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THE MATILDAS
Penalty shootouts are unfair on the players
The dream run of the Matildas continues after their spine-tingling win over France. Ironically the one thing that may derail their run apart from their opposition is the penalty shootout. It is such a cruel and heartbreaking way for a team to lose.
Sure, a penalty shootout is exciting, nail-biting stuff for spectators and millions of people watching around the world, but spare a thought for those players who miss their shot and the burden that they must carry if their team loses. It would be fairer to have both teams play on if the scores are tied at the end of extra time so that it is a battle of attrition, or have the match decided by a “golden goal” in extra time. Heaven forbid if the Matildas lose the final that way – they and the nation will be heartbroken.
Garry Jacobs, Arundel, Qld
It’s time to show that we value women’s sport
We need to show symbolically that we value women’s sport. Having a public holiday to celebrate both the Matildas and the Diamonds’ recent Netball World Cup win would do this. We are at a point in time where people are engaged and value women’s sport, so let’s properly demonstrate it’s importance.
Robyn Stonehouse, Camberwell
Casual workers will suffer with a public holiday
The prime minister will ask state and territory leaders to back a public holiday if the Matildas win the Women’s World Cup. I am shocked and disillusioned that a Labor government does not understand the impact of an ad hoc public holiday on those Australians who are struggling to put food on the table for their families. Where is the voice for casual workers who will lose a day’s much-needed pay to stay home with children because their school is closed? Teachers will still get paid, as will politicians. As a volunteer with an emergency relief organisation, I am begging the prime minister to hit the pause button on this idea and think it through.
Janet Matheson, Highett
So much goodness around the Matildas’ win
A beautiful highlight for me was the faces in the crowd. Girls and boys, young and old, a melting pot of ethnicities, colours and creeds. A real cross section of contemporary Australia all united under the green and gold, cheering for a common purpose. Magic. We can’t get enough of that.
Peter Rushen, Carnegie
Do not overlook our other glorious achievements
The power of the media, television ratings and money raise a hysteria that claims the foot is mightier than the bat or the ball. Go the Matildas, but in the shadow of the magnificent, long-term achievements of our women’s cricket, netball and hockey teams.
Kay Moulton, Surrey Hills
Yet again the focus is on our Australian winners
Searching The Age yesterday, I found multiple reports of the Australia/France game but barely a word of the French players’ contribution to it. The usual one-eyed approach to sporting events in this country. Celebrate certainly, but respect other contestants and the game itself and leave out the jingoism.
Duncan McLaren, Bendigo
The growing power and influence of women
It is so refreshing hearing articulate, intelligent yet passionate commentators with no ego on television for the Matildas’ games. I just hope it encourages a new generation of females to enter the media landscape. This would create much-needed balance in an outdated business model that lacks such diversity, especially at a senior board level, across many sports. Let’s go, girls.
Pam Papadopoulos, South Yarra
A week for rivals to recover if the Magpies win
If the federal government proclaims a public holiday should the Matildas win the Women’s World Cup, I will call on the Victorian premier to declare a week of mourning if Collingwood wins the AFL premiership.
Roger Farrer, Hampton
THE FORUM
A night to remember
I was at the MCG on Saturday night for the Melbourne-Carlton match. The MCC expertly (unwittingly?) created several hubs around the stadium, enabling thousands of AFL fans to watch the Matildas’ win. I cannot recall a time when there was such instant camaraderie among strangers, who were actually there to support their footy clubs. While my team lost, I will forever remember that night. It was a chance to establish a fleeting bond with a cross-section of amiable Australians who celebrated the excitement of the Matildas’ win with good humour, pride and happiness.
Sally Davis, Malvern East
The sport to celebrate
Nationals leader David Littleproud is right that we do not need another public holiday. I believe that one holiday for sport is enough. So let’s back the Matildas and women footballers — and do away with the one (and the race) where hapless horses are flogged.
Ernest Raetz, Northcote
The battle for a home
I am helping a young couple, both on disability pensions, to find accommodation. The landlord is moving back into their rental property. We have seen 20 to 30 places. They are three weeks from homelessness now. They have always paid their rent on time, as evidenced by the rent register from their previous estate agent, but apparently landlords doubt this because of their low incomes.
Perhaps landlords don’t have the resourceful imagination of low-income renters whereby they go without or live frugally and resourcefully to ensure the rent is paid. Such tenants are to be applauded and supported. It breaks my heart to see these young people so exhausted and despondent at being so carelessly judged. They should not be suffering the practices of the private rental market.
Gilly McInnes, Monbulk
Democracy, Andrews style
The housing/over-population crisis has been created by politicians, and Daniel Andrews wants to strip elected council representatives of some planning powers (Sunday Age, 13/8). This does not sound like democracy.
Alister Ferguson, Canterbury
Free rein for developers?
So, neighbours are set to be blocked from objections to new developments as long as developers include a proportion of affordable homes in their proposals. Does this mean developers can build what they like without restrictions provided the said proviso is fulfilled?
Doug Springall, Yarragon
Logical, sensible planning
Before the last Cain government, the Melbourne Metropolitan Board of Works was the metropolitan planning authority, sitting between the government and municipal councils. It was also the authority for water, sewerage and drainage, and made planning decisions in the context of its decisions on infrastructure.
Ian Pitt, Brighton
Spiral of disadvantage
I rarely agree with the Greens but Max Chandler-Mathers is right to suggest negative gearing should be scrapped, at least in its current form (Comment, 11/8). The spiralling housing problem is a black mark against both major parties, which have done little to meet housing needs over the past 20 years. Negative gearing should only be used against the income from property/share investments (rather than total income).
Cashed-up investors, lured by our negative gearing policy, have had an unfair advantage over (mostly) younger people seeking to buy a home. Many adverse social, mental health and economic problems emanate from the constant anxiety of insecure housing. These problems resonate throughout society and ultimately need government resources to fix or support.
Jan White, Donvale
The Trump nightmare
United States ambassador Caroline Kennedy says we will be able to rely on the US if (to my mind, credulous) Americans return Donald Trump to the White House (The Age, 12/8). That is not as reassuring as she thinks.
Peter McGill, Lancefield
Re-imagining defence site
Re “Canberra ready to pay for clean-up at toxic ADF site” (The Age, 12/8). Sure, the defence site abutting the Maribyrnong River is contaminated, but this is an issue only if you attack it with massive earthmovers and disturb the soil. At the moment, it happily grows grasses and trees, and feeds birds, native animals and even the weed-clearing goats.
Why not build car parks and apartments on the site where the defence force’s administration buildings currently line the tram line, and turn the rest into a car-free, light-impact parkland estate with modern timber buildings on poles? This has been done overseas on similar sites. The riverfront could accommodate a floating ferry terminal linked to tram and bus lines, and there are bike paths already in place. Wholesale digging-up of the site would cost far too much and produce contaminated landfill which would lead to a whole new battle: where to put the contaminated soil.
Tom Danby, Ascot Vale
Don’t be a water Wally
The Bureau of Meteorology has declared that another El Nino is quite likely in coming weeks. Remembering the devastation that the last one caused when our rivers dried up and cattle died in the paddocks, it would seem sensible to begin to reduce our sometimes profligate use of water in our gardens, kitchens, bathrooms and laundries.
Bobbie Holmes, Balwyn
The need for cash presents
Another reason to keep real money in our country (aside from backup when the cashier’s eftpos terminal is not working): What do our Asian communities use instead of notes in New Year and birthday red packets? IOUs and direct deposit slips?
Belinda Lui, Kew
New leases of life
Nell Geraets’s article, “It was soul-destroying: Shining light on the emotional toll of retirement” (The Age, 12/8), was an enlightening examination of stopping your main activity in life. There is a difference between retiring from work and retiring from life. After a few weeks of leisure, it becomes obvious that sitting in front of a TV all day will destroy your soul and probably your health.
I and many of my friends and ex-colleagues have found new life in being volunteers. I walk dogs for Eastern Palliative Care for people who have difficulty doing this. It is good exercise, especially with the current 65-kilogram dog, and you meet new people and become a part of a community. The reward is good karma and feeling worthwhile. It is important to look for the positive, rather than look back, as there are still many ways of contributing.
Dennis Fitzgerald, Box Hill
In support of white
Laura Chung writes, “For cities, how to best manage heat is becoming a problem, with many exploring creative ways to mitigate it. This includes painting roofs white to deflect the heat” (The Age, 11/8). Yet, as any train ride into the city shows, the CBD is predominantly a sea of drab grey, brown and black. The same can be said of the high rises and towers sprouting up everywhere in the suburbs. What, if any, considerations are being made in relation to new building designs and colours by those responsible – architects, planning departments and builders? Will we continue to be drab grey, brown and black?
Ewa Haire, Moonee Ponds
The forgotten prisoner
“It is important that her human rights as an Australian be respected”: Anthony Albanese speaking about journalist Cheng Lei who has spent three years in a Chinese prison. How about the human rights of Julian Assange?
Ken McLeod, Williamstown
Losing our loved ones
Thank you, Pip Williams, for expressing so sensitively the trauma of witnessing the total decline of a loved one and the confusion coming from not knowing whether you are meeting their needs appropriately (Good Weekend, 12/8). It is difficult to express what this is like. There is some measure of comfort in realising others experience these same doubts and the accompanying emotional turmoil brought by such a situation.
Diana Ferguson, Burwood
Put down that phone
I have noticed ads aimed at deterring people from using mobile devices while they are driving and wonder if the campaign could be broadened to reach pedestrians. Pedestrian deaths have increased markedly in recent times and the fact you see so many crossing the road while on their phone and/or listening to the sound plug in their ear is, I believe, a likely contributing factor.
Graeme Russell, Eltham
I’ll drink to that
Re “Not all beer and skittles off the booze” (Comment, 12/8). I am so pleased there is someone else in the world who sometimes finds it a dreary place without a little enhancement – i.e. alcohol. A cocktail glass filled with lime, soda, fruit and an umbrella is definitely no substitute. Cheers.
Dawn Evans, Geelong
Please, feel free to take it
I understand NSW is trying to steal the Grand Prix from Victoria (The Age, 13/8). If they let me know when they’re coming, I’ll make sure to leave the front door open.
Merv Collins, Fitzroy North
Putting themselves first
Nothing will change ginormous executive salaries so long as these remain tied to shareholder returns. CEOs and others will continue to exploit their company and consumers to maximise their multimillion-dollar salaries. All other interests are secondary.
Colin James, Toolamba
Only the best of denim
Re the ABC reporter in ripped jeans (Letters, 11/8). Before casting judgment, your correspondent needs to ask: Are these ripped jeans simply the first thing the reporter threw on from his wardrobe? Or are they expensive, hand-crafted, designer jeans costing more than an Armani suit?
Donald Hirst, Prahran East
AND ANOTHER THING
Matildas
Penalty shootouts – an awful way to be beaten but a great way to win.
Belinda Burke, Hawthorn
Simile for the week: “They controlled their nerves like the Matildas in a match-winning, sudden death play-off”.
Barrie Bales, Woorinen North
If only we could ignite the same national fervour and sense of unity inspired by the Matildas to our environmental issues. We’d be unstoppable.
Vikki O’Neill, Ashburton
The excitement for the Matildas was profound, but I felt enormous sympathy for the French player who missed the goal.
Bruce Love, East Melbourne
Soccer’s scoring system is useless if, after 120 minutes, neither team registers on the scale. AFL any day.
Malcolm Cameron, Camberwell
Matildas 7, AFL 0.
Ross Ogilvie, Woodend
Cortnee (Di)Vine.
Zena Marzi, Kew
We shouldn’t count our public holidays before they are hatched.
Reg Murray, Glen Iris
Penalty shootouts are a rare form of torture.
Rod Matthews, Fairfield
Real football is the winner. Matildas, yeah.
Damian Meade, Leopold
Okay, Albo, how about a week’s holiday if the Matildas win the Women’s World Cup?
Peter Caffin, North Ringwood
Furthermore
“To Trump the most important interest, anywhere, any time, is Trump himself.‴
Absolutely correct, Peter Hartcher.
Ian Braybrook, Castlemaine
“How Sydney nearly stole grand prix” (12/8). Stole? Many Melburnians would gladly give it to Sydney, permanently.
Michelle Goldsmith, Eaglehawk
It would have been preferable to read, “Race intensifies to find common sense on Earth” rather than “Race intensifies to find water on moon” (12/8).
Ross Crawford, Korumburra
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