Bowlos are the heart of communities

It was sad to read about the decline of Sydney’s bowling clubs (“Mosman Tries to Kill the Bowlo. Long Live Cheap Beer and Twirling Carpets,” July 9). Here on the Central Coast in Ettalong we operate four bowling alleys, two restaurants – one al fresco and one Chinese – and are a thriving local community club. We own six adjacent properties, three of which we are in the process of renovating for senior housing. Our adjacent neighbors have a vested interest in our club and have their own back gate keys to ensure easy access to the facilities. It’s a pretty good model for a successful Bowlo and we’re on track to have another good win this year to distribute to many of our local community organizations. We are open every day of the week from 10 am. So come over. Ken Dixon, Vice President of Ettalong Bowling Club

The closure of bowling clubs is cruel and pointless. We encourage older people to play sports and then take their bowling lanes away from them. We deprive the elderly of society and social support and leave them alone at home. And bowling clubs can save lives. It’s someone from the club who goes around picking Jean up off the floor when she’s not bowling or answering the phone. Shame on the selfish councils that sacrifice the interests of the elderly for developer money. Don’t you realize that you’re all gonna grow old? Jennifer Briggs, Kilaben Bay

I have a confession to make. I’m a member of one of the bands that can no longer play at the Warringah Bowls Club in Mosman. Ironically, the band is called The Quiet Ones. Laurie Facer, Winmalee

winds of change

Now is the time to change New South Wales to an Indigenous name (“Indigenous Names Hold High,” July 9). If we can rename Ben Boyd National Park and Cape Byron Lighthouse, what’s stopping the NSW Geographical Names Board from working with Indigenous groups to come up with a new name for our great state? While we’re at it, maybe we can get Indigenous names for all of our states. Lindsay Somerville, Lindfield

Pauline Hanson gets angry because the names of the places are changed. Apparently, she was deprived of a good history lesson at school, which might have given her clues as to why the city of St. Petersburg was named in 1703 (the “St” was dropped a few decades later). In 1830 Petrograd was proposed and used, but not officially changed until 1914; Just a decade later, it was renamed Leningrad, which was renamed back to St. Petersburg in 1991. In 1996 India replaced Madras (which existed before the 17th century) with Chennai. What’s the big problem with Brisbane potentially being renamed? David Gordon, Cranebrook

There is another reason why Anglo-Saxon names are not always suitable for cities. Who would want to live in a place called Morisset when it’s named after a man known for his extreme cruelty to convicts on Norfolk Island? Awabakal celebrates the people of the Lake Macquarie area. Judith Rostron, Killarney Heights

Local councils use Aboriginal names for functions and events. Even ABC radio announcers call their town in the local Aboriginal language. Street names in the Sydney area, often named after public figures or English monarchs, were original trade routes, routes used continuously by local Aboriginal clans to traverse the area. At High Cross, Randwick, a statue of Captain Cook marks his journey from Botany Bay, following the long, well-worn Bidjigal way, now called Avoca Street. Surely it needs a name change? Brenda Saunders, Randwick

voice of reason

As I read your article, it struck me that I included the word “Voice for Wellbeing”: stable, stable ground to stand on, involvement in shaping one’s direction, empowerment that leads to better outcomes, an investment in people’s skills (“Give Wellbeing Back to Welfare,” July 9). This article by Vafa Ghazavi has all the hallmarks needed for a compelling yes campaign on so many levels. Shout it from the rooftops for the benefit of all of our communities, whether on welfare or our indigenous people. Helen Lewin, Tumbi Umbi

More than a marriage

Does Steph Lentz claim that there were no single adult women in her church and the wider church (“I should never have married, but my church in Sydney left me few options,” July 9)? She must not have looked very far. I have been a member of an Anglican church in Sydney for a long time and I have never been prevented from traveling or studying theology. And in churches there are single adult women. It’s our sex-obsessed western world that assumes that every adult must be sexually active to be a full human being. Was this secular attitude the reason for the decision to marry, since it was mistakenly assumed that being single was not an option for a Christian? Polly Seidler, Darlinghurst

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