Long, leisurely look at making Australia Day more inclusive

Australia Day is clearly broken and the proposal for an Australia Long Weekend is something that we should all get behind (“Bigger and better than Australia Day, let’s make it the Australia Long Weekend”, July 29). The travel industry should support it wholeheartedly. A long weekend must be better for travelling than an orphaned mid-week Australia Day. Business should support it. Mid-week holidays inevitably lead to more fake sickies. All parties should support its ambition to create a day without division that allows us all to celebrate what it means to be Australian.

The late Deputy PM and National Party Leader Tim Fisher proposed an Australian Day Long Weekend many years ago. Top business journalist Jessica Irvine, once put the “business case” for an Australia Day long weekend in this very newspaper. The argument over Australia Day cannot be left to remain as some kind of woke argument along party divides. We already have a number of holidays that always create a long weekend such as the King’s birthday and Labour Day. It should not be that hard. Anthony Melville, Birchgrove

What a sensible proposal to celebrate our nation on a special Australia Long Weekend on the second-last weekend in January each year. The choice of celebratory or relaxing activities for the occasion is limited only by the individual and collective imagination. Yes, the traditionalists will whinge, as always, but one of the most attractive attributes of this rational proposal is that it sidelines the annual divisive controversy about January 26. Rob Phillips, North Epping

This article was so sweet it made my teeth ache. It paints a picture from long ago with mentions of citizen ceremonies and sausage sizzles. That Australia is long gone. Social cohesion is at an all-time low here in Australia. Identity politics have split communities and mass immigration has left us very unsettled. Most of us no longer even know what Australia stands for, as we do not have any overarching values that provides a bedrock for unity. We have been taught to feel shame about our country instead of being proud of our achievements. What would we be celebrating? Nobody knows the answer. Pamela Shepherd, Balgowlah

Much as I admire the efforts of Messers Jenkyn, Cousins and Elliott to confront the Australia Day problem I wonder why they’ve resisted the sterling efforts of Wesley Enoch to establish an Australia Day Eve to celebrate the eons of time before colonists arrived at Sydney Cove. Perhaps the Friday before their proposed Australia Long Weekend could be dedicated to First Nations - their own honours list, for instance? Jeremy Eccles, Clifton Gardens

This is an excellent solution to a problem that is not going away. It is an opportunity for all Australians to be happy celebrating our nation. Beryl Crowther, Mona Vale

On the Olympic bandwagon

As a keen follower of all things cycling I’m embarrassed to say I hadn’t heard of Grace Brown before her brilliant ride to win the Time Trial gold medal at the Olympics. Suffice to say I’m on the Brown Bandwagon for her final Olympic event - the women’s road race. John Anderson, MacMasters Beach

Indeed, Derrick, the Matildas’ loss was not a nightmare (Letters, July 29). The Olympic Games are a gathering, a celebration of sport; there is no “entitlement”. Anyone participating has the right to win or lose. Just think of the number of countries who send their best knowing it is quite likely that there will be no medals; just being there is enough. One does one’s best; one can do no more. Remember Eddy the Eel; courage, participation and drive. That is the true spirit of the Games. Nola Tucker, Kiama

Most Christians did not feel “absolutely betrayed” [by the Opening Ceremony’s Last Supper performance], but perhaps there were a few watching with their umbrellas open but their minds closed. Tim Schroder, Gordon

I thought it was the commentators’ job to explain the French cultural references at the Opening Ceremony broadcast (Letters, July 29). I thought they did a rubbish job at that, although I very much enjoyed the ceremony itself and understood some of the more ‘out of left field’ connections. Andrew Cui, Parramatta

Four gold medals to Australia in two days: all won by women! Jacky McCarroll, Shoalhaven Heads

Onya Jess Fox! At least 12 years of water torture. You really do deserve gold! Wolf Kempa, Lithgow

What’s in the long, thin box handed out to medal winners in Paris? A baguette? Stephen Driscoll, Castle Hill

Keep it in context

As has been widely reported, Vincent Namatjira’s painting of Gina Rinehart is just one of a series of portraits of prominent Australians, all done in the same style (“Painted into a corner”, Letters, July 29). To my knowledge not one of the other subjects has complained. What (apart from her enormous wealth) makes Rinehart so special? Richard Mason, Newtown

I wonder how many correspondents have seen the Vincent Namatjira exhibition at the National Gallery? It is a hoot. He has captured bare likenesses of dozens of famous Australians and the royal family with a caricaturist’s eye but a naive skill. No one else has complained so publicly because, seen in context, the exhibition exposes pomposity, class, wealth and fame and the absurdities of power. The images of the royal family climbing Uluṟu says it all. Annabel Marley, Cootamundra

She’ll be apples mate!

We drove though Batlow two years ago hoping to stop at a cafe for morning tea (“The tourist town with barely a latte in sight”, July 29). We were very disappointed to find not one suitable place open. With such a famous association with apples, we thought it would be a quaint little country town set up for some tourism. I know the area suffered greatly during the bush fires that tore through the town a few years prior, but still we expected more. I totally agree with Margaret Sedgwick that there certainly is opportunity there for someone with a little creativity and entrepreneurial flair. Peter Miniutti , Ashbury

Batlow’s core appeal - she’s apples, mate! Jim Dewar, Davistown

• To submit a letter to the Sydney Morning Herald, email letters@smh.com.au. Click here for tips on how to submit letters.
• The Opinion newsletter is a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform. Sign up here.