Retail fantasy over as reality bites David Jones

The road to David Jones on a Saturday morning was always paved with high hopes and retail fantasy. Every style for every budget. Even as a high school student, lay-by solved cash-flow problems … you could have your fashion cake and eat it too. Then David Jones positioned itself over the past decade as an elite store with elite prices. A T-shirt now can cost more than $100. This has left Myer with all the middle ground and, it would appear, survival too (“Myer poised to cash in on main rival’s sad demise”, November 6). We are a nation of canny shoppers, and if style and price can’t be found in store, there are many online options to test our loyalty. It would be wonderful if David Jones could thrive again, but it must reconnect with its broader base. June Scott, Terrigal

The store that first sold us happiness: black uniforms; wounded war veterans driving the lifts and announcing the departments on each floor with rhyme; premium quality apparel; one of the greatest food halls in the world. A sad end to Sydney/Australian culture. Christopher Cantwell, Gloucester

Following on from your correspondent (Letters, November 6) and his “Ladies underwear, going down”, may I add: “Men’s wear [men swear, etc], ladies wear, but I don’t”. David Williams, Port Macquarie

Today we put up our Christmas tree purchased at DJs Bondi Junction 45 years ago, installing it next to our sideboard and dining table purchased from DJs in Market Street in the mid-1980s. It is still in the original box. I am going to cook Christmas dinner on our Weber, purchased at DJs Woden to be served on our dinner service purchased at DJs Market Street. Like Peter FitzSimons (“‘Cool marble, wooden escalators, pure magic’”, November 5), I can remember dressing up to “go into town to DJs” with a tie and suit (short pants) at age six. My Sydney Boys High School uniform came from DJs. It is a very sad day. John Brown, Kianga

The truth of David Jones is that it ceased being a single entity and became a collection of brand-name market stalls, with no one knowing the full range of products. Once, after COVID, I asked where business shirts with top pockets were. Not looking up from his mobile phone, a so-called store assistant, clearly not interested in restoring the company’s fortunes, claimed that such shirts no longer existed. I found three myself. David Jones lost its No. 1 asset: customer service. Peter Fleming, Northmead

I wonder if Laudie Sneddon (“Former staff shed tears as they relive DJs’ glory days”, November 6) remembers the Buyer for Ladies Coats, my Aunt Mollie, who was on board an ocean liner as DJs buyer, travelling to the UK for work, when war was declared in ’39. Mary E. Morrison was the buyer for ladies coats for nearly 40 years. Mollie used to go to the DJs Hair Salon every week for her “blue rinse”! Alison Stewart, Waitara

After your writer reminisced about David Jones going downhill after closing the haberdashery department, one wonders where one would go now in the city for a yard of elastic to freshen up your husband’s droopy pyjamas or freshen up the lace in one’s nightie. All such outlets have completely vanished from city life. After such a purchase in DJs, one would then retire for a pot of tea and freshly baked scones in the Lacquer Room cafe, so beautifully captured in Grace Cossington Smith’s famous painting. Greg Vale, Kiama

As if on cue and with the verve of an undertaker, Angus Taylor blames Anthony Albanese for the demise of David Jones (“David Jones stripped bare”, November 6). Taylor’s mind must be a blank, barren and bitter place. Devoid of vision, spark and any display of public mirth. An alternative prime minister? I think not. Peter Snowden, Orange

A message to Angus Taylor: David Jones lost the DJs gloss some years ago when taken over by a South African company after which the decline set in. A former employee remarked that the store had become little more than a bazaar. Blaming the Labor government is ignorant and lazy. Poor business management and lack of foresight is my guess. Adrianne Hannan, Bowral

The human race, and the general public, complains and is worried about the potential job losses that AI will impose but happily subscribes to online shopping for their personal convenience. They do so without considering the detrimental effect those actions will have, especially in the case of David Jones and 6000 potential job losses before Christmas. It always comes back to our own actions, not always some other force, or even the government of the day that causes such detrimental results in our society. Jacqueline Tuck, Mosman

The demise of the irreplaceable David Jones has caused mention of Madeleine St John’s wonderful novel Ladies in Black, set in a fictional Goode’s but we all assume is really DJs. Some scenes in the movie, directed by Bruce Beresford, were filmed on the sixth floor of DJs’ Elizabeth Street store. The management were very helpful to us with access and research, so the film is spiritually a tribute to David Jones. Sue Milliken, Queens Park (producer, Ladies in Black)

Vale, David Jones – the store that introduced many generations of Sydney women to retail therapy. How do we oldies process a venerable institution closing its doors? Turns out it is easier than we thought – which is a sad reflection on loyalty, impermanence and the vicissitudes of life. But DJs brought a lot of joy to a lot of people for 188 years. Not forgetting the thrill of the chase at the shoe sales on Boxing Day. Margaret Johnston, Paddington

Religion out of hospitals

It is absolutely galling that, in a modern secular society, the NSW government permits Calvary Health Care to put its religious “code of ethics” ahead of patients’ legal rights (“Health services for women face major cuts”, November 6). Why should institutional religious beliefs take precedence over women’s autonomy, reproductive rights and other lawful health services? These restrictions are inherently anti-women and deny patients equal access to healthcare. Schools, whether public or private, must adhere to the same core academic curriculum regardless of their religious persuasion. Why should hospitals be any different? Health Minister Ryan Park says the government does not decide what services a private hospital can provide, but merely whether an organisation is “fit and proper” to hold a health licence. Surely, a provider restricting lawful medical procedures in mostly publicly funded hospitals is not “fit and proper”. And refusing to provide these services places additional pressure on an already overstretched health system. Romans 13:1 states: “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities”. How, then, can a publicly funded healthcare provider place its religious doctrine above the laws governing the society in which it operates? If Calvary is entrusted with publicly or privately funded hospital services, it must ensure patients can access the full range of lawful medical care. The NSW government must stop accommodating religious discrimination. This Catholic is righteously angry that our health system has become a pilgrim on the march to Calvary. Vivien Clark-Ferraino, Duckmaloi

I happened to catch a clip of Kitty Flanagan yesterday where she talked about receiving sex education lessons from a nun in her Catholic high school. The irony of this skit demonstrates why secular Australia should keep religion out of our education and medical systems. These are systems that require the practical application of science, knowledge, compassion and ethics and should not be skewed by any one group’s ideals or dogmas. John Mizon, Collaroy

Switched-on victors

Although Waleed Aly makes some valid points (“Blue wave in US offers no certainty”, November 6), I must disagree with his conclusion. Two days after this seismic reaction of Trumpism, Aly claims not to see “rebuilding”. Actually, rebuilding America’s faith in their democracy began when the polls closed. It began when we watched determined, switched-on victors such as Ossoff, Talarico and El-Sayed step up to the podium and announce their official arrival on the US political scene. Aly also says that there is “no straight line” connecting these successful Democrats. What I heard was a commitment to bring America together, to address the divisiveness that has been the hallmark of Trump and MAGA. Can they deliver? We will have to wait and see. But both the biggest tsunami and the smallest wave make lasting changes. Mark Paskal, Austinmer

Waleed Aly’s nautical metaphors are apt. The USS Trump is floundering, smashed onto rocks by a blue tsunami. JD Vance has one leg over the guardrail preparing to jump ship. Trump needs to salvage what he can by making a deal with Iran and sacking his “secretary of war”. He could also try moderating his language and desist from aiming insults such as “Talafreako” at Democrats who clearly have the support of the American people (“Outsiders who broke the grip of Republicans”, November 6). Stephanie Edwards, Leichhardt

Ad-Vance retreat

JD Vance’s selectively dishonest and myopic attempt to blame the conflict with Iran for Republican election losses is a masterclass in political delusion (“‘The reason is obvious’: Bloodletting begins over Republicans’ electoral wipeout”, November 6). Instead of facing the more expansive reality of why voters rejected his party, Vance is using this narrative as a convenient scapegoat. This transparent deflection has everything to do with protecting his personal aspirations to be the next US presidential candidate. Worse is his smug assumption that he is sufficiently popular and supported by the American public, and sees no lessons in these midterm results. His sudden reinvention is hardly surprising for a proven political turncoat. Vance originally built his entire public profile on Hillbilly Elegy, a book highlighting the structural struggles of disadvantaged communities. Yet, he completely abandoned those principles to become a textbook Trump sycophant the moment it served his career. A chameleon who sacrifices his prior publishedcore beliefs for raw ambition is fundamentally unqualified for high office. To use a very American term, Vance should own the outcome. Robyn Dalziell, Kellyville

Once a harsh critic of Donald Trump, then an obsequious supporter, and now selling his boss down the river. It’s good to know the man in line to become the next Republican presidential nominee is a man of principle, loyalty and conviction, and not merely another self-interested opportunist (“Vance’s message is clear – Trump got it wrong”, November 6). Ross Duncan, Potts Point

Now the desperate MAGA people won’t be getting their much needed $5000 “Trump Dividend”. How sad. Paul Duncan, Leura

Didn’t Trump appoint Musk as an expert in cutting waste? (“Musk is the biggest loser after bet on midterms backfires”, November 6). John Oakley, Wollongong

Rosemary O’ Brien raises some interesting points (Letters, November 6). Yes, there are some challenges for the Democratic Party, but I doubt they’ll be intoxicated by their new powers in the US Congress. However, it’s vital that their focus should be on care and inclusion rather than vitriol and retribution. The border issue will still offer a challenge, as will that of long-term undocumented migrants. But punitive and insensitive approaches are clearly inappropriate. A broader discussion on migrant worth might be a useful starting point. Americans will still have to endure Trump’s craziness and ineptitude for another two years, but there might be a brake on his excesses. Peter Singer, Hamilton South

What a pity Jon Husted no longer has a seat in which to put his “great” and “very powerful ass”. Jeremy Brender, West Richmond (SA)

Of all the powers that Trump still retains – Beware the Sharpie (“World praying Democrats can restore sanity”, November 6)! Helen Lewin, Tumbi Umbi

Surely, now that he has lost control of Congress, after the blue tsunami, we can add electoral dysfunction to the list of Trump’s shortcomings. Jeremy Brender, West Richmond (SA)

Out-Foxed

Just when you think the schadenfreude from Trump’s electoral flogging can’t get any better, Fox News and News24’s audiences are now deserting them in droves, with the former dropping 27 per cent in October alone (“Lame-duck Trump has become a big ratings problem for Fox News”, November 6)! Although verifiable facts and observable reality have never had much place in Murdoch’s conservative media echo chambers, if this slide into irrelevance continues, then at least thinking voters can thank the Orange Overlord for something. Chris Roylance, Paddington

Turn down the heat

Pauline Hanson argues that people using strong language shouldn’t be “frightened into silence”, while at the same time trying to frighten her opponents into silence with comments like “piss off back to Pakistan” (“Court to hear Hanson hate speech plea”, November 6). Australia’s Racial Discrimination Act “makes it unlawful to engage in speech that is reasonably likely to offend, insult, humiliate or intimidate on the basis of race”. In an age where polarisation is more-and-more exaggerated by the internet, we need everything we can to lower the temperature. Our politicians are supposed to be models of decorum, not instigators of animosity. Yes, democracy allows dissent, but does it have to be so bitter and invective as to inspire hate? The foundation of democracy is mutual respect. We need to change the current atmosphere from further-and-further division to one of co-operation for the advancement of all. Larry Woldenberg, Forest Lodge

I hope the many Australians who believe that One Nation can save us all took a good look at what happened to the saviour of America. Ann Eskens, Crows Nest

Base suggestion

The suggestion that the leaders of the Arab political parties from the recent Israeli elections should be arrested and interrogated in “basement interrogation cells until these suspicions are fully clarified” made by the Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir (“Herzog takes first steps on building new government”, November 6) should be found to be utterly repulsive by any person with a shred of decency in their soul. This is the sort of action carried out by the Spanish Inquisition, Stalinist Russia, Shining Path in Peru, Bosnian forces under Ratko Mladic and of course Nazi Germany to name but a few. If any sort of peaceful resolution is to be achieved in the Middle East, the people with this sort of attitude must have no place at the negotiation table. Peter Cooper-Southam, Frenchs Forest

US IR model not a ripper

So, yet again, the Productivity Commission and business see the productivity problems in the Australian economy as arising from the Labor government’s efforts to reintroduce fairness in the workplace (“Productivity chief questions role of IR laws in economy”, November 6). The US model of management, held up as the preferred model, is hardly a rip-roaring success based on the state of the US economy. Let’s look at the role of private equity and asset stripping for short-term gain, before we start attacking workers’ legitimate rights. Paul Pearce, Bronte

AUKUS mustn’t sink Albo

This worldwide political week was very volatile, starting with the election in Israel, run by two right-wing candidates. Neither of them had anything to offer to the Palestinians or a possible peace agreement for the region. Then came the bombshell result of the midterm election in the US, which resulted in the Democratic Party having the majority in both houses, Congress and the Senate. Whether that will lead back to rule-based relations in world affairs has to be seen. However, the most significant event of the week for Australia was the release of the findings of the public inquiry on AUKUS at the National Press Club on Wednesday (“Former defence chief urges rethink of Australia’s relationship with China”, smh.com.au, November 4). It found that AUKUS doesn’t meet Australia’s current defence needs, that it has never been properly investigated by any Australian government, that all the risks stay with Australia and the costs are far too high for something that is totally unsuitable for our situation, in short: “AUKUS is the worst, riskiest and most costly” defence decision ever made by an Australian government, as well as a challenge to our sovereignty. It is now up to the Albanese Labor government to address all the AUKUS issues on the table in a meaningful way if it doesn’t want to go down in history like Donald Trump, who lost the confidence of the people in a big way. Ute Mueller, Lapoinya (Tas)

Burnt out

Burning all my school notes at the end of the HSC in our backyard incinerator was very cathartic. That was 46 years ago, fun to read it’s still done today (“School’s out: HSC students celebrate after exams finish”, November 6). Lisa Clarke, Watsons Bay

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