The plan of the township of Warrnambool was approved by the executive council in Sydney and proclaimed on 30 January 1847. (By these we flourish, C.E Sayers & P.L Yule)

In 1848 Warrnambool's first race meeting was conducted on a course close to the landing place in the bay, between Lake Pertobe and Lady Bay, known as Jetty Flat.

From that momentous day through to the present the Warrnambool Racing Club has been a cornerstone in the advancement of our wonderful city.

The May Race Carnival is known throughout the world as being an extraordinary event. An event which continues to celebrate mans love of horses and their close connection to the amazing animal.

It is a social event like no other and brings enormous prosperity to our region and has branded Warrnambool as a friendly, destination city which must be experienced.

It has contributed enormously to our economic growth and brings to our city employment on so many levels and one could argue keeps a large part of our businesses prosperous in the winter months not to mention the ongoing moneys throughout the year.

The coronavirus has brought many challenges, one being the running of the May Race Carnival. The state Labor government introduced strict procedures to enable the club to run a 2 day meeting with no attendees but the most minimal to effectively and safely run the event. Social distancing as a paramount requirement.

One day would be flat races and the second day would be for the jumps. Two different jockeys and trainers on each day. Both departing Warrnambool at the end of the days racing.

Without any community consultation the Warrnambool City Council voted on a notice of motion put forward by Cr Kylie Gaston to contact the state government asking to postpone and cancel the May race meeting.

It was passed unanimously 6-0. The argument was to protect our community because of the potential threat of social distancing saying "it was unlikely to be achieved by the racing participants".

It is well documented that soon after this extraordinary action our mayor broke the social distancing laws after he reportedly drove the mayoral car on the wrong side of the road in Liebig Street, crossing double lines then drinking in a prohibited area.

These actions have been accepted by our elected representatives and no actions are to be taken against mayor Herbert by his fellow councillors.

His actions have now been reported in media outlets throughout the world bringing embarrassment to our community.

This type of selective representation reeks of hypocrisy and double standards and is not worthy of our great city and its people.

Peter Hulin, Warrnambool

It is disappointing to see the government exclude Disability Support Pension, Carers Payment and Aged Pension recipients from the $550/fortnight coronavirus supplement.

This was, of course, a much-needed boost to JobSeeker (formerly NewStart), Youth Allowance and other Centrelink payments.

However, DSP, Carers and Aged Pension recipients still live below the poverty line, and are disproportionately affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

I would like to see the federal government take responsibility for its most vulnerable members of society by affording them the means to pay for increasing grocery, medical and other costs.

At a time when much-needed social support services have been slashed, our disabled, elderly and carers need help more than ever.

Siobhan Simper, Warrnambool

The decision of the Andrews government to start the duck shooting season today with shooters able to kill and maim waterbirds on their own properties is extraordinary.

It means that inspections to ensure compliance with what regulations do exist will be difficult and mainly impossible .

Added to this is a review proposed for May 11 with further decisions expected then about the season and where it goes.

A committee of Rhodes scholars should not be required to decide that shooters driving to our wetlands under the guise of a sport doesn't fit the essential travel restrictions now in place.

No expansion should be contemplated and it should be fully terminated on that date.

Tony Delaney, Warrnambool

Thank you to the lone trumpeter whose playing of the Last Post and The Reveille could be heard across north Warrnambool at 6am on Anzac Day.

A very moving and fitting tribute to our veterans.

Gordon and Elizabeth Wood, Warrnambool

At a time when many people are worried about the impact of the coronavirus on those nearest and dearest, they have also thought about the deaths of millions of people in the last two world wars. Some have played musical instruments, or stood with candles in their driveways. We should not forget all the deaths from World War I and World War II.

In thinking about the sacrifices of soldiers and people living in the Pacific area during the last war, we must open our minds to the facts that over the past fifty years Australia has contributed to the deaths of over half a million West Papuans. Australian tax-payers' money has been given to Indonesia by the federal government, and Indonesian soldiers have been trained in the top end of Australia.

We are thus all complicit in the deaths of those West Papuan civilians whom the Indonesian military have killed.Merely raising the West Papuan flag of independence is enough for any West Papuan to be "disappeared", or jailed and killed.

Now is the time for the Australian government to cease paying money to a neighbour that mercilessly rules West Papua with an iron hand.

Gillian Blair, Warrnambool