... And another thing

RIP Constance

SO SORRY to hear that Constance E. Little has passed away. Even though she was no longer writing to The Age, her consistency and regular appearance in the letters page over the years was an inspiration.

Rita Hardiman, Footscray

ALL those planning to attend Constance's funeral in Bairnsdale on Friday are asked to please wear a dash of pink in her honour. Was Connie responsible for the introduction of the pink ribbon between Comment & Debate?

Wilma Hills, Echuca

THE late Constance E. Little, unlike other serial letter writers, was not into platitudes.

Peter Freeman, Frankston

Politics

HOPEFULLY, Peter Costello's retirement is somewhat firmer than John Farnham's.

Pip Denton, Guildford, NSW

MERCIFUL heavens. Everyone's a winner.

John Stewart, Ararat

AS THE national tally of swine flu cases climbs, I can confirm the virus has mutated. Fortunately only one person has succumbed to strine flu - Kevin Rudd.

Kathy Haynes, McKinnon

I HAPPENED on a draft of part of a Rudd policy speech before the "strine police" reviewed the document: "It is the policy of the Rudd Labor Government that every Australian has the inalienable right to equitably inhale from the glass sauce receptacle."

Peter Russo, West Brunswick

JUST which part of the hottest 11 years on record having occurred in the past 13 do you not understand, Steve Fielding?

John Mayger, Hepburn Springs

RE WOMEN'S hospital waiting list rorts (The Age, 15/6), senior executives are generally never held responsible, that is what the lower echelon are there for.

Marie Nash, Doncaster

"CLAIMS that senior officials have not been held accountable." It would come down to that, wouldn't it? Again. What do health administrators receive performance

bonuses for?

Anne Flanagan, Box Hill North

Furthermore

WHY are there no swine flu sceptics? Could it be there is no huge industry lobby interested in disproving a pandemic?

Julia Thornton, Surrey Hills

CARLTON finally appears to be coming, but they're having difficulty finding the arrival gate.

Alex Shabs, Elwood

ADVOCATES of a national curriculum should be wary. Imagine handing the right to decide what is (or is not) taught in science or which books are (or are not) taught in English across Australia to someone like Steve Fielding. Don't think he wouldn't try while he had the chance.

Tony Lenten, Glen Waverley

BY PHONING the Government's hotline call centre, Indian students in Australia may not only have their problems put on hold, but also find themselves in touch with home.

Max F. Horton, Adelaide, SA