Another really terrific candidate was Tom Campbell. Tom is a young man with a very bright future and he made the campaign a real hoot.

Running for office is one of the most important things I have done.

Our great democracy means that a train driver, or lawyer or even a school teacher can aspire to be a member of parliament, a minister or even Prime Minister.

I was assisted by a fantastic campaign team and hundreds of volunteers on election day. These people gave up their time and energy to help get Labor’s message out to the Wannon electorate.

Finally, to the many thousands of people who voted Labor – thank you. We achieved a 1.8 per cent swing towards us which has helped make Wannon that little bit more marginal.

Michael Barling, ALP Candidate for Wannon

THE election is done but not quite dusted (I’m writing this letter on Thursday, July 7).

We have a highly divided Senate and any potential majority in government will be wafer thin.

We can’t afford to waste time in the goings on of political manoeuvring in Canberra. Here in Warrnambool, there are still many campaigns that need to be run.

There is still an ongoing fight to maintain a university campus in our town, there are still fossil fuel mining exploration permits covering Warrnambool and much of the south-west.

But the first – or at least one of the first – items which needs to be addressed in the Parliament is the dairy industry.

Clawback provisions need to be removed (as they were never intended to be used the way they were), a floor price should be on the table (Australian milk is a high quality product and needs to be deliberately valued as such) and nationwide there must be structures put in place to minimise the risk to farmers across the entire supply chain (this is the only way a milk levy could be used to directly support farmers).

I hope you’re up to it, Dan Tehan. There’s no time for political mud-slinging on this issue.

Thomas Campbell, Warrnambool

AT THIS stage of the Wannon poll count, there’s been a swing to each of the ALP and the Greens of about 1.5 per cent and a swing away from the Coalition of about the same. 

This suggests the Country Fire Authority dispute had minimal or no impact as a clear state issue in a nationwide election.

Voters are now better educated and informed than ever and the electorate should be treated with more respect. It was even suggested by some that the Brexit outcome in the UK would work for the Coalition and this was also a wrong call.

The CFA’s campaign against the union EBA was fuelled by News Limited and its main publication, The Herald Sun in a crusade to shift votes to the Coalition. It spectacularly failed and a certain R. Murdoch of New York would not be pleased.

Tony Delaney, Warrnambool

IT IS great that the Country Fire Authority is giving Koroit a new fire station. I applaud the work the CFA do, too – but I will stand by my opinion that Mill Street is not the most desirable position for it.

We did not attend the special meeting between CFA representatives, council members and residents as our notification was posted. Due to the changes with Australia Post,  we received the meeting notification two days after the event. 

Yes, we did object because for 20 years we have lived in a quiet, rural part of town and paid appropriate rates for our land. Our main concerns are the width of the roads with which the fire truck would be using and its lack of central accessibility to all areas of Koroit and surrounding areas.

I object to Cr Jill Parker saying: “That the objections are questionable.” I’m sure if she had rural acreage, she wouldn't like a fire station built near her. 

As for councillors suggesting that if it wasn't built there, then Koroit would miss out or end up with none – these are just scare tactics. We already have a fire station, although old and outdated, but there were no comments made by the CFA it would remove the station and our “fire-prone area” be without one.

Of course, the council has put in place planning for upgrading around 100 metres of road in front of the new station. That was already in the planning stages before granting the approval for the station. In the past 20 years, Mill Street and McVicar Street have had no major works done to them. McVicar Street is a narrow road and although a new division has been placed up the middle, it is hard for two cars to cross paths let alone a car and a fire truck.

So, no – I am not happy about the new station being in Mill Street. To those councillors who voted ýes, you are most welcome to come and have a holiday in my once quiet, rural outlook home. You have okayed Murray Goulburn's extensions and now you have okayed a fire station in Mill Street.

Thank you for devaluing my land and making it difficult to sell if I ever wanted to. Most people dream of owning some land but who wants to live near a fire station? Now how about reducing my rates as compensation. I think not.

Tricia Gloury, Koroit

FOLLOWING the informative talk and presentation at the launch of Diane Jackson Hill’s new book, Chooks in Dinner Suits I was prompted to ask: Would the maremma dogs be able to protect the shearwaters (mutton birds) on Griffiths Island in Port Fairy? 

The answer was very positive.

Maremma dogs are large white dogs that are bred to protect flocks, for example sheep, alpacas, chickens and penguins. They are extremely intelligent and adaptable.

In a world-first, maremma dogs were trained and placed on Middle Island in Warrnambool to protect the penguins from foxes during the breeding season. The project has been a huge success, with no evidence of fox attacks since the beginning of the project and a steady increase in penguin colony size to an estimated 180 penguins.

The shearwaters situation on Griffiths Island is similar to that of the penguins on Middle Island. We have the opportunity to learn from our neighbours in Warrnambool.

Having the maremma dogs protect our short-tailed shearwaters would mean we could cease the fox shoots and or poisonings on the island. It would deter feral cats and dogs and would hopefully decrease or eliminate the number of distressed visitors who ask at the Port Fairy Visitor Information Centre: “Why are there so many dead birds on the Island?”

Maremma sheepdogs have a good temperament, bred to be guard dogs and would be an asset to Port Fairy. They would enhance our already wonderful natural asset of Griffiths Island and the shearwater colony when they visit each year September to April.

Sheryl Reed, Port Fairy

COUNCIL someone from the Warrnambool City Council explain why roadworks began on Hopkins Point Road nearly one month ago and then stopped?

I rang the council two weeks ago because the holes were getting larger and I was concerned for cyclists who come down the hill at a very rapid rate. Nothing was done.

Marfell Road, as well as Blue Hole Road, now have large holes and ruts in them from where work also began and then stopped. 

Answers please. 

Mrs P. Luke, Warrnambool