One (Alcoa) in return will give a gift to the world of an aluminium ingot if the public purse subsidises the price of electricity so they can sell ingots at below costs.

The other is a place of learning that may be sold in the shark market to the highest bidder. That will strip Deakin down from its public standing in the community.

Last Friday’s Save Our Uni rally left me wondering was it a rally to save Deakin, or a rally to make it look like they are trying to save Deakin? I believe the teachers at Deakin are the gift to the community that will keep on giving. Deakin’s reputation in the environment alone cannot be brushed aside for short-term gains, when it comes to viable climate change ideas.

Yes Roma Britnell, you are right, Deakin would make a great place of agricultural learning. Why? Because it is not shackled to old conventional farming ideas like the other universities.

In carbon farming circles, the new buzz word is soil age, where farmers are shown how to regrow their depleted land to become viable rich farm lands again. Soil age land can withstand droughts for they hold eight month’s supply of rain in their soil to carry through the dry times. Deakin is money in the bank for the local community and Warrnambool’s gift to the world. 

Robert Rowley, Illowa

I was a Deakin Warrnambool staff member for 24 years and finished 13 years ago. The situation Deakin Warrnambool finds itself in has been a long time coming and, in my opinion, the death of a thousand cuts.

The 1990 merger of WIAE with Deakin University was never a merger, more like a takeover. Since then the majority of decisions about the Warrnambool campus have been made by heads based at Geelong or Burwood campuses. Human nature being what it is, these people usually favour their own turf over Warrnambool.

There was an unofficial policy that when a Warrnambool staff position fell vacant, if at all possible, it should be filled by someone at Geelong - my position was filled by a person at the Geelong Waterfront campus. There have been numerous times when this has happened. The ‘policy’ was not documented or official and, of course, denied by Geelong-based managers. More recently, a colleague agreed to a pay rise on condition he left after three years – that position was not replaced.

How many Geelong staff vacancies have been filled at Warrnambool? I remember attending a staff computer training course at Deakin Geelong in the early 1990s. We were shown how to set the mouse double-click speed. A Geelong staff member commented “of course, Warrnambool staff will have to set their speed slower”, meaning, Warrnambool staff were not as smart as their Geelong counterparts.

That attitude was discernible too many times. I remember when free car parking at Warrnambool was abolished. Why do that when the campus has acres of land? It was done in the name of “equality of campuses”, a policy that had never been heard of before and disappeared just as quickly.

I remember when courses offered at multiple campuses had student quotas set by Geelong/Burwood based administration. Warrnambool’s quota might be filled but they couldn’t take more enrolments as the Geelong/Burwood quotas were not yet filled. The students wanting to study at Warrnambool were sent to those campuses.

Brad Mitchell, in the 1990s bemoaned the “death of a thousand cuts”. His words fell on deaf ears and are now coming true. Vice Chancellor Jane den Hollander’s task now is to rewind 26 years of cuts and restore much of what has been lost. 

Phil Carter, Warrnambool

Deakin University reported a $68 million profit for 2015. I do not believe vice chancellor Jane den Hollander is in the business of education or sustainable cities as courses are taken back to Geelong and Melbourne breaking the promise made by ex-PM Malcolm Fraser and City of Warrnambool in 1976: “A balance must be maintained between metropolitan and country education. Educational opportunities should be open to all people.” 

Watching Deakin’s public forum online, clearly Professor den Hollander doesn’t understand the south-west and has no vested interest in the region referring to Warrnambool as a town not city and implying locals had never seen Melbourne traffic. This is really sad from an education and social justice perspective let alone economically. She has other motives and is trying to dumb down the area. TAFE exists already for trades/occupations. There is no need to remove bachelor and post-graduate degrees for those who wish to pursue academically at a world recognised level. There are many high achievers in high schools at Victorian State level. Deakin also has a responsibility to retain its obligations in the area from all the student fees Warrnambool students/families have paid over years. This regional campus has produced students for the last 25 years since Deakin took over the WIAE in 1990. Many now work locally but also importantly across the state including Melbourne and other larger cities. The graduates all play a large role in the state of Victoria. The Warrnambool graduates are renowned in industry for being passionate, genuine and disciplined. The campus is well known for aquatic science, nursing, commerce, law, teaching and visual arts/communication degrees. These are all vital services locally. 

The university provides access to higher education in a regional area where distance and lower incomes (average median wage $40k) often mean the chance to move to metropolitan cities is out of reach. A high number of these students are the first generation of families to attend university. In this instance support is needed to prevent social isolation and the chance of dropping out. 

We need to keep the campus, which is worth $58 million a year to the economy, open for the next generation and financially to keep this beautiful regional city alive. I am a 1996 graduate; coming from a small low income rural family and now am a graphic designer who has successfully worked in Melbourne and overseas contracting and running my own business. I am one graduate, there are many more. I am putting my hand up to help these country students get their chance and ask you to as well. A university degree is a privilege that shouldn’t only be available to metropolitan families.

Renee Russell, Southbank

I write to express my concern regarding the potential closure of the Deakin University Warrnambool campus. I have recently retired from the University as Director of the Centre for Rural Regional Law and Justice within the Law School. This centre is also being wound down by the university. The closure of the centre also impacts on the survival of the National Rural Law and Justice Alliance, a peak member based body initially established by the centre with the support of the university. Both have been effective organisations, informing and representing the needs of rural communities. The commitment of the university to regional Victoria now has to be questioned.

Advice last week from the Vice Chancellor indicated that Deakin was considering options for the Warrnambool campus, stating that industry and community consultations suggested diploma and certificate level courses were a preference within the region. To suggest there is little interest in higher degree level education in the region is I believe, disingenuous. The deliberations of the university on this issue have now been reported widely in regional media. This spells the death knell for the Warrnambool campus unless an immediate and independent review is undertaken. Few students will enrol in future years, with this uncertainty drastically impacting further on student numbers. 

The rationale provided for considering closure of the Warrnambool campus is I believe ill-conceived, and goes against the legislation under which the university is governed. The Deakin University Act states that "the university retains a particular commitment to rural and regional communities". This focus is also articulated in its current strategic plan and manifested across university policy. 

The Warrnambool experience, where the university appears to be following purely commercial strategic imperatives, leaves rural communities within its catchment vulnerable. At best the actions proposed are likely to place the Warrnambool campus under a much less well-resourced option. Geelong should not feel immune, in recent times there appears to be a noticeable centralisation of both academic and administrative functions within some faculties to the Burwood campus. 

This is part of a much wider managerialist approach, underpinned by performance objectives by which universities are measured, and often provide less benefit than students, communities or industry have a right to expect. An obsession by the university sector, including Deakin, with national and international university rankings which emphasise academic achievement measured by publication in higher ranked academic journals, is perverse. Many of these high ranked journals are outside Australia and often have little direct impact or bearing on the local and state industry and communities in which those universities are situated. 

A decision on the Warrnambool campus should not be treated as simply a prerogative of the university to consider its best commercial strategic options. There is both a legislated responsibly at stake and wider implications for communities and industry within the south-west. Both state and federal governments have an obligation to residents to examine Deakin’s position and impacts. This includes examining the rationale and evidence Deakin is basing its considerations, the efforts implemented by the university to respond to any real and perceived issues and the impact a closure would have on potential students, communities and economies.

Richard Coverdale,  Newtown

I went to the Capital Theatre in Warrnambool to see if there would be a mid-night show of Batman V Superman Dawn of Justice last Wednesday night/Thursday morning. I was shocked to find that not only was there no midnight showing, but when the movie was shown on Thursday morning, it was downstairs. How does this make sense when Star Wars gets a midnight showing and even The Hunger Games movie got a mid-night showing? I know that to a lot of people this does not mean much, but to fans of DC, some of whom have been waiting for a live action Justice League movie for most, if not all of their lives it’s a big thing. It also should be remembered that without Superman, the first of the super heroes there may not have been any Deadpool or X-men. I just thought that I would put it out there and see what other people think.

Jason Groves, Warrnambool

It’s bad enough that Daniel Andrews wasted $1.1 billion in cancelling the East-West project but the Victorian Labor Government is continuing to short-change South West Coast families by failing to match funding for Warrnambool Special Development School. At the 2014 election, the Coalition vowed to deliver $10 million towards the Warrnambool Special Development School. But the Andrews Labor Government has so far only committed $5 million leaving the school with a $5 million shortfall.  I brought this up in Parliament and now with the approaching State budget in May, it is imperative that Daniel commits funding to upgrade these schools. I urge all Victorians to make their voices heard on this important issue by signing the Fix Our Schools petition at http://fixourschools.com.au/

Roma Britnell MP, Member for South West Coast

As a Liebig Street trader I feel it’s time that some positivity is put back into ”Our” Liebig Street. I have sat back listening to a small group of Liebig Street traders question our council about the future of “our” Liebig Street.

Throughout the years of being a Liebig Street trader, I thought that everyone was on the same page about “our” Liebig Street and the bigger picture. The bigger picture being of creating a vibrant, busy, beautiful Liebig Street that will bring people – locals and visitors, back into our city centre.

I thank the city council for finally doing something about “our” Liebig Street. Previously, I took part in the “Heart of Liebig” talks in 2006/07 and nothing was achieved and it was very disappointing to say the least. These sort of talks have been going on for years with nothing achieved.

But now, something is being done and it’s exciting. Yes, we all are going to be inconvenienced at times throughout the re-development but look at the bigger picture - “our” Liebig Street will be sensational. I ask that everyone unite in the transformation of “our” Liebig Street and embrace it because this is our future. And again I stress – it will inconvenience us all at times but looking through it all, and imagining the end result, it will absolutely be what we have all questioned and wanted for “our” Liebig Street.

Yes, there will be at times, unforeseen hurdles for the experts and contractors to overcome but we must put the faith and trust in their ability to solve and create this proposed end result.

I advise you to get on the council website, www.warrnamboolcitycouncil.com.au.net and see what is going on in “our” Liebig Street because this is massive and in the bigger picture will re-shape Warrnambool back to the busy hub of a city central that it once was. Come on Warrnambool, get the positivity back into “our” Liebig Street. It’s not all gloom and doom that some few are making out. Finally something positive is happening. Something exciting is happening. Something for us all to be proud of is happening.

Sue Cassidy – Unisexcuts, Liebig Street , Warrnambool

Our own Tower hill is the largest example of a 'nested maar' - a volcanic carter, the floor of which is dotted with hills - in Victoria. Since the time of European settlement, it's native flora and fauna have been placed at risk by the subsequent demands of agriculture and encroaching settlement.

In the 1960s the re-establishment of Tower Hill to a landscape reminiscent of the original was commenced, initially on the basis of Von Guerard's 1855 painting 'Tower Hill'. A unique project for a unique place.

The Tower Hill of today successfully reflects something of the beauty and diversity of of it's native landscape. However, the native bird population, ever-fragile, remains at risk.

The goal of re-planting Tower Hill in the 1960's was, apparently, to create a Game Reserve so as to provide a venue for hunters to practice their 'sport'. I like to think that, these days, we know better. 

There is an online petition in circulation at present regarding the abolition of duck hunting which has currently garnered more than 60,00 signatures. Closer to home, a petition to Daniel Andrews to protect Tower Hill from shooters gained approximately 600 signatures... this from only two venues, on in Koroit and one in Warrnambool.

Nevertheless, Mr. Andrews has demonstrated himself in his lack of response to be in favor of continuing to allow Tower Hill to remain available to a handful of duck shooters.

Much of the public appear to be under the illusion that Tower Hill is  a sanctuary for wildlife. Apart from the obvious ethical issues in debate here, I would like to assert that the future of Tower Hill lies in the thriving and ever-growing business of eco-tourism; not in the needless slaughter of its wildlife.

It's high time the status of Tower Hill was altered from that of an outdated Game Reserve to a place of sanctuary for it's wildlife.

Robyn Wylie, Rosebrook

I am hearing a lot in the media lately the need for child care to be more affordable and available. Also, women going back to work earlier after having a child. Its seems to be all about work, gender equality in employment (great) and better child care. But hang on what about our kids. Is it ok to place a child in an institution (child care centre) from say 1 year old, 5 days a week until they reach school ohh and then its after school care. Some children are being brought up within the confines of a child care setting living space for most of their early years. What happened to the trip to the supermarket, playing at the beach, playground etc. Im sure this happens on weekends etc but I feel that there is this underlying culture whereby to ‘have it all’ our kids are paying the price. I am certainly not knocking child care centres-they do a great job and I am all for gender equality at work including family friendly workplaces. I also realise that some parents have no alternate option than to send their child to child care to make ends meet. I also see parents who work a lot, put in 100% to their children when they are with them. I have also assisted families who work by picking up their kids until they can pick them up after work. This has been an interesting experience as often they are ratty and muck up and really just want to see their mum or dad. These kids are being juggled from parent to parent, bus to bus etc. Sure they get used to it and are loved. 

I am just concerned about the future of our youth. With the rise in youth mental illness, suicide, body image problems and the scariest one of all which is changing the culture of our youth sexually, causing girls in particular to lose their girlhood earlier than ever before is the marketing, pornography and the internet. 

Then there are some primary schools that expect kids have their own ipads for their children and some from age prep. Yes, I hear there are some positives in learning but they are certainly being used for everything else but the time learned at school. Also, there is the cost to parents $600-$700 for an ipad where there is no school support financially or insurance wise. So if a kid drops their ipad at school well there goes $700. The Education Department does not want to know either – the education department leaves this decision up to the school and to date I have not found strong evidence of ipad benefits in schools (certainly not $700 worth). 

Having a child is a blessing, a commitment, a precious being, they grow up fast, if finances permit be there for them as much as you can, mum or dad, grandparent or other relative/friend. Get them outside, playing, creating, there is plenty of time for them to become technology savvy. Stop entertaining them through a screen (ipad, phone, TV, computer) - just so you can have your latte with your friend at the café. 

Violet Davis, Warrnambool