As predictable as clockwork, do-gooder ideologues are woken from their morbid dole-grabbing activist existences to protest their flavour-of-the-month causes, now unfortunately targeting Australia Day. The woke nonsense about our great day is regurgitated ad nauseam by a different, fresh-faced batch of protesters each year, leaving unanswered the question as to whether last year’s throng have all realised they were wrong, got jobs and moved on. The equity capital group Australian Venue Co might be aspiring to be a good corporate citizen but I guess they ought to be forgiven if they only hear the loudest voices. Surely a lesson in Aussie culture might upskill them. Sad patrons, regardless of the cause, drink more. Like it or not, alcohol blots out sad feelings wonderfully. Not celebrating Australia Day won’t prevent people in their pubs (if there are any) being sad about cost of living, failed family dynamics, loneliness, house affordability, unemployment, angst about Middle East issues, Ukraine headlines or irritatingly patronising woke corporations telling us their opinions. I’m sure that Australian Venues Co should stick to opening beer cans and leave the rhetorical can of worms alone. Alan Sexton, North Parramatta 3Dec2024