For those of my vintage (born in the Isa in 1935) it was always just "the bridge", never the "little" or "small' bridge.

After the new one was built, I think we called it the "old bridge" or "the low bridge".

My main memories of it are of "the river coming down" and a flooded bridge separating Mineside from Townside.

Many were the heroic tales of men swimming the log-strewn rapids to reach the pubs of Townside, but baulking at the remaining puddles a few hours later that prevented them from going home or to work.

Crowds would gather to see the river surging over the beloved old bridge.

A lasting memory for me was of my mate Bob Lahne and I seeing a "quid" in the smelly water as we crossed the bridge one day, and leaping from it to rescue the soggy note.

"Ten bob" each took several days for us to spend in 1946!

I've often wondered since what were the thoughts of the hung-over miner the next morning as he pondered how he could have spent a whole quid more than he thought.

The "Old Mount Isa" is a goldfield full of memories!

Peter Beard,

via email

I must ask the question, 'What are the Mayor and Councillors up to with this Waste Levy?'

We could all be forgiven for believing that they are lying to us and simply don't know what they are doing.

In banner headlines in the North West Star they proclaimed that the Camooweal rubbish tip would close down and the rubbish would be transported by road to Mount Isa at great cost.

Then State Minister Leeanne Enoch, came back in the North West Star, Letter to the Editor (May 9) saying that the Mayor and Councillors are not telling the truth to the Ratepayers.

The Minister pointed out that the State Government would reimburse the Council 105% of the costs associated with implementing the waste levy legislation and that the Minister had personally informed the Mount Isa City Council of this.

Today, on social media, the Council announced that the Camooweal Rubbish Tip will remain open for another 5 years - all of this in a matter of weeks.

Just what sort of a Mayor and council do we have. I think "IT'S TIME" that they search for something else to do with their spare time.

Kendall Santillan,

Mount Isa

For better or worse (mostly better), we live in Bob Hawke's Australia, not in Malcolm Fraser's.

Even John Howard could do little more than work up a variation on Hawke's theme.

Scott Morrison must face the fact that we are determined not to live in any Australia which he might create.

Grant Agnew,

Coopers Plains

On our story about the Queensland Premier copping blame for federal Labor's election loss

Sandra Engelmann Hoffman My vote was partly rejection of Labor's plans, and most certainly a protest against every aspect of the Queensland government.

Phillip Kemp Yeah it's a fair assessment. She's part of an org that have standards and policies that she will have had a say in developing. She also implemented them and gets paid a nice salary to do so. Don't want to be tarnished with the same brush? Then don't help mix the paint!

Neville Goggi Labor do nothing for the North Queensland. Nothing north of Rocky