Saya Sakakibara’s Paris Olympic BMX gold medal performance has all the right Hollywood-movie ingredients (“‘I came back to add the gold’: Sakakibara’s hometown hails hero”, August 4). Inspired by her brother Kai’s battle to overcome a serious brain injury from a World Cup BMX event, her French boyfriend’s love, and her own adversity when she crashed at the Tokyo Olympics her triumph channels the positive adage “when the going gets tough, the tough gets going”. Steve Ngeow, Chatswood
Saya Sakakibara celebrates her BMX victory.Credit: AP
Trump-like
Your article notes that federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has greatly exaggerated the increase in energy costs since Labor’s win in May 2022 (“Bowen slams as ‘lie’ Dutton’s claim on energy bills amid cost-of-living fight”, August 4). Energy prices have risen by far less than the $1000 claimed by Dutton. According to the Australian Energy Market Operator, the less than $450 increase has been caused by reactions to Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine – a fact ignored by Dutton. Could Peter Dutton be Australia’s version of Donald Trump? Douglas Mackenzie, Deakin (ACT)
Dutton makes it up as he goes, with claims like the cost of energy being $1000 dearer under Labor. Of course, he cannot prove it, or show evidence to back up the claim. It’s just playing politics isn’t it? No, it’s a lie, just like the “Canberra Voice”, or Dutton’s nuclear dream moment. These lies should be called out, not just by government ministers, but the very people who should call out the lies. Instead, they become part of a clever web of lies which should be called out for what they are, just a Gollum like quest for power. Geoff Nilon, Mascot
Fond memory
Reading about the proposed joining of Balgowlah Boys High and Mackellar Girls brings back a fond memory (“More Sydney schools targeted for co-education by Minns government”, August 4). When I was in sixth class at Seaforth Primary School I was looking forward to going to Balgowlah Boys High because we were told that it was to be co-ed with Mackellar Girls High. That was in 1962. John Haskell, Parkes
School Idol
Your article struck a sad chord for me (“New tune needed for music education”, August 6). As a retired specialist music teacher, I find it distressing to go to school concerts where music is not on the curriculum. The generalist teachers do their best, but often end up succumbing to the narrow expectations of parents and kids who want to copy the only music they know. So with any music budget spent solely on a sound system instead of actual instruments, we get a “performance” from an out-of-tune year 5 wanna-be superstar screeching gibberish into a mic, backing tape pumping out yawn-pop and the sad spectacle of said vocalist’s classmates lip-syncing. This is a monumental waste of time and money, and heartbreaking for children who are not experiencing a smidgen of music education. Bring on the parliamentary inquiry – evidence will show that the state of music education in too many schools is just shameful. Jane Becktel, Gymea
Own goal
It is a rare occasion when I agree with Parnell Palme McGuinness (“Trump’s got a women problem, but he’s found the culprits – women”, August 4). She correctly identifies that the Donald Trump’s Republicans favour a patriarchal society where women are to be subservient to men’s wishes and fulfil their role as baby producers. It is a problem of the Republicans’ creation and should rightly make Trump and them unelectable. However, the broken electoral system means that the Republicans do not have to win the popular vote and one should never underestimate the stupidity of Trump’s supporters. There were 70 million of them last time most are still there. Ross Hudson, Mount Martha (Vic)
Dying kindness
It is true, as your correspondent attests, that the practice of sending birthday cards and indeed Christmas and other occasions is a dying art (Letters, August 4). So much easier to toss off a text or at worst an electronic card. Some of my greatest pleasures are to go through the 150 cards from my husband over almost 50 years of marriage, the hand-painted ones from my artistic sister, along with those from my children and special friends. In this digital age the texts and emails pale in comparison to the thought and effort and kindness that a chosen card represents. Elizabeth Maher, Fiddletown
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