The paper(s) have provided a great service to the community; past and present. Hopefully future.

The Eureka write up on August 23 was a reminder of the proud spirit of this city that changed the country for the better. The dreaded licence hunts ceased immediately and commoners got the vote. Unfortunately, some out of towners who enjoy a vote and non-excessive taxation at the moment, take these two for granted.

A Melbourne article printed July 28 and abridged follows: “We love lawlessness with our attitude to Ned Kelly and Eureka Stockade. Miners opposed to paying taxes took up arms against authorities with many deaths. Avoid tax today and you are antisocial, yet Peter Lalor is regarded as a hero. So much for obeying society's laws. Morality and right and wrong has taken a beating.”

I say the massive, crippling miner's license tax and no voting rights apply a beating to the previous sentence. Ballarat residents are thankful for hard won privileges, actually rights, that are now enjoyed by commoners all over Australia.

- Colin Holmes, Ballarat

VICTORIA’S population is booming and we need a clear plan, not only to deal with the challenges, but also to make the most of the opportunities such growth brings.

Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows our state grew by an unprecedented 146,000 people last year, but only 10 per cent of them settled in regional Victoria.

As our regional communities continue to decrease in population, Melbourne is quite literally bursting at the seams. This is why the Liberal-Nationals Population Policy Taskforce is working to develop decentralisation policies to balance our population growth and ensure regional Victoria shares in the benefits.

A report released by the Victorian Auditor-General has confirmed Daniel Andrews has no plan for population growth and the demand for services; particularly birthing, maternal and childhood health services and kindergartens. This lack of vision could see some Victorians going without.

The Liberal-Nationals are consulting with our communities aross the state to ensure services and infrastructure required to cope with growth can be delivered. To have your say visit vicpopulation.com.au

- Peter Walsh, The Nationals leader

HANDS off the Learmonth Football Netball Club. It is a foundation member of the Clunes Football League and then the Central Highlands Football League. It fields teams in all levels of available competition - five football and seven netball teams. It is a family club with members of families playing in various teams and all members being strong and loyal supporters.

What is classed as a 'successful' club? If you use the narrow view of playing finals: In the netball competition, five out of six teams are playing finals with all being in the top four. In the football competition, two out of four teams are involved in finals with the other two teams being in final contention up to final two weeks. If you use the even narrower view of the senior football team, it is only three years since they made finals with the senior team finally finishing 10th out of 18 teams this year, slipping out of the finals in last two weeks.

It is wrong to base a decision on one aspect only of our country football league. Learmonth is an amazing community group with a vast, hardworking and committed player, volunteer and supporter base that has helped form the CHFNL and keep it successful and viable. Now that's what a successful club is. Learmonth deserves to remain a part of its heritage - the CHFNL.

- Tom Ford, life member of VCFL and LFC, Blowhard