The half hour free parking proposed is next to useless. It could only be used to post a letter, it is possibly too short to visit the Post Office, a bank or newsagent. Remember, sometimes there are long queues for short tasks.

A better free parking limit is 2 hours. This allows people to do more than one thing, be that shop in more than one shop, or have a meal or coffee with a friend and then shop. It also allows less time friendly visits like to an accountant, doctor or lawyer.

To encourage more turnover other measures could be taken, Like have very steep fees above 2 hours, like 4, 5 or 6 dollars an hour above that. Harsher fines could be imposed. Perhaps all day parking in a restricted zone could have a heavier fine or double parking fees for the whole time they were parked there.

Park and ride in outer car parks is a good idea, but the park and ride scheme should be set up at the same time or after parking restrictions are introduced.

Jeremy Hunt, Ballarat

Editor's Note: There will now be one-hour free parking in the CBD following Wednesday night's meeting.

In January I visited Ballarat for the first time in a decade.  As in the past I revelled in the heritage beauty of this historic city carefully preserved in its obvious modernisation.

The recent years of the uncovering of extensive historic child sexual abuse by catholic priests in the region over generations has been the focus and genuine concern of the Australian public, welfare organizations and the legal system with regard to the church cover up.  The resulting tragedy for the individuals, families and the community in general had certainly diminished the image of this grand old town.

As an outsider, a survivor of childhood sexual abuse myself, and a longtime worker in the distressing field of historic childhood sexual abuse over the years I have watched the painful unfolding and would often wondered “how will this town ever heal?”   

As I drove past the Catholic Church I was elated!   

There was the symbol of healing I could never imagined - a beautifully “beribboned fence” surrounding the centre of coverup!   

A beautiful and colorful image created by innocent victims and their families as they struggle to survive on a daily basis, face the betrayal of the most trusted in their religious community and their shattered dreams of a normal, healthy life.

Where can I send more ribbon?  

Caroline Richards, Deviot, Tasmania.

I knew that once the 'temporary'  80 km/h speed limits went up along Gillies Rd and surrounding streets they would be made permanent. Why? Nothing has changed much in last 30 years I've been travelling up and down it, so why do we now have to crawl along it? Could you please publish the name and address of the person who made the change so that I can send him or her a rude letter every week until it gets changed back. 

Stewart Waterman, Ballarat

I write in reference to the house fire in Hyacinth Grove, Wendouree. To clarify there were no drugs being consumed or produced on the premises.The occupants are planning to create a vegetable garden so there were garden items including pots in the spare room.  The fire was an accident and as it took off very quickly, we were unable to call the fire brigade. People gathered and watched the fire burn, but did not offer to phone the brigade; so much for “Neighbourhood Watch”. A man riding past on a bike stopped and offered to call. If someone had phoned earlier, the house may have been saved. All the emergency  services did a fantastic job. Thank you to the emergency services for a valiant effort and special thank you to man on the bike.

Renee West, Wendouree.

World Thinking Day - Friday 22 February

HAPPY WORLD THINKING DAY to all Girl Guides and to the many women in our community who have been a Girl Guide during their lifetime!

World Thinking Day is 22nd of February every year. It is a day to celebrate the opportunities Girl guiding gives girls and young women to be the best they can be. With 10 million members in 150 countries around the world there will be a lot of celebrating today.

The theme for World Thinking Day 2019 is LEADERSHIP. Girl Guides are LEADERS and have been practising their leadership skills for the past 110 years when a determined group of girls wanted to share in the fun with the Boy Scouts at the Crystal Palace Rally in 1909! By giving girls the opportunity to develop leadership from a very young age, Guiding supports them to take the lead in their lives, inspire others and create positive change.

To all who have been a Girl Guide leader - today we say thank you for your commitment, dedication and for making a difference to the lives of so many girls and young women.

To all our current Girl Guide leaders - we say thank you for being instrumental in providing opportunities for girls and young women across Australia to grow in confidence and life-skills, build their leadership skills and empower them to be amazing!

Girl Guides is building leaders for today and tomorrow.

Happy World Thinking Day!

Rosemary Derwin, Chief Commissioner Girl Guides Australia.