Your Say

Sydney Morning Herald

Thursday January 31, 2008

The Sydney talent pool is overflowing with names to top up our Top 100...

First among many

Congratulations on a fantastic issue (The Top 100, January). It's wonderful to see so many good people recognised. Only one glaring mistake! Councillor Marcelle Hoff should have been among the top 100 rather than a panellist. She does an enormous amount of quiet work in various communities - primarily with people who don't have a voice. Marcelle does not promote herself and the majority do not hear of her contribution. Homeless people, indigenous people, at-risk youth - they all benefit from her genuine concern and the work she undertakes. Maybe next year?

G. Marlow, Surry Hills

Guiding light

Ivor Indyk would have no means of knowing how attending his class on Australian literature at Sydney University in 1991 inspired me to set my mind to lateral thinking in my chosen career as a museum curator. Arriving in Australia from the US, I intended to write a thesis (hopefully going on to a PhD!) on the professionalism of Australian museums in portraying the country's history. But where was the representation of others, like myself, not born nor educated in Australia? Their voices came through loud and clear in Indyk's course on literature and inspired me to look more broadly at how the history of Australia's people could be more truly representative in museums.

Rosemary Kornfeld, Mittagong

Top 101

Your Top 100 of Sydney's most influential people makes fascinating reading. However, I can't believe that you didn't include the wonderful Linda Burney, NSW Minister for Fair Trading. Linda is such a proud and wonderful representative of the Aboriginal people, as well as a very articulate and active minister in the NSW Government. Could you include her and make it the top 101?

Jill Chambers, Riverview

Culture bubbles

Sydney is the most fantastically multicultural city. Yet we still live, for the most part, in our own "culture bubbles". Therefore, I suggest that next time you might consider including more non-Europeans in your selection panels to choose the Top 100.

Mahboba Rawi is an extraordinary Afghani who brings the plight of the street kids of Kabul to Sydney, raising money for orphanages and women's programs in Afghanistan.

Rosemary Kariuki is a Kenyan/Australian police refugee liaison officer in Western Sydney. She works tirelessly to integrate the often hurting and marginalised African communities into full participation in Sydney life.

And with terrorism and the scary side of Islam hitting the headlines everyday, there are some Sydneysiders working hard to build bridges between the Islamic and non-Islamic communities. It would be great to see their work honoured.

Jane Mills, Bardwell Park

Long may it last

What a fantastic effort by the team on absolutely the best magazine in Oz! I am sure there are plenty of other folk deserving acknowledgement but this is an issue for gradual savouring - to go in the cupboard, rather than the recycling bin. I trust you are all hugely proud of what you

have put together.

Mary Purnell, Revesby

best letter

The writer of the letter judged to be the best in the March issue will win 18 bottles of Paxton wines. The prize, which is valued at $558, includes nine bottles of the popular 2006 Paxton AAA (a shiraz/grenache blend) and nine bottles of the 2003 Paxton shiraz. Paxton is a McLaren Vale winemaker specialising in premium-quality estate wines. Jane Mills, the winner of this month's prize, wins two nights' accommodation at one of the 13 new-look Travelodge hotels around Australia.

Write to the(sydney)magazine, 201 Sussex Street, Sydney, 2000, or email editorthesydneymagazine@smh.com.au. Letters may be edited for clarity or space.

© 2008 Sydney Morning Herald

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