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I fully endorse Chip Le Grand’s comments about Tim Read (″Decency shines through a grim week″, 6/8). His resignation is a great loss to the people of Victoria; to the Greens Party that he has contributed to so fully for so many years; and to all of us in Brunswick who appreciated his representation so greatly. In particular, it is with deep sadness that we recognise he is leaving due to the insidious cancer of melanoma.

It is unusual to call a politician a gentleman, but as well as being a fully committed politician and dedicated to the scourge of climate change, his trademark has always been to treat everyone, including those he does not agree with, with genuine respect. His valedictory speech was both sad as well as full of hope and encouragement for all of us. It was a reflection based on goodwill and generosity to all. It was a reflection of his integrity. I would like to echo Le Grand’s request that Ben Carroll and Jess Wilson honour him and commit to keeping VicHealth. His legacy must be its retention.Rod Schober, West Brunswick

VicHealth retention should be his legacy

The article on Tim Read’s farewell speech was a great salve after these turbulent few weeks in Victorian politics. Read richly deserves recognition and praise, not just for all that he has done for the community of Brunswick, but also for his pioneering work, research, and treatment of AIDS patients when that virus first arrived in Australia. Having lost a brother to the disease in 1987, a time when there was so much stigma associated with the illness; it was brave and compassionate medical professionals like Dr Read who helped families like ours get through the crisis.

Also, for his tireless advocacy for VicHealth, a world-first health promotion and disease prevention organisation, for which we have all been beneficiaries. I hope whichever party forms government, that VicHealth is preserved as part of Read’s far-reaching legacy.Angela Borg, Brunswick

Inspiring display of empathy and goodwill

Stumbled across Tim Read’s farewell speech on social media. What a inspiring display of empathy and goodwill by him and the entire parliament.Paul Kavanagh, Parkville

A showering of gifts

Tim Read in his farewell speech managed to shower his humanity, brilliance and wit across the sparring factions we’re often subjected to on the news, and made them all listen as reasonable humans. It was simply glorious. I agree. Let’s honour the man by doing the very least and keep VicHealth fully funded.Annie Mullarvey, Brunswick East

THE FORUM

Whatever it took

It’s taken 10 years to reveal the truth behind the secret deal between Daniel Andrews and the United Firefighters, led by Peter Marshall. The revelations are significant on many levels . They confirm the need for an effective IBAC; and the integrity of Jane Garrett, the minister who was sidelined by Andrews to get the deal through is confirmed beyond all doubt.

Furthermore, the secret deal confirmed the “whatever it takes” attitude of the Andrews government to achieve an outcome that it saw as beneficial to its electoral appeal even when that deal compromised openness and transparency.Peter Randles, Pascoe Vale South

Fatal conclusion

The funding of public education in Australia reminds me of the story of the old man who was concerned that his dog had become too expensive to feed. He devised a plan whereby he fed it slightly less each day. Just when he had trained it to live on nothing, it died.Stephen Dinham, professor emeritus, faculty of education, University of Melbourne

Ugly architecture

Iconic historic buildings all across Melbourne are being built over by ugly blocks of concrete. Melburnian houses should be left alone, signifying the beauty of our city with their breathtaking architecture.

Though some might argue that these houses are run down or neglected, there are many ways to keep these amazing brick houses. Even keeping stained-glass windows or retaining the front door means a lot in keeping Melbourne’s history and art alive.

These modern houses are ugly, making the city monotonous and average, with no personality. Many believe they ruin the city’s culture and expression, turning it into a “cookie-cutter” environment.

Architecture in this current age is boring and standard, let’s make a change and find personality, like we once had.Milly Jane Reed, Elwood

Locker wars

It’s easy enough to lampoon Jetstar’s introduction of fees for carry-on baggage stowed in the overhead lockers.

Personally, I think it’s about time some measure was taken to manage the stampede of oversized travel case-lugging passengers racing to get on board the plane to jam their excessively large accoutrements into the limited available storage space.

Bad luck for the rest of us who’ve checked in our larger bags and are merely trying to find a spot for our handy bits and bobs.

And what about the hard-pressed flight attendants left to sort out this mess, flight after flight through their daily shift? They deserve a break, too.Fraser Faithfull, Caulfield South

Forever changing

Your correspondent (Letters, 7/8) paints a gloomy picture of Earth, and rightly so. However, Earth has existed for billions of years and even well before humans, has gone through many climate changes; that is, the climate just keeps on changing. The main difference this time, however, is that human activity is accelerating the change. Even if we stopped burning fossil fuel today, the climate has already been destabilised enough for the changes to continue.Henry Herzog, St Kilda East

The greatest danger

Your correspondent (Letters, 7/8) writes that there is no significant difference between catastrophes in the ’40s and now. I beg to differ. There is one problem that’s different – climate change, which will truly make every other problem pale into insignificance as the balance keeps tipping the wrong way. We ignore it at our peril, but the fossil fuel companies are relying on us getting sick of “banging on” about it and then putting it into the too hard basket. As author Graham Greene once said, “The only unforgivable sin is despair.“Serge Bobbera, Curlewis

Actions, not words

While Climate and Energy Minister Chris Bowen says he is laying down the law on data centres, action speaks louder than words and a federal moratorium on data centres would be a start. The problem with simply ″laying down the law″ is that multinationals tend to walk all over it.Stephen Farrelly, Donvale

Ban all gambling ads

The government’s proposed restrictions on gambling ads are a half-hearted attempt to deal with an issue without changing the status quo. In the 1970s, while governments considered banning smoking advertisements, there was extensive lobbying by the tobacco industry to stop this change. Gambling addiction is as damaging to our society as smoking used to be, such that gambling lobbyists must be ignored.

Let’s have some leadership, and just ban all gambling advertising.Mike Francis, Fitzroy

Those common gerunds

″Learning″ when used as a noun is a gerund – a verb form used as a noun, usually ending in ″ing″ (Letters, 7/8). They are common – swimming, running, meeting, learning, etc – and are quite correct.Emma Borghesi, Rye

Our bright future

Re your correspondent’s letter on migration (6/8), our family will soon be celebrating 100 years in Australia. This week my prospective daughter-in-law attended her Australian citizenship ceremony. I could not be happier to welcome her into our immediate multicultural family (descendants from Australia, Scotland, Italy, Sri Lanka, India and now China.) I am even happier that she has been welcomed into the family of Australia. Our future is bright.Ugo Crupi, Ascot Vale

Labor’s deeds

I trust that all those who criticised and bemoaned the cost of the Metro Tunnel will apologise to Labor, building infrastructure for Melbourne’s future. With 400 more train services now available, it is exactly the reason it was built. Under four years of the Baillieu/Napthine government, only two level crossings were removed, and not one new hospital was built.George Djoneff, Mitcham

Sorry, can’t time travel

A recent letter from the Australian Bureau of Statistics concerning the 2026 census holds a puzzle worthy of Doctor Who. It tells me the online form is “open now” and that you can “complete your online form now″. All well and good, looks serious. Better get at it. But I’m also told the census is concerned with everyone (including visitors and babies) staying at my address “on the night of Tuesday 11 August 2026”.

My problem is it’s now only the 7th of August and I have no idea how many people (including visitors and babies) might be at this address some days into the future. How could I? So I guess I’ll wait for next Tuesday night, fill out the online form correctly, click “Submit” and hope the system doesn’t crash. “Every answer matters,” as the letter says.Barry Webster, Thornbury

Still a ways to go

In the article ″Revised timetable adds 400 train services″ (7/8), Public Transport Minister Vicki Ward paints a rosy picture claiming that, as a result of a big timetable shake-up we’ll be able to ″go from bayside and jump on a train to Werribee Zoo″. The minister omits to say that, upon arrival at Werribee station, the happy zoo-goer still faces a one-hour walk or a 20-minute bus ride.Peter Price, Southbank

Policies, please

Pauline Hanson cannot have it both ways. Having made One Nation in her own name, it was, and still is, all about her. She complains that the media are picking on her, but as long as that’s all there is to see, there is really nowhere else to look. If she expects more positive coverage and support, she’ll have to come up with some realistic policies and credible candidates. Getting elected is, after all, another ″two-way street″.Jenifer Nicholls, Windsor

Hole lot of love

Instead of voting for your favourite pothole (Letters, 6/8), why not fill it? Lovingly, of course.Susan Mahar, Fitzroy North

AND ANOTHER THING

Foreign affairs

Is Elon Musk going to pay to have his hard rubbish collected from the moon?Lyn Beaumont, Bentleigh

Who is it that dares to shoot a rocket at 8000km/h into the moon? My grandchildren’s magical moon. Their parents’ moon. My moon. My parents’ moon. My grandparents’ moon – and back forever. Our moon. Sheer vandalism.Prue Gill, Carlton North

The US appears to have used all or nearly all of its missiles. Will the follow-up to Operation Epic Fury be Operation Slightly Miffed?Tim Durbridge, Brunswick

Furthermore

I, too, have a kindly neighbour who picks up the delivered copy of The Age and drops it onto my porch, just at arm’s length from my front door (Letters, 5/8). God bless ’em.Clara De Fazio, Pascoe Vale South

Does One Nation’s policy of defunding the ABC include Country Hour and Bluey?John Hughes, Mentone

Your correspondent (Letters, 6/8) might read The Compleet Molesworth (Willans and Searle). Molesworth asks the Latin master, “Sir, what is a gerund?” Learning can be a gerund; where “ing” is added to a verb to act as a noun. If you are a visual person, Searle’s picture of a gerund will come to mind every time you read one.Robert Alves, Wattle Glen

How about Ben Carroll and Jess Wilson do something clever together and prevent VicHealth, the world-leading public health organisation from being dissolved into the Health Department? Make it stronger instead. They will be remembered and thanked for it if they do.Dr Greg Malcher, Hepburn Springs

Prime minister, gamblers gamble. They always will. Please respect the late Peta Murphy’s legacy and the majority of Australians. No having a bet each way. Do the right thing and ban the ads.Jenny Bone, Surrey Hills

Finally

Had to laugh at the cheeky French name of the light, airy choux pastries, Pets de Nonnes recipe in the Age Good Food Guide (7/8).Robin Jensen, Castlemaine