Australia’s rulers of time

Sir, – Having lived in Queensland and New South Wales, I understand why Laura Kennedy has a hard time adjusting to the time difference between Canberra and Ireland, which “has suddenly gone from 11 hours to nine” (“Will I ever get used to having winter in August and Christmas in summer?”, Abroad, April 17th).

However, I tremble for her if she leaves the Australian capital to explore the country’s 18 time zones.

While New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory all change the clocks at the beginning of October and the start of April, Western Australia, Queensland, and the Northern Territory refuse to do so.

The Cocos Islands, Christmas Island, Norfolk Island and Lord Howe Island are accommodated with their own zones, as is the border town of Eucla (plus Cocklebiddy, Madura and Mundrabilla).

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To cap it all, the trans-continental Indian Pacific railway has its own time zone on the 4,400km Sydney to Perth route, which ensures that the delay-prone train always arrives on the dot. – Yours, etc,

Dr JOHN DOHERTY,

Gaoth Dobhair,

Co Dhún na nGall.