The CEO of Coles made around $4.7 million in salary and incentives in the 2023/24 financial year.

Not a bad earn.

Their average worker, depending on their role, would make considerably less.

Coles only managed to make $1.08 billion in profit last financial year.

The Wangaratta store is shared by Kmart - they are owned by the Westfarmers group, who also own Bunnings.

They only made $2.557 billion in profit last time around.

So here we are, both mobs are doing well, trying their best not to employ more folks than possibly needed, like the growth in automated checkouts, always saying the customer comes first and so and so on, the usual dribble.

The big store that houses these great and good corporate giants can’t even offer a public toilet.

They probably lease the space from some other mob doing its best to make a profit, so maybe ironically wash their hands of the lack of facilities.

There is a sign up saying the toilets have been vandalised again, soon after opening and you can go across the road to the servo.

I’ve walked past that sign for far too long, not good enough – a fail in my book – poor excuse.

There are a lot of public toilets about town and they seem to manage fine.

I won't use your automated checkout machines like many folks in my demographic, but would use the loo - if there was one.

Luke R Davies, Wangaratta

Mayor's solar factory response spot on

What a breath of fresh air reading Mayor Irene Grant's response to both Russell Sully's and Graham Rose's letters to the editor (Wangaratta Chronicle, 17 November).

Regardless of who thinks what, the mere mention of any threat to that magnificent underground water being contaminated should have ended the whole debate.

I recall living at Milawa, running a bath, the water was crystal clear, blue in colour.

Keep in mind, every home away from town water relies on this water.

You are so correct Irene, these deniers do need to at least interact with these families fighting for their survival.

It isn't only the land being covered with solar factories, it's the extra traffic, road surface issues, bridge issues, dust, insurance for farmers, milk trucks and cattle trucks.

The list goes on; the whole interaction of the farming way of life we city folks do not understand.

I repeat Mayor Grant's comment, "People need to get out more beyond the circle of people who are completely removed from the effects of such a development".

Pat Cushaway, Wangaratta

Free RSPCA helpline a gamechanger for pet behaviour

RSPCA Victoria has launched a free pet behaviour helpline to support struggling Victorians in a bid to reduce the number of pets surrendered due to behavioural issues.

Trained and experienced staff from RSPCA Victoria’s animal behaviour team are offering free consultations for pets experiencing behaviour challenges via video call.

There are many animals coming through our doors showing signs of anxiety or are clearly under-socialised and don’t know what to do around other animals.

In the last financial year, owners of roughly 10 per cent of the cats and dogs surrendered to RSPCA Victoria reported some behavioural challenges as a factor in their decision.

It’s not always easy to understand what your pet needs and why it might behave in a certain way, and this can quickly become an extremely stressful situation for any household, so getting the right advice for your pet can be a gamechanger.

We’re thrilled to offer this service to all Victorians who might be struggling with their pet’s behaviour as part of our suite of animal welfare support tools.

RSPCA has already seen some fantastic success stories from those who have accessed the helpline.

In the time this service has been available, we’ve been able to assist over 450 pets.

The most common behavioural challenges we’re seeing are concerns about aggressive or reactive pets, with a lot of people reporting their pet is suffering from separation anxiety.

We work with the caller to find out the driver behind their pet’s behaviour and recommend short-term management plans, as well as advice and information about additional support if needed.

Each session takes 20 minutes in total and, if owners have multiple pets, we can do unique sessions for each of them to make sure they get the right advice for each of them.

Pet owners can book a free online Pet Behaviour Helpline session with appointments available Tuesday – Friday and Sundays at rspcavic.org/free-pet-behaviour-helpline.

Rebecca Cook, head of prevention at RSPCA Victoria