Protesters have called for the statue of Cecil Rhodes at Oxford University to be pulled down. Rhodes' statue was first removed from the University of Cape Town in 2005. He was a 19th century imperialist who represented white supremacy in South Africa. The only good things to come out of George Floyd's brutal murder are the increasing awareness of the legacy of slavery and the continuing oppression of Black Americans, and that Black Lives Matter has become a worldwide movement.

Jane Desailly, Brunswick

From a slave trader to an abolitionist

As the Black Lives Matter movement gathers steam, it is justifiably hard to find a kind word for the Bristol slave trader, Edward Colston. But, perversely, the anthem Amazing Grace remains a hymn of redemption for the American Black community. It was written by a British clergyman, John Newton, who was also a slave trader. He eventually changed his views upon slavery, joining with William Wilberforce in the British abolitionist movement which in 1807 succeeded in outlawing British participation in the slave trade. But there is no evidence of his conversion at the time he wrote Amazing Grace in 1772.

Malcolm Rimmer, Clifton Hill

Rather than destruction, we must learn from the past

Edward Colston, Bristol notable and slave trader. Winston Churchill, hailed war-time prime minister and polymath, disdainful of Indian independence and anti-Semitic. Captain James Cook, mariner explorer who lacked respect of other cultures. These remarkable, flawed, historical figures, products of their times, had statues erected in their honour. Recently some have been destroyed or defaced. Instead of removing similar statues, place them in museums as a reminder of what was: we must learn from the past.

Mary Cole, Richmond

Churchill, a great leader who defeated Adolf Hitler

The vandalising in London of the statue of the great Sir Winston Churchill is a disgraceful act of woeful ignorance. In falsely dubbing him a racist, the vandals ignore the fact that he led the fight against the most despotic, racist regime in history when Britain stood alone with the commonwealth for two years and then alongside the US and USSR to ultimately smash the Nazi regime. The angry mob, aided by cultural Marxists in the media and institutions of learning, is attempting to re-write history to suit a hate-filled, left-wing agenda.

Peter Curtis, Werribee South

Racism and discrimination under Nazi rule

Quite astonishing. Black Lives Matter protesters deface a statue of Winston Churchill and no one intervenes to prevent this. Our family can testify that Churchill was not a saint but, from their experience of Nazi Germany and World War II, they might point out the certainty of "black lives don't matter" with a swastika in the corner of commonwealth flags.

Ronald Elliott, Sandringham

THE FORUM

Suppliers' role in slavery

Yes, like many British and European merchants, Edward Colston bought and sold slaves but there has been no mention of his suppliers. Slavery was endemic in many places then, and none more so than in the pre-colonial kingdoms of West Africa. Protesters should remember that it was the avarice of its rulers for the manufactured products of early British and European industrialisation that encouraged them to sell their compatriots, already enslaved, to Colston and his like.

George McGregor, Malvern

Activists' double standard

Have you noted the irony? Activists in Australia bemoan Rio Tinto's demolishing of an important Indigenous sacred site in Western Australia while, on the other side of the world, activists demolish an important historic site. Neither the mining giant here nor the activists there had any right to do what they did.

Trevor Nock, Torquay

Childcare, a shared cost

Headlines such as "Warning that childcare fee will hit women hardest" (The Age, 10/6) serve only to reinforce the myth that women are solely responsible for paying these fees. The barrier to women rejoining the workforce has less to do with the cost of childcare and more to do with outdated stereotypes perpetuated by the media. Childcare is a family cost, paid from the combined income of both parents.

Rosalie Morgan, Hurstbridge

Norm to work from home

No doubt many old-time managers will agree with the first part of "Work from home has fatal flaws" (Comment, 9/6). However many of the arguments posed have their own fatal flaws and conclusions. Yes, many of us were thrown into working from home with little notice. Many emerging reports however run counter to Jill Klein and Jen Overbeck's summation.

Despite the initial anxiety due to COVID-19, work continued to be productive. Many families are reporting positive outcomes. Fathers are experiencing "arsenic hour", with many able to help partners at home as they are not stuck on packed trains or in stand-still traffic. Parents and children can exercise together, with flexible times, in the fresh air.

Control freaks and those who tend to bully and intimidate staff will fight against the "new normal". However, working from home is possible with innovative internet technology. We need to embrace it until it becomes the norm to work from home.

Prue Blackmore, Carlton North

Another lawless haven

Melbourne lord mayor Sally Capp and North Melbourne residents will be asking the same valid questions that we, the residents of North Richmond, have been asking the past two years. Which other sites were considered for the safe injecting rooms? What criteria were met for the site?

What impact assessment was there on the nearby maternal and child health clinic, community services, residents and traders? Why was the community not consulted prior to selecting a site? Any answers will no doubt be just as unsatisfactory.

Cr Capp is right to be concerned. For all the state government's trumpeting of more visible policing in North Richmond, after significant community pleading, she will discover that policing can only occur a certain distance away from the safe injecting room for it to succeed. The surrounds will become a lawless haven for drug dealing, drug driving and anti-social behaviour, as it has in North Richmond right next to residents; homes and a primary school.

Nhi Hoang, Richmond

In support of the cull

The high country brumbies repeatedly get the sentimental vote in your paper (The Age, 9/6). However, the colonial equestrian exploits of a few have been eulogised in poem and legend sufficiently. They belong to the period of our ignorance of this country's ecology, analogous to an idyllic childhood. We are mature now and understand this country does not survive the onslaughts of these hard-hoofed beasts. The cull must proceed.

Angela Rutherford, Hawthorn

Ensuring safety in the bush

As a tramper and bush walker, I went on many bush searches – some successful, some not – when I was much younger. Nowadays it would be possible to fit non-verbal wanderers like 14-year-old Will Callaghan, who has been found after being missing for two days in dense bushland, with trackable bracelets.

Loch Wilson, Northcote

True heroes, one and all

What a fantastic effort of co-operation and goodwill from the combined forces of police, firemen, paramedics and the many volunteers who searched for two cold days and freezing nights for William Callaghan. What a wonderful result. Congratulations to you all.

Maria Prendergast, Kew

Give them all awards

After a year of very ordinary news, what wonderful news about Will being found by volunteer searchers at Mount Disappointment (a misnomer in this case if ever there was one). It certainly brought a tear to my eye.

Next year when they hand out gongs for the Queen's Birthday, these volunteers should be at the front of the queue instead of a bunch of time-serving political hacks who were already well rewarded for just doing their jobs.

Ross Hudson, Camberwell

The people's awards

So many worthy recipients for the Queen's Birthday Honours undermined by those who are least worthy, self-indulgent and politically aligned. It is time for an total overhaul of a failed system of political nepotism. (And let's get rid of all those long-service, government service awards while we are at it. Really? Awards for doing their job and considerable pensions/benefits.) It is time to make them our awards, deserved by those who contribute to our society, year in, year out – unpaid and unrecognised.

Tom Stafford, Wheelers Hill

Caring for our Auntie

It is extremely worrying that our ABC has to accept another funding cut (The Age, 10/6). Surely we can cost the service, then factor in a CPI increase each year. This way, both parties involved will know in advance the figure involved. Allowing government to rip out money from ABC budgets is not acceptable. Australians need a healthy, vibrant ABC to reflect our culture and factually inform us.

Irene Zalstein, East Doncaster

Calling for donations

Please, could one of our community-minded philanthropists step up and help fund the ABC since the federal government refuses to do so. The ABC proved just how vital it is as a national broadcaster in the devastating bushfires earlier this year. Now it keeps us informed on the coronavirus. Shame, Scott Morrison, shame.

Katriona Fahey, Alphington

Roses for Centrelink

I rang Centrelink yesterday to report a computer glitch with my application. They answered immediately, and transferred me to the correct clerk immediately. The service was quick, efficient and friendly. Well done.

Ross Beamsley, Moe

Quality education for all

David Zyngier highlights the funding discrepancy between state and Catholic schools (Letters, 9/6). I have always been intrigued when other commentators hold up Finland as a higher achiever in education standards by comparison to Australia, but it is not always mentioned that taxpayers there fund only the public school system. All Australian children would have access to affordable, quality education if our government did the same. It would mean that the discrepancies Zyngier highlights would disappear.

Liz Schroeder, Thornbury

Protect our coastline

Be afraid, be very afraid of developers who want to build a resort on the pristine coastline of beautiful Cape Bridgewater under the guise of employment opportunities (The Age, 8/6). This so-called "development" would result in the destruction and devastation of some of the most stunning and unique coastline in Victoria.

Andrea Plantinga, Point Lonsdale

Give the man credit

I do not agree with Geoff Boycott's claim that that only a former male Test cricketer can be a commentary expert (Sport, 9/6). However, I disagree with former Australian allrounder Lisa Sthalekar questioning his "power" or his strike rate "compared to female Test cricketers of even that generation". Boycott made more than 8000 runs and averaged 47. They are elite statistics. It is most certainly not just about strike rate. Boycott may be draconian with his views on women, but the man could play and his statistics prove so. Strike rate is a very overrated measure in today's game. It is emphasised too quickly due to T20 cricket being a form of the game that the current generation has grown up with as opposed to correct and proper technique associated with cricketers of years gone by.

Julian Roberts, Burwood

Control our own destiny

Do we, the Australian people, get a choice about our future and where we fit in the world? It seems not for those who are not in Scott Morrison's cabinet. Isn't it time for another bipartisan summit to focus on what a "sustainable" future might look like? Socially, culturally, economically, environmentally and politically.

I do not want us to be a captive state of the United States or China or anyone. What I would like is a clearer view about how we leverage our strengths and control our own destiny.

Anne Austin, Flinders

Next time, count me in

I didn't attend the Black Lives Matter rally because I did not want to expose myself to the risk of COVID-19 infection. I know that was selfish of me and I do admire the courage of all of those who took that risk and attended. I resolve never to be such a wuss again.

Dick Danckert, Torquay

AND ANOTHER THING

Childcare

Women unable to work because they don't have childcare also can't apply for unemployment benefits. How good is that to reduce unemployment figures?

Helen Pereira, Heidelberg Heights

Older, well fed men making decisions about childcare. What hope is there for young women?

Lou Ferrari, Richmond

Of course, the government can't continue with free childcare. It was Labor policy at the last election.

Loucille McGinley, Brighton East

The United States

Republican senator Rick Scott wants us to support the US in a cold war against China (10/6). Perhaps Australians are fed up fighting the US' losing wars.

Venise Alstergren, Toorak

The US likes to lead, and is doing so beautifully with COVID-19 cases. It's hit the 2million mark.

Meg McPherson, Brighton

Honours

A Logie for his part as the deplorable Mad Jesuit Monk would have done Abbott just fine.

Paul Wells, Bendigo

We should be grateful it isn't Sir Tony and Dame Bronwyn.

Paul Finlay, Mordialloc

I searched my breakfast cereal packet for my AO but nothing there. What brand does Tony eat?

John Ramsay, Prahran

Wilcox's cartoon on the Queen's Birthday Honours (9/6) was spot on.Rita Zammit, Prahran

Furthermore

Police should never be criticised for using low level force to subdue the mentally disturbed. It should be the norm.

lan Powell, Glen Waverley

Is the lack of women in the Liberal Party affecting the government's COVID-19 recovery responses?

Helen Davison, Burnley

Is "deep cleaning" where skirting boards and windows are done?

Doug Hopkins, Aspendale Gardens

Yay, a vegan recipe in Home Made (8/6).

Suzanne Palmer-Holton, Seaford

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