There might be limited support for any more signs on the lake edge and some vehement opposition to spoiling the lake edge with more signage.

Surely every Canberra citizen knows three numbers at minimum, off by heart: 000 for life-threatening emergencies; 281 Connect to ACT government gateway: this number connects to the most wonderful, knowledgeable people who know so much about ACT government services and activities; and 444, the nationwide police assistance number, which will get your message to water police, or any Canberra station.

The assistance number will probably answer any calls to water police numbers.

The triplezero.gov.au website has information about using the number and education resources to help adults and our children.

I would never let my dog chase kangaroos or other dogs.

I try to never go out without my phone but since I have long known these numbers I could use anyone's phone to help. My child carried a phone, supposedly hidden, from year 3 in primary school (5th class primary). A phone has been a key element of personal safety for at least 20 years. A translation service for non-English speakers is only available on landlines, 000 or 131444. Kangaroos do not carry phones because they are ignorant and dumb. We cannot rescue every dumb animal. They likely suffer worse deaths from dog attacks, drought and starvation. These are functions of nature.

I am strongly opposed to any more signage just as I am strongly opposed to letting any developer step onto our unique lake.

Warwick Davis, Isaacs

What a sad and harrowing story ("Calls for action on lake roo drowning", February 25, p6). Theresa Gordon has every right to be distressed about the ACT authorities' inability to quickly react to a drowning kangaroo in Lake Burley Griffin.

We all should be. Apparently it is a common occurrence, so why isn't there a well-oiled process to deal with this type of incident?

The National Capital Authority advised people to contact the NCA, Access Canberra or the water police. But what are they going to do? No tangible solutions were given to react to an emergency whereby a native animal is left struggling to survive in the middle of the lake. Indeed, the NCA spokeswomen commented, "The NCA is committed to reducing the consequences of such situations." What does this Humphrey-ism mean? And all ACT Parks and Conservation can do is reflect on how it happened, not what they will do next time.

ACT Wildlife (not mentioned), Canberra's very own volunteer wildlife group, could take charge and be the point of contact, but the ACT government, in their wisdom, prevents them from handling eastern grey kangaroos.

Such is the paranoia of the ACT government over eastern grey kangaroos, which have been largely killed off over the last seven years – the politicians would rather sit back and watch these animals drown rather than do the right thing and attempt to save them. It's hardly a good look for our national capital, is it?

In the absence of anything else, and subject to higher priority tasks, perhaps the ACT water police are best placed to react, as well as other water users in the vicinity.

Philip Machin, Wamboin, NSW

Reading about a kangaroo drowning in Lake Burley Griffin reminded me of a story a friend told me about a kangaroo and a dog.

Some years ago my friend was at a riverside picnic area near Queanbeyan. She watched a dog chasing a kangaroo which leaped into the river to escape. The dog followed.

Half way across the river the kangaroo turned and waited for the dog to catch up. The kangaroo then held the dog underwater with its front paws until the dog drowned. The kangaroo continued on to the far bank.

I encourage people who see a dog off leash in a public area to remind the dog's owner of the regulation to keep their dog on leash.

Without dogs chasing them, kangaroos would not need rescuing.

James Lindsay, Narrabundah

Being one of Canberra's GG, as Ian Warden describes us, I had to laugh at his article. What affiliation does he have with the construction companies or the CFMEU that he can write such dribble?

Quoting the Chief Minister on such issues is a bit rich, as his perception of building and high-rises is: " How much money can the government make?"

Canberra was not named the bush capital because it sounded right, and the original plan for this wonderful city was not to have 40to 50-storey buildings dotted everywhere.

The way our small high-rises are going up and the quality in which they are being built, it will be lucky if they last 20 years. The Canberra Times photo of the 27-storey Wayfarer Building with your article is a good example.

Errol Good, Macgregor

I would cancel my subscription to The Canberra Times but for Ian Warden.

Warden never fails to make my wife and I laugh out loud.

Fred Strachan, Lyons (a grey grumbletonian)

I would like to add my experience of mammograms to Samantha Armytage's advice (February 25).

At the age of 45 I could see a breast lump with my naked eye, but a subsequent mammogram didn't detect the 1cm tumour.

Consequently, I have little faith in mammograms!

Felicity Chivas, Scullin

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