We visited the tourist information centre and looked at real estate.

I emailed the then-Ararat Rural City Council mayor Glenda McLean and got no reply.

I now know why.

Councillor McLean was too busy looking after her career interests in Queensland.

I also now know that she wanted to increase council rates by 45 per cent for farmers and that she told her critics to "suck it up".

This suggests to me that under the present council's "leadership", Ararat is definitely not a suitable place for retirees or city residents looking for a tree change.

It is clear to me that Councillor McLean has put her own career interests ahead of ratepayers and that the Ararat council lacks capacity for innovation.

It's only recourse will be to increase rates when placed under pressure instead of consulting with the ratepayers or engaging lateral thinking to find solutions.

John Glazebrook

Ararat

Editor’s note: Cr McLean resigned as Ararat Rural City mayor and a councillor last Friday.

You can tell we are getting close to a state election when the Member for Ripon, Louise Staley, starts advocating on behalf of prison workers, or even workers in general.

On the back of an article stating that there has been an increase in assaults at Hopkins Correctional Centre, Ms Staley smelt a political point scoring opportunity.

Ms Staley said it was solely the Minister for Corrections’ fault and the minister should do more to keep prison officers safe.

The unfortunate fact for Ms Staley is that the highest rate of assaults by prisoners at Hopkins was actually in 2014 as the article goes on to say, when the Liberal National Government was in power.

It’s no secret that Ms Staley isn’t a supporter of prisons in the Ararat region even though it has a hugely positive economic impact for the community.

So, to come out and feign concern for prison officers is, perhaps, a bridge too far.

Phil Rodger 

Ararat

Editor’s note: According to data from the Crime Statistics Agency, assaults and related offences within Hopkins Correctional Centre peaked in 2017.

The Minister for Corrections claimed, based on data that Fairfax Media does not have access to, that assaults on their own peaked in 2014.

While it may be harder for young people to relate to the individual experience of the veterans and to know their names and battles they fought, every Australian can embody the qualities of the ANZAC spirit.

Courage, loyalty, compassion, mateship, endurance – the ANZAC spirit is something that lives on long after the battles are fought.

Whether it is helping communities after a natural disaster, supporting people at risk of homelessness, or providing a hand up to those affected by a family tragedy -  every Australian, young or old, can uphold the spirit of the ANZACs.

So let us honour our soldiers in the best way possible by remembering the sacrifices they’ve made and embodying the ANZAC spirit in everything that we do.

Let us be a voice for those suffering injustice or hardship.

And let us transform Australia one life at a time, giving hope where it’s needed most.

Lieutenant Colonel Neil Venables

Secretary of Communications

The Salvation Army