Federal Attorney General George Brandis is proposing amendments which allegedly offer some protection. 

But apart from church ministers and marriage celebrants, other likely targets (cake-makers, function room owners etc) look like remaining unprotected. Such people may well put up with it, sticking to their principles anyway – and having clear consciences to live with.

Not so those politicians denying people rights to live by their beliefs. Especially many MPs around Australia who are doubly compromised: The ones who attended Catholic schools.

They know what marriage is. But many don’t make a stand. 

Over the next few weeks students will sit their exams for the Higher School Certificate. It’s going to be a challenging time, but nonetheless an exciting time to be completing school.

The future requires all of us to be adaptable and prepared. When deciding what you might do after school, consider your interests, your likes and dislikes, your experiences at school, at home and within your community.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish good luck to all students about to take their HSC exams. Remember to stay calm, study hard and just do your best.

Country electorates are getting too large and we are meant to accept it. We should begin to talk about the right of access to your MP and that you shouldn't have to wait weeks to see them.

Electoral tolerances need to be adjusted to improve access. Today is all about OH&S and yet we give regional MPs larger and larger electorates.

Mark Coulton, Member for Parkes, now covers 53 per cent of the state and used his charter allowance in five months. Maybe we should expect him to drive home from Broken Hill to his house in Warialda?

Sure they are well paid but they work for it and I would think they are away more than home. Give them decent allowances that mean they don't sit in a car for six or seven hours a day.

My mother, Stefanie Gray, is preparing to go to Wagga for her class reunion this weekend, and I thought you might like to remember something from 60 years ago.

There was an item in The Daily Advertiser on the day the Leaving Certificate results were published with photos of some happy achievers. One of them was Stefanie Soroszczuk from Mount Erin.

The Soroszczuk family arrived in Australia in August 1950 and their first home was in Bonegilla where adults and children went to learn basic English. Stefanie’s mother was determined her children should learn English more quickly and enrolled them in Wodonga at the local primary school. After a short time the family was sent to Uranquinty from where they settled in Wagga. As a matter of fact, they were one of the  first three families to settle at Kooringal, which was then known as Henwood Park.

After two years at Wagga Teacher’s College, Stefanie’s first appointment was to Junee Central School, which became Junee  High School in the following year. After four happy years in Junee Stefanie taught in a number of schools in NSW and overseas until her retirement.