After the royal wedding, when affection for the royal family is at a decades-long high, Foley’s plan is out of step with public sentiment. We need an Indigenous Australians’ Day, but it should be newly created and celebrated.  - Ruth Barwick, Hornsby

As I studied the list of awards, I wondered why they were awarded on this day. Of course: it is the Queen of Australia’s birthday that we celebrate. So surely we could give her a worthy present. How about her own Australian anthem? That way we would not have to play that anthem I saw little prince Georgie singing from the verandah of her English residence on the Sunday night news. -
Mike Traynor, Bellambi

Before rugby union Test matches the national anthems of both teams are played/sung to encourage feelings of nationalism in both teams and spectators before the battle. This past weekend we had anthems for France, Australia and England all sung as beautiful solos by sopranos. The anthems of New Zealand and South Africa and Ireland’s Call were sung so that we mere mortals could sing along. The last time I heard a stirring rendition of Australia’s anthem was by a young woman in the Australian armed forces! Organisers, please think before you hire. - Georgie Shaw, Narrawallee

Too many strings attached to celebration of West

My alma mater, the ANU, arguably our premier university, had every right to protect its hard-won reputation by rejecting the offer of funding for a course on Western Civilisation by the Ramsay Centre (‘‘In relentless cultural wars, Abbott throws yet another political grenade’’, June 11). There were too many strings attached and the last straw was Tony Abbott’s crass intervention. - Andrew Macintosh, Cromer

If Abbott has been accurately quoted as stating ‘‘it’s not merely about Western civilisation but in favour of it’’ when speaking in support of the Ramsay Centre proposal it is obvious that he does not understand Western civilisation. The ANU rejection of such a demand demonstrates that they are the ones more in tune with the values of Western civilisation. That Malcolm Turnbull rushed to the defence of the Ramsay Centre and its coterie of ex-Liberal directors equally demonstrates his failure as a leader. - Brian Everingham, Engadine

The irony of Abbott’s advocacy is that one of the key elements of Western civilisation has been its enabling of individuals with dangerous ideas to defeat the institutionalised conservatism of the kind Abbott espouses; ideological conservatism that had held back humanity for millenniums.  - Rod Bishop, Beecroft

The Crusades, the Thirty Years War, the Reformation, slavery, World Wars I and II, Nazism, nuclear war and the Cold War illustrate we are no better than anyone else. We might be far worse.  - Paul Roberts, Lake Cathie

Shouldn’t we be asking how Mr Ramsay made so much money from the government-funded aged care sector, a space many of us are most likely to occupy if we haven’t selected rock music as a profession. - Robert Hosking, Paddington

Tony Walker draws the long bow when he compares differences of opinion between John Howard and Tony Abbott on a course in Western civilisation with disagreements between Plato and Aristotle. - Ray Alexander, Moss Vale

Any course set up by John Howard’s Ramsay Centre, particularly dealing with ‘‘Western civilisation’’, had to be suspect. This rejection establishes that at least one university retains some academic standards. - Ian Lewis, Kentucky

Perhaps when a course on Western civilisation is accepted at one of our universities it will correct the misnomer Dark Ages, a period when many texts were saved through transcribing and vast learning was occurring enabling the Renaissance. - Gordana Martinovich, Dulwich Hill

Respect for the elderly – as if!

The court order to evict an elderly citizen from her home of 42 years is a reminder for the state's elderly to not stand between this NSW government and a pot of gold ("$200m bonus for Millers Point sale", June 11). - Don Smith Ashfield

At 77, Sally Parslow has been given 28 days to move. The inhumane nature of this scenario is evident. Surely, Family and Community Services should show some compassion and let Sally live out her life in her beloved Millers Point. Her home will certainly not drop in value. - Alan Morris, Eastlakes

What a joke! So Property NSW is getting $200 million extra for evicting more than 200 residents from their houses. The destruction of a community, moving elderly people to a ghetto in south-west Sydney, or even Wollongong, is vicious and unnecessary. The money for social housing should come from general revenue like the billions being spent on sports stadiums.

Jack Mundey, building workers, and the people of The Rocks saved that wonderful place for all of us in the 1970s. In this new mean hard world, someone must stand up for people like Sally Parslow who is being kicked out of her home by heartless chief executives like the one who runs Property NSW. - Chris Moe, Bensville

In view of the sell-off of social housing in the inner city, Mitch O'Reilly's letter (June 11) should be compulsory reading for all members of state Parliament. The unexpected Millers Point bonanza could go a long way to addressing his cry for help in increasing staffing numbers in our hospitals and in treating the staff with the respect they deserve. - Vicky Marquis, Glebe

Paranoid government

Just a quick note to the NSW government (‘‘Stadiums file kept away from ministers’’, June 11). If you can’t trust members of the inner circle of your own government with information vital to government decision making how unsettling, suspicion-raising and untrustworthy are you then seen by the rest of the community? It can affect any judgment about voting next March.  - Anne Finnane, Marlee

If the cabinet is not informed, what chance has the public (ie taxpayers) got? The next NSW state election is only eight months away. The government is shooting itself in the foot by adopting this secrecy policy. What has it got to hide? - Michael Wilson, St Ives

Brutality sickens

A back-page dominated by a photograph of Jeff Horn lurching drunkenly, presumably as a result of a savage blow to the head by Terence Crawford (‘‘Schooled’’, Sport, June 11).
Inside, a double-page spread on the Horn-Crawford fight featuring a dazed Horn, spittle drooling from his mouth as he awaits another pounding. The noble art, indeed.
You want more? How about a balletic image of Australian UFC champion Robert Whittaker kicking his opponent in the head, accompanied by a regrettably small image of Australia’s Megan Anderson kicking her opponent in the guts while awaiting a punch in the head. Makes you proud to be a human being. - Cliff Jahnsen, Bowral

Relax, Trump’s at large

In this progressive dinner party, Trump had his starter, didn’t like it one bit, stormed out without paying the bill. Now for the main course in Singapore. With a long history of being touchy-feely, he’ll know ‘‘within the first minute’’ whether this dinner date will be a success (‘‘Know when to fold them: Trump baffles as he divides’’, June 11). - Joan Brown, Orange

Looking at the picture of world leaders at the G7 conference, especially Angela Merkel’s body language while staring at a seated Donald Trump, I suspect that given Trump’s demonstrated capricious propensities, at least some realise they cannot continue to treat the US President in a civil and conventional manner and expect a rational outcome. In a similar vein, even the village idiot knows you can’t argue with a fool. - Bob Macfarlane, Mirrabooka

The picture shows just what an obstinate, self-opinionated character Trump is. Follow that up with his tantrum of name-calling after Justin Trudeau’s comments and we can all see how determined he is to have his own way.

Thank goodness there are strong leaders who will stand up to him. He will not achieve ‘‘Make America great again’’ with those bullying, spoilt child tactics. This is an international political economy, not the world of a self-indulgent TV personality and private businessman where he has the power to control. He and his North Korean counterpart are ‘‘a good pair not wasted’’ as they team up for their meeting. A dictator and a would-be dictator make an interesting combination.  - Augusta Monro, Dural

Energy conundrum

Energy and Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg says the use of electric cars needs charging incentives ‘‘so that when people come home and charge their electric vehicles they don’t charge at a time when peak demand exists’’ (‘‘Price, range hold back electric cars: Frydenberg’’, June 11).
That sounds like an incentive to charge overnight. From where is the electricity to come at that time? Obviously not from solar power and wind is unreliable, particularly at night.
Hydroelectricity is a limited resource in Australia and must be guaranteed to be available to meet peak demands. Any large new hydropower development would almost certainly cause unacceptable environmental damage. Snowy 2.0 might be environmentally acceptable but would be very bad value for money. The equivalent storage of energy in out-of-car batteries during the day would be even more expensive. So, where is the electricity for recharging electric cars to come from? - Don Higson, Paddington

Museum puzzle

One of the ludicrous justifications for removing the Powerhouse Museum is that it’s off the beaten tourism track and difficult to access (‘‘Out of Egypt: City’s King Tut coup’’, June, 11). Yet both the Art Gallery of NSW and Australian Museum are to have millions spent on improvements or additions. Are College Street and The Domain easier to access than Darling Harbour? - Keith Parsons, Newcastle

Vivid has to change

Vivid has indeed become too repetitive, rather like the NYE fireworks (Letters, June 11). I suspect Vivid has become so popular because it is a motive for a night out. Nothing wrong with that. We need to focus more on the memorable and spectacular not just quantity. - Richard Mason, Mona Vale

To avoid the Vivid crowds, I caught a train into Circular Quay on Sunday morning and, in the cold light of day, I can’t see what all the fuss is about. - Peter Fyfe, Enmore

More trains required

Better signalling allows for more peak-hour services, but only if there are more trains to put on the tracks (‘‘More peak-hour trains with signal upgrade’’, June 11). In the absence of any extra double-deck trains, will the timing of the Bankstown line closure free up enough rolling stock, or are we looking at another lease of life for the remaining non-airconditioned S sets? - Doug Walker, Baulkham Hills

Tennis on TV shines

Congratulations to SBS for its coverage of the French Open tennis. What a pleasure to watch live matches into the wee hours or to view the highlights program. Commentary has been insightful and enthusiastic, allowing the tennis to do the talking. - Janet Watson, Pyrmont