Mr Smith's statements could not be further from the truth.

It is my fellow volunteer firefighters who for decades have day-in, day-out given their time for free and on many occasions at the expense of the member to protect our communities and who come together in times of crisis to preserve life and property.

During the Scotsburn fires in December 2015, volunteer firefighters came out in force. Working together Volunteers were able to control what was a ferocious fire in very dangerous conditions that threatened communities such as mine.

If we lose our CFA volunteers and the current structure that we have for so long cherished, we also lose the surge capacity that comes with it and the large numbers of firefighters that attend fires just like the Scotsburn fire in 2015. This will be a disaster for community safety across the state.

Perhaps Mr Smith could be honest about his background and his motivations. What Victoria needs are firefighters who are concerned about community safety, not union stooges toeing the UFU line in a desperate bid for power and control of our proud integrated organisation.

Something that seems to be lost in all of this is the fact that the CFA is made up predominantly of Volunteers with over 35,000 Volunteers and only 1000 career firefighters. Members of the CFA and our communities need to remember this fact.

Chris Jones,  Captain, Meredith Rural Fire Brigade

Every now and then someone comes up with an excellent idea. Colin Holmes, in his letter to The Courier Saturday, May 6, has hit the nail right on the head, when he suggests that the apartment type hotel should be built on the vacant Shell site in Creswick Road. This would free up the valuable space which is planned to gobble up much of the valuable transport service land located in the railway yard at the Ballarat Station.

Just imagine a planned modern convention centre and hotel with lots of underground parking in Creswick Road with access to the railway complex along the old rail line from the depot to the station. This makes so much sense. How about we put the brakes on now before any works start at the goods shed site and look at proper planning for the whole area. It should not take long if all involved can sit down together now and at least debate the idea of Mr Holmes.

History shows that 150 years ago, sound planning saw the development our great and now historic undercover Ballarat railway station complex and the associated surroundings. We now have the opportunity to continue to maintain, and indeed expand, this complex to be one of the best, if not the best, transport centre in Australia.

Paul Jenkins, Alfredton.

"Advance Australia Fair". Do you think we should still sing these words as our national anthem? Around the world, we are held in scorn and derision as you and your politicians plot and scheme. You want our asylum seekers forgotten and out of mind, so you have put them on Manus Island and Nauru, where you can hide all your misdeeds. Many Australians want to love our neighbours as ourselves. Prime Minister, you are not innocent of the exploitation of the minds and bodies of these forsaken people. It is in your hands to seek pardon for your actions and deliver these people from their persecution, by settling them in Australia immediately.

Diane Collacott, Ballarat