As a regular patient of the Children's Hospital at Westmead I would like to write with the intention of holding public hospitals in a positive light, in particular the hospital I have been lucky to be treated in for the past eight years.

Being now almost 16 years wise I feel that I owe the hospital the recommendation of an irrefutable review. Having severe atopic eczema, a history of anaphylaxis, multiple food allergies and bullous pemphigoid, a blistering disease rare in children that requires high doses of immunosuppressant drugs, I am convinced that I have almost walked every corridor of the hospital.

Yesterday brought the end of a one-month admission in the adolescent ward. Not only was I ill but my mother, who has a debilitating muscle disease, was in Westmead Hospital next door. This brought varied activity to the usual monotony of hospital days; a life where lunch marks the middle of a day consisting of the usual lethargy.

When half of your schooling is stolen by chronic illness, one is privileged to have the good company of doctors and staff who genuinely care. Fortunately I have had the most exceptional treatment in times of sickness. It may strike you as a bit odd but, strangely, I would say that my devoted immunologists have grown to be great friends who care for me as if we shared the sacred bond that only a family shares. Not only did they spend many weeks last year trying to diagnose me with the blistering disease, but they made sure that they took the time to allow us to get to know each other.

One example of many most beautiful gestures is that in each appointment, the head of immunology, Dr Alyson Kakakios, will always set time aside for general chitchat. When I was younger we spoke of school and of my Starlight wish (my puppy); when I became a teenager she admired my new clothing; and now we have found in each other the humour that only a Jane Austen fan possesses.

Another instance occurred only two weeks ago when, seeing that I was upset over the sudden admission of my mother to the emergency section, Dr Sam pulled out his camera and showed me pictures of his beautiful young son on his tricycle. The value of this dialogue between doctor and patient that so often occurs can be seen when one who is ill reflects on the good aspects of life. With me being diagnosed with depression brought on by chronic illness, these sincere, brilliant minds give me hope, with a smile, that I can live my life to the fullest.

Thank you, Westmead, for giving children the strength to love life even though, for some, life will never be completely normal. But that is what makes them special.

Elona van Esveld Horsley

Minority rules, but for the rest of us, it's fake prosperity

The Prime Minister is concerned a Labor government would govern for a minority, not for all. The Liberal Party has been governing for the wealthy and large corporations for 11 years, truly a minority, all the while claiming to be doing so for middle-class working families and small business.

The genius of this Government, in beer-goggle bar language, has been to convince me that I am a six, so I can pretend to be an eight, with the hope of catching the eye of a 10, when in reality I am a four. With a seemingly endless line of credit trumpeted about under the euphemism of "prosperity", people like me who live in Ermington directly under high-voltage powerlines, can have two jobs, both paying minimum wage, and access to the internet and think we are doing well for ourselves.

Give me a break.

Owen Torr Ermington (member of The Greens)

Does anyone else out there find it a bit strange that all these "generation Y", largely university-educated, sub-30-year-olds working in highly paid jobs are about to bite the hand that fed them?

All I wish to say is you will be sorry and a lot of you will deny voting for Kevin Rudd and his band of left-wing subordinates.

Warren Price Kirrawee

At the last election, John Howard promised to keep interest rates low. They've risen five times since. This time, he promises to drive unemployment at or below 3 per cent.

As we've seen from recent deliberations by the Reserve Bank, lower employment figures raise interest rates. So exactly how does Mr Howard propose to keep both interest rates and unemployment figures low, when it's clear you can't have both?

Sunil Badami Rozelle

In an environment of declining world oil reserves and escalating demand, coal on the nose as a cause of global warming, and virtually all developed and developing nations embracing nuclear power as the only reliable non-polluting alternative for electricity, Kevin Rudd proposes to ban it. Reason enough to vote for John Howard.

John Youngman Rose Bay

John Howard said that having a federal Labor government would not provide the "usual checks and balances" of the federal system, because all the state governments are Labor governments.

Would anyone seriously expect Mr Howard to say, "don't vote for me" if we had wall-to-wall Coalition state governments?

Guy Curtis Wentworthville (ALP member)

John Howard talks about Labor in power in all states and at the federal level if Labor wins the election. But we have Howard controlling both houses of Parliament, which is worse.

Since this has happened, the Senate has not served as a house of review, because the Government has open slather to pass any legislation or law it desires without real debate or scrutiny.

Ray Armstrong Tweed Heads

John Howard says it's not about leadership that's old or new, but just right. What's this? The Goldilocks election? In any case, in a democracy, no one should run almost purely on experience or you might as well never hold an election.

Philip Machanick Taringa, Qld (member of The Greens)

Apparently all we need is strong, stable, experienced, low-risk, fresh, new, innovative leadership that is right. Not much to ask, is it?

Andrew Charleston Sydney

We must not let our children die this way

Two weeks ago my daughter would have turned 21. But she died at age 16 as a consequence of depression over several years, committing suicide in the path of an oncoming train. This morning I see your headline "Don't let another son die like this" (October 15). When our daughter died a practitioner from the local mental health service said: "We let you down."

Obviously, the medical system is flawed, since it is made up of people like us. But that is no excuse not to do better. It is time we as a society saw mental illness as a potentially fatal illness and treated it accordingly. Don't let another son or daughter die like this.

Grant Robinson Springwood

I was both sickened and saddened to read "Don't let another son die like this". More than 50 years ago, as a 17-year-old junior nurse, I worked in a medical ward where we had several psychiatric patients whom we were told to watch carefully. After taking such a patient to the bathroom, and going off to do my next chore, she opened the window, climbed out and jumped three storeys to her death.

I can still vividly recall her face, her name, the anguish of her family and the subsequent guilt that I carried for a long time. While Justin Berkhout's tragic death will have a devastating effect on his loved ones, undoubtedly there will be staff members who, like me, will blame themselves and suffer in silence for a long time to come.

Yvonne Jones Pennant Hills

Shutting up stall

I operate several market stalls across Sydney and in the Hunter, selling organic food, wholefood and gourmet dog and cat treats ("Stallholders on the rocks", October 15). Apart from the appalling lack of parking spaces (to set up my stall, leave my car for the day and pack up), the planned replacement of the sail canopy with alternative "shelters", the uncertainty of not knowing whether one has a stall space until Thursday and having to provide weekly turnover figures, do not have a place in the traditional market ethos.

So, thanks, but no thanks. My products will not be appearing at The Rocks markets. I will stay with the markets I trust and know.

Maree Raftos King Yowie Bay

Carers in an uncaring world

My carer's responsibilities ended on August 2 last year with the death of my beloved mother. Although my years as a carer were nothing in comparison with so many others, particularly those elderly people who care for disabled adult children, it was still an extraordinarily demanding time ("High rates of depression in carers", October 15).

As the survey indicates, my anxiety has still not lifted, although I am just beginning to feel the bone-crushing exhaustion ease.

The biggest insult came when I tried to claim the $98 carers' allowance to be told that my mother was not sick enough even though she required almost total care. Because she had her faculties I was refused an amount which would have allowed me to fund a taxi to or from work each fortnight rather than out of the salary paid by my long-suffering and wonderful employer, who did everything possible to accommodate my need to care for Mum while still trying to work.

Mary Perrottet Waitara

The sound of sirens

Is there a crime wave in Crows Nest? Ever since the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation summit, we have had late-night and early-morning helicopter noise; on Sunday a police siren at 4am, and about 3.30am yesterday a low-flying light plane or helicopter above. Times approximate only, seen through bleary eyes. My theory is that the police are using new toys given for APEC, or is it more subtle and a threat of what might happen if John Howard moves back to Wollstonecraft?

M. Duke Wollstonecraft

Get on board, Morris

The availability of a rail corridor should have the State Government making immediate plans for its use as a route for trams ("Light rail opportunity left idling on the track", October 15).

Unfortunately, Morris Iemma and his ministers appear to be ideologically fixed on toxic technology; the only transport around here has to be private, on a road or in a tunnel and be powered by an internal combustion engine.

Remember when even the existing gas-powered buses were going to be converted to diesel? The NSW Opposition has noted an extension of the tramway is needed towards the Quay, but this becomes an impossibility for Iemma. And the railway land? I'll bet there is a certain person who could come to the Government's aid and start building high-rise units on it.

Donald Hawes Springwood

I've been advocating for years that the rail line between Lilyfield and Dulwich Hill should be used for passenger traffic. Now that the line is available the NSW Government should convert it as soon as possible. It wouldn't take a lot of money to build a few concrete-slab platforms and it would be a good connecting commuter line as well. Better than cars or buses.

Ron Field Bermagui

Drugged culture

I am an alcoholic; a drunken spree almost cost me dearly recently because of the violent person I became. Hard drugs are no different; I had a stint with them as well.

Jeff Thornton (Letters, October 15) is right: tax drugs as we currently tax alcohol and cigarettes, removing some of the attraction of "rebellion", and create new support networks with the money raised for those who are addled. There needs to be a shift from the belief that booze is OK and cigarettes are OK and illegal drugs are bad. They are all the same in their destructiveness. I know first hand, although, with support, I am on my way to recovery.

With government assistance, we could find ourselves rid of our drunk and drugged culture, replaced with a desire to help our fellow man. Let me dream of this utopia that will probably never be realised. Two drinks a day? One is too many, 1000 never enough.

Sam Fields Seven Hills

Salt with that?

The difference, Christine Olsen (Letters, October 15), between the regular recycled water and the water from the ocean, where sewage has been dumped, is the salt - which Morris Iemma proposes to remove at huge expense to taxpayers and the environment. Go figure.

Victoria Harrington Thirroul

Environment prize would help keep the peace true

Regardless of Al Gore's suitability as a Nobel Prize beneficiary (Letters, October 15), perhaps it is time the organisation bestowed an Environment Prize, so the Peace Prize can be left for true heroes such as Nelson Mandela.

J. Archer Dural

Agreement, in hindsight

When the Greens announced their opposition to the war in Afghanistan before the 2001 election, I thought they were mad. But after reading "Blowback the sequel: harder, faster" (October 15), I think they may have been spot on.

Adam Nelson Enmore

Dubious generosity

The defenders of the reputation of Richard Pratt point to his philanthropic efforts and say that he should be looked upon kindly. Taking into account his political donations and when you add up his greed and profit-taking from dishonest behaviour, it is a bit like Robin Hood in reverse: steal from the poor and give to the rich.

Ron Harmer Surry Hills

Invisible earner

The other day I was talking with a woman from the St George direct internet banking mob. She told me that although a direct debit payment from my credit society account would not appear in my savings account for a couple of working days, it would start to earn interest as soon as it was debited. Add to this no fees and high interest rates and I'm onto a winner. Other banks take notice.

Sandy Parkinson Hilton (WA)

Should fix a few potholes

So, we need money to fix the Pacific Highway? I have just remembered the 3x3 fuel levy. There must be billions in that now.

James (Rod) Tobin Baulkham Hills

Need the right phone

I recently changed from a CDMA to a Telstra Next G mobile phone and am delighted with the reception, Kate Greenwood (Letters, October 15), but it is important to select a handset that is "area friendly". And, hey, it's also fun using mobile internet around a camp fire in the middle of Woop Woop.

Peter Dresser Coonamble

Kate Greenwood, I have a vital piece of information for anyone infuriated by voice recognition technology. While attempting to sign up for Next G (do I have a choice?) I accidentally coughed loudly into my handset. Result: instant transfer to a real person.

Alan Jones Katoomba

A hobby, not a sport

Scott Moran (Letters, October 15) complains our ironmen don't get the coverage they deserve. I believe they get more than they deserve. This is just a manufactured sport for people who are pretty good at a few things, but not world-class at any of them. If sportsmen want recognition for their efforts, then play a sport that is widely recognised. Otherwise, just enjoy your hobby.

Peter Kupsch Fisher, ACT

I sympathise with you, Scott Moran (Letters, October 15) but ironmen are not alone in their propensity to be ignored as world champions. Sam Hill is 2007 World Downhill Champion in mountain biking, and there has not been a syllable in print to mark it.

Peter Sanderson Wollongong Mountain Bike Club