One of the massive advantages Tasmania has is the fact it’s a small state in size and distances here are nothing like those on mainland Australia, yet there are some who use the small narrow minded argument that if a student has to travel from say a Longford to Launceston (26km) or Latrobe to Devonport (12km) to attend an excellent government secondary college that somehow this “distance” is a massive detriment to their attendance and learning.

Many readers will remember, for example, the very successful student accommodation that operated in Launceston where students from outlying areas such as St Helens, Flinders Island and Scottsdale would stay during the course of their studies. These hostels such as Parkside, Poimena and Hillcrest were sold off and no replacements were forthcoming. 

It makes way more sense and for far less money to re establish student accommodation hostels for those students who have to travel longer distances than destroying a fantastic college system.

THE world certainly confuses me too at times Len Langan (The Examiner, January 20). Why do only some of us have our human rights respected? We humans are at least four-dimensional, mind, heart, body and spirit.

While our fear is so determined to bury our mind in the sand or under/behind the clouds, allowing us to justify denying others their human rights then we cannot fully experience nor express our humanity, so to eradicate fear driven segregation, the poison that undermines the integrity of planet Earth.

THE case of Amy “Dolly” Everett is a tragic but all too common one. In my 40 years of working with young people, the issue of suicide, bullying, and now cyberbullying has come up far too often. Young people subjected to any form of bullying can experience significant social isolation and feelings of being unsafe, which can lead to emotional and physical harm, loss of self-esteem, feelings of shame, anxiety and a whole host of other mental health issues.

Unfortunately, Dolly seems to have fallen victim to the most severe effects of bullying. Bullying has always been a part of life, but that should not let us minimise or dismiss the effect it can have on a young person’s mental health as they develop.

Parents need to understand they are their child’s main advocate and need to take bullying seriously.

We need to be aware of any symptoms of bullying in our children, including loss of interest in school and extra-curricular activities; frequent complaints of illness to avoid attending school; lacking a network of friends; appearing sad, moody or depressed; loss of appetite; or trouble sleeping. As a parent, if you suspect that your child is a bully or is being bullied the first action you should take is to talk to them, ask subtle questions about their day at school and find out if something is concerning them. A parent should never blame the victim and should work with a child’s school to find a solution to the issue rather than acting on their instant emotional response.

I support Dolly’s parents in their efforts to establish a trust to raise awareness of the issue. Hopefully the conversations that this event has sparked will lead to a number of lives being saved.

I WOULD like to add to Malcolm Scott's comment about name changers (The Examiner, January 23). LINC is a silly name for a library. I have seen interstate visitors peeking through the windows, trying to work out, whether or not it is a library.

The University of Tasmania's decision to rename its library at the Newnham campus a learning hub, is not quite as silly.

IT HAS got to the stage where Australians are becoming confused as to whether to celebrate Australia Day at all,  for no one wants to offend our first Australians. I put it to you this way. In 1788 11 ships carrying some 1420 people arrived at Botany Bay and on January 26 set foot on its soil.

John Hudson, a chimney sweep (the youngest at 13 years of age) was sent out to the other side of the globe for stealing some clothes and other items -  a high price to pay indeed, as for many others at the time.

I ask, do I celebrate the fact I am able  to write about this now, in the best place to live in the world , (because of the above) or are the sins of my fore fathers before they arrived and afterwards will  remain a noose around ones neck, for if so, to quote one such Irishman Ned Kelly “Such is life”.

I’VE been listening to a guy on the radio regarding Centrelink and all the complaints. These are mostly concerning the phone link. 

However, if one is unfortunate enough to have to venture through the hallowed doors of Centrelink in Launceston it's almost as bad. This rather large area is full of desks, but no one is home.

And don't get me started on the MyGov site. Firstly one has to have a computer and many elderly clients don't. 

Then one has to have a smart phone to receive the code, which enables one to read the important information sent.

Don't know who thought that one up, but they are evidently not elderly, but a young person who thinks everyone is as savvy as they are when it comes to technology.