Deborah Coulthard, Castlemaine

I hope BJ Read writes letters more often as s/he wrote so movingly and rationally about the destruction of the old oaks in Newstead. How indeed, can we feel serious about global warming when private land owners can just destroy old, healthy trees without good reason?
Thank you to BJ Read for your measured approach regarding the need for development and the unnecessary removal of landmarks like those old trees that brought beauty, shade and oxygen to Newstead.
I also wish to commend Phee Broadway for her moving piece on her friend Marysia Segan. Marysia’s story is remarkable and after such losing her mother to Nazis, losing her chosen profession, losing her daughter, losing her husband, she continued on in service to others. If not for the Castlemaine Mail, I would not have read that story.
That leads to my third point: so many local papers collapsed recently. I wish to applaud our ‘Mail’ and implore readers to keep subscribing and to spread the word to others who do not know the value of this marvellous local paper. It is an important part of the web that forms our community. It helps keep us in touch with each other and to learn of the people who make up this town.
My fourth point! Please put me out of my misery and come along to Evensong at the Anglican Church, cnr Kennedy and Mostyn Sts.
Each month I sit there revelling in the sounds of the most magnificent regional choir in Victoria and wish you were all there enjoying it!! Turn off the tele and come to feed your soul, sing as loudly as you like (or not at all) and enjoy some wine at the end or nick straight home (it is only an hour) but just come!