue Brink, Glen Iris

Birth rites
King Charles III has ascended to the throne as the titular head of government and of the Church of England. Qualifications? Birthright.

Harry Kowalski, Ivanhoe

Have to stick together
The reason there is declining union membership (Letters, 9/9) is because we have had nine years of LNP government doing all it could to discourage the unions. Who has kept up with cost of living? Who has fallen behind? The answer is clear. United we stand, divided we fall.

Dan Drummond, Leongatha

Workers not problem
So a take-home pay packet of $2.2 million, an increase of 15 per cent, and a further $3.3 million in bonus shares for Qantas CEO Alan Joyce is fine, but it’s a $1 an hour increase for Australia’s lowest paid workers that puts pressure on inflation and is met with howls of protest by business leaders and LNP politicians.

Craig Jory,
Glenroy, NSW

Cookie doesn’t cut it
Why does Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce receive payments of millions? How is this justified? Certainly not by providing a small chocolate cookie in place of lunch last Friday on a flight from the Sunshine Coast to Melbourne.
With cancelled flights and lost baggage an everyday problem, wouldn’t the money be more wisely spent on better pay for staff and improving services for customers?
Diane Maddison, Parkdale

Family tradition
Good timing in The Sunday Age (4/9) on Father’s Day with a fine feature on federal minister Clare O’Neil. Clare’s father was Lloyd O’Neil, who was the first Australian publisher to establish a fully owned Australian publishing
company.
Until the ’70s, publishing companies in this country were basically offshoots of mainly British companies. One of the Australian classics was Power Without Glory, which was originally published by the author, Frank Hardy, in 1950 and republished for new readers by Lloyd O’Neil in 1972.
Clare is continuing the family’s working contributions.

Barry Donovan, Aireys Inlet

Medallion memory
When Queen Elizabeth visited Australia in 1954, schoolchildren were given medallions to mark the occasion. They came with bar and a pin and I have been wearing mine in honour of a most remarkable woman.

Jane Ross, San Remo

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