l attended the 35^th annual Avenue Dance Studio concert on Sunday at the Horsham Town Hall, which was absolutely fabulous.

I have not resided in Horsham for 50 years but it is still home to me. I return every year to attend the annual concert and see such class of professional entertainment performed by locals is outstanding.

Miss Louise has been qualified to teach dance for 35 years and has presented a concert every year for Horsham folk to enjoy.

With more than 100 pupils each year, Miss Louise and her fellow teachers have taught thousands of children to love rhythm, music and dance and have given the Horsham community 35 amazing shows to enjoy.

What an achievement.

Well done and thank you Miss Louise.

Marilyn Fish, Mildura

I BELIEVE that the society that we live in is soft, decadent and selfish both physically and spiritually.

We have adopted the attitude that we should be able to do whatever we like, whenever we like, furthermore claiming it as a right to do it, with no mention being made of obligations, responsibilities and consequences.

The question of same-sex marriage is relevant in this context.

It is unfortunate that many who advocate this issue immediately throw up the smokescreen of hate towards anyone who has the temerity to question their stance, thereby attempting to pressurise them into either silence or acquiescence.

There is a saying in police circles that police officers should hate the crime but not the criminal.

In spiritual matters we should hate the sin but not the sinner.

Whether we like it or not, there is such a thing as a moral code – God’s moral code, as encapsulated chiefly in the 10 commandments.

This moral code is written into the heart of every human being and when we break it, it is reflected in a guilty conscience.

Now, if ever there was an exhibition of a guilty conscience it is when those advocating same-sex marriage are challenged over the completely unnatural thing they are proposing.

When nations choose to transgress this code, it is not long before the moral fibre of that nation dries up and that nation falls like a ripe piece of fruit from a tree, ready to be taken over by someone or some nation who is stronger.

It is a pity that people like New Zealand MP Maurice Williamson, who was quoted glowingly in the Wimmera Mail-Times editorial of August 11 (Titled: Same-sex marriage should be a basic right) did not have the understanding of the late, great Bert Perry, of Horsham, who in a letter published in the Mail-Times on November 28, 1980 said: “The community, not only here, but in all countries of the world, should realise that, in the wider sense, the permissiveness of today could lead to the destruction of our civilisation.”

He then gave examples from history where this had happened and concluded by saying: “It is imperative that all decent people within the community voice their objection, in whatever way they can, to the permissiveness that is apparently becoming the norm in our society.”

The Christian church has traditionally been the guardian and upholder of the moral fibre of nations, particularly ours.

Andrew Bolt recently had an article in the Herald Sun lamenting the fact that the so-called mainline churches in Australia have failed in their duty as the moral guardians of our society, as exhibited by their silence on this matter.

Maybe he could have added that this failure is another example of a guilty conscience, caused by being white-anted from within.

I believe that this failure is one of the main reasons why so many people have abandoned these churches as reflected by the statistics of the recent Census.

In conclusion could I add on a completely different note, that if Malcolm Turnbull and Bill Shorten are going to campaign for a “yes” vote on this matter, then that is one of the best reasons I can think of for voting “no”?

Phil Lienert, Horsham

THE Australian Red Cross Blood Service would like to thank donors from Horsham for their generosity when the mobile donor centre visited recently.

You gave 507 donations, saving an incredible 1521 lives – so thank you!

One in three Australians will need blood or a blood product in their lifetime, but only one in 30 currently donates.

The mobile donor centre will next visit Horsham from Monday, October 30 to Friday, November24.

Please call 13 14 95 to make an appointment or visit www.donateblood.com.au for more information.

Nick Standaar, Australian Red Cross Blood Service