On the eve of Mother's Day 2008, I had expressed sadness as my memories of past Mother's Days had returned with a sense of urgency to compare yesterday and today’s vision of family. My sadness was that this Mother's Day it was acceptable for children to have two mummies and/or daddies.

I feel the need to pray to our heavenly Father that these children will have the right to know who their natural mother/father are, and if they have grandparents, aunties, uncles, and, more importantly, brothers, sisters and cousins. 

I will ever be grateful to my parents that I was raised by a mother and a father. I am one of seven children, my mother was also one of seven children, her father died after an accident in 1916, and her mother died two years later, leaving the oldest girl Lindah who was 17 years old to raise her 6 sisters whose ages ranged from 3-12 years.

Lindah was 20 years old when she married a wonderful man named Charlie, they had 11 children of their own as well as the sisters to care for. My aunty and uncle were part of our extended family, I loved all of them even though time and distance have separated us over the years. 

My grandfather, on my father’s side, died at a young age leaving my grandmother to cope alone.

Wars and divorce have also shaken the foundation of family. The time has come to define the structure of family - consenting adults do have their rights - but they should never exceed the rights of children, because they themselves were given life by a mother and a father.

Judith Law,

Gunnedah

The aggressive and unjust bullying by same-sex marriage advocates of anyone who wants to retain traditional social values knows no limits (The Australian 21/3/17). 

The sad irony is that these bullies are the very ones who complain of being bullied. 

Big business CEOs who are trying to pressure the Prime Minister into abandoning his promise of a plebiscite cannot claim to represent the opinions of all their employees. 

And the possible discrimination against employees who disagree with their CEOs is unconscionable.

The "marriage equality" slogan is a misnomer as two relationship that are totally different cannot be equal.

Traditional marriage has been a fundamental social phenomenon since the beginning of human civilisation with essential societal benefits.  

So-called "same sex marriage" advocacy has arisen only in the past 50 years with the popularisation of the LGBTQ agenda. 

This campaign is all about redefining marriage for which there is no rational justification.

Ian Holford,

Tamworth

This energy stuff is really simple. We've got an abundance of coal and gas to go around. About 90% of it is sold off for big profits to overseas markets. 

Our potential to use solar is pretty much the most opportune in the world, yet we're floundering. Think of it ... peak demands occur in the hottest, most sunny weather. 

And yes, it can be stored, if our power markets weren't so damned tied up with big fossil industry and our political class are so up to their necks in it they can't even fathom telling truth about the situation, this fact would be common knowledge.

There is no energy shortage. There is no conspiracy. It's just business as usual.

Leigh Ivin 

Tamworth