Wattle is found all over Australia and has our national colours green and gold.

It signals the start of spring and is not near any other public holiday.

There is even a sprig of wattle on the official crest of the governor-general. We can't go on having protests across Australia on our present national day, it gives Australia an appalling image internationally.

THE dispute over the North-East rail corridor has ignored the main issue, that our transport system is almost totally dependent on petroleum imported from the most politically volatile region on the planet.

A break in the supply chain will bring the whole state to a halt. Rail links need to be rebuilt as a matter of urgency.

Rail is more flexible regarding motive power, a more efficient use of energy than road transport between population centres, and is the most suitable for moving large numbers of people and quantities of freight.

Questions of viability become irrelevant when there are no other options.

I would like to suggest a new line from somewhere near Mount Direction looping around to Scottsdale, giving access to both Launceston and George Town/Bell Bay.

A new line could be more direct and with easier grades. Tourism is not sustainable on its own. It could piggy-back on services for locals. Surveying could begin immediately, as a project of state significance, regardless of any decision on the existing rail corridor.

I THOUGHT that Bodyline was a desperate phenomenon by the English of the 1930s to counter Bradman but, having seen Joffa Archer's dangerous antics, with the full approval of his captain I might add, I can say that Bodyline is alive and well in English cricket.

THEY look disgusting, I will no longer enjoy the Gorge if they put those in there, seriously disgusting.

TASMANIA on many occasions has been described as a jewel in the Southern Ocean and in that jewel are many smaller diamonds.

The three rivers on our West Coast - Arthur, Pieman and the Gordon - all three magnificent and untouched.

Cradle Mountain, Wineglass Bay, etc are on the list of endless natural wonders.

Our own diamond here in Launceston is the Cataract Gorge, what city wouldn't want such a natural beauty, only 10 minutes from their CBD? You only have to sit on the lawns or in the cafe to realise such natural beauty must not be spoiled.

The present chairlift is acceptable, but not a bigger one requiring pylons around the Gorge and gondolas carrying who knows how many people. It would certainly ruin one of nature's gifts to Launceston.

A gift that no amount of money could buy.

I wonder if those in favour of a bigger chairlift would like to something similar built on all the above-mentioned places.

I doubt they would, so why is our Gorge any different.

I PERSONALLY don't think that making 21 years of age will stop people from smoking.

The scientists say that the brain doesn't fully mature until we are 25 years.

I started smoking when I was 16, as all my family did it apart from one sister and one brother.

I had three sisters and seven brothers.

I am now 84 and gave it up 22 years ago.

As my late father smoked it was passed onto my siblings. Strangely only my father passed away from cigarettes. The brothers all died from different cancers.

One sister lung cancer the other two old age. I was the youngest in the family.

NOW that the City of Launceston council has declared a climate emergency, with the threat of rising sea levels and more frequent and severe weather events, will they be reconsidering their decision to move UTAS from the top of a hill in Newnham to a floodplain at Inveresk?

IT'S scary that the ABC has been raided because of its freedom of speech.

The high court has ruled against a government official because of freedom of speech.

And no, apparently the journalists are in the firing line because of freedom of speech.

I wonder what our founding fathers would think of how this government is slowly but surely delving into our way of life? There is an old saying "I do not agree with what you said but I agree in your right to say it".