Disappointment for an excited, little boy

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LIFE EXPERIENCES

Disappointment for an excited, little boy

Yes, Kerrie O’Brien (Sunday Age, 16/4), audiences have forgotten they are not watching TV. Last week my six-year-old grandson and I were forced to leave an eagerly anticipated performance by Circus Oz. He has Asperger’s syndrome, so we discussed all the factors of his first-ever visit to live theatre that might upset him. He knew he would have to sit still, close to other people, in a darkened theatre and clap (not cheer or call out) when he liked something on stage.

What we could not prepare him for was the behaviour of adults. First was the elderly woman who thought it acceptable not only to move from her seat to one vacant in front of a child who was already kneeling to see – but then also to lean into the aisle so he had no line of sight to the stage. More upsetting was the hooting, whooping, barracking and stamping from the audience.

In the Forum Melbourne, it bounced off walls and timber floors. The little lad could not bear it. As we went to the door, the kindly usher offered to let us back if he ceased to be distressed but, seeing no likelihood of the audience quieting, we left.
Name withheld, Elsternwick

Will my age be a barrier to getting a job?

As an Australian-Vietnamese, mature-age student at university, I have fallen through the employment cracks a few times. The most recent was when I was invited to attend a free webinar series run by Workforce Australia (the federal government employment service) where I was offered the opportunity to apply for its traineeships and apprenticeships program.

No eligibility criteria (eg, age) was mentioned at the webinar series and its email invitation stated, “There are over 500 different career options available across many sectors”. I spent a lot of time and effort submitting my four cover letters and resumes to a traineeships service provider. I missed out on one, my second application was forwarded to a college and my last two applications are still a work in progress at the traineeships service provider.

By coincidence, when I opened the jobs board at one employment service provider I had applied to, its “expression of interest” stated: “Age range for YES traineeships (some traineeships are targeted at the 15-24 years age group)“. I realised that age discrimination is running in the employment industry. I suspect these employment opportunities are unlikely to be offered to mature-age jobseekers like myself. This is despite the shortage of skilled workers and the government’s push for older people to return to the workforce.
Liz Bich-Ngoc Phung, South Yarra

So little respect and reward for our teachers

Wage theft in universities (The Age, 15/4)is the tip of the iceberg. It has been going on for years in schools where teachers put in hundreds of unpaid hours each term planning classes and marking students’ work. Plus going on camps, rehearsing and supervising music and drama performances, coaching and escorting sporting teams and running excursions. Usually without any time in lieu.

The nation relies heavily on teachers’ love for their work, love for their students, loyalty to their schools, mutual support for each other in increasingly high-pressure environments – and unbelievable tolerance of the long hours expected and paucity of reward received (both in dollars and respect) for their efforts.

Calls for fair recompense are greeted with accusations of greed, calls for greater productivity, accusations of ungratefulness for “obscenely” long holiday allowances, and worse. All in the face of falling international educational standards, near-universal criticism and calls for bizarre “pay-for-performance” schemes.

I became a teacher at 50. I lasted 10 years and am proud of what I achieved. But I despair at the pressure imposed on our teachers, the lack of respect afforded them, the treadmill of bloated curriculums, ever more paperwork, relentless meaningless reporting and constant criticism, and the weak governmental and union support they receive. I fear we need another Gough Whitlam – someone with guts, vision and an unassailable mandate – to bring the system back into balance.
Randy Marshall, Bonbeach

THE FORUM

Critical preventive care

The folly of slashing critical funding to front-line services offered by Victoria’s community health centres (The Age, 16/4) beggars belief.

The only way to manage the ever-increasing demands on our ambulance and hospital services is to tackle the root causes of physical and mental health conditions through preventive health programs and services. We also neded to assist primary-care workers to support people with chronic health conditions to remain well and out of hospital.

When will the Andrews government stop blaming the dangerous state of our healthcare system on COVID-19, and recognise that most of the problem has been caused by a lack of funding and bad government decisions like this one?
Dr Stephen Carbone, Thornbury

Still a very long wait

Thirty-two years ago I broke my ankle on the oval opposite Melbourne Grammar. Just like North Melbourne legend Brent Harvey (The Age, 17/4), I had to wait about 45minutes for an ambulance to take me hospital (in my case, one kilometre away) and then I had to wait 40minutes to see a doctor. I ask the question: Has anything changed?
Evan McCrum, East Melbourne

Time to reward nurses

“Cash alone won’t fix hospital staff woes”, says your editorial (Sunday Age, 16/4). True, of course, but cash would go a long way. What the editorial fails to make clear is that the inadequate staffing is almost entirely nursing. Why? Because being largely women, their pay and conditions are terrible.
This was highlighted during the worst of COVID-19 when nurses willingly took on extra shifts while sweating in claustrophobic personal protective equipment.

For this we rewarded them with bonuses so small as to be insulting, at which workers in the finance and construction industries would just scoff. How about a 25per cent across-the-board pay rise for nurses, Daniel Andrews? I believe that would solve the staff shortages overnight.
Dr Richard Barnes, Canterbury

Support ethical planning

Well said, Stephen Farrelly (Letters, 17/4). In the wake of the Maribyrnong flood review, it is evident there has been too much pandering to the developers’ standard complaint of red tape and nowhere near enough support for ethical planners and councils which sensibly warned against the folly of building on flood plains.

When is planning reform really code for keeping the developer lobby on side with the government of the day? And how many more sustainable and affordable dwellings have been built in the last decade, despite the supposed improvements to the planning system? Who is really in charge?
Bernadette George, Mildura

Risky ’living with COVID’

A reader wonders why, when New Zealand tries to slow the spread of COVID-19 by keeping the seven-day isolation requirement for positive cases, we don’t do the same here (Letters, 17/4). Why are Australian adults seen as too soft or egotistical to be required to wear masks indoors in public places? This has been linked to a much lower rate of infection in countries like Singapore, where mask wearing has not been dropped. And why is getting PCR testing now so difficult?

These measures gave vital protection to several million vulnerable Australians, including the old, ill and disabled, Indigenous people, and those with minimal economic resources. Thousands of lives have already been needlessly lost. Meanwhile, those in the vulnerable groups are forced to lead lives of semi-isolation, or risk serious illness or death. All this thanks to federal and state government obscenely named philosophy “living with COVID”.
Freya Headlam, Glen Waverley

Ethics of the Gospel

I would like your correspondents (Letters, 17/4) to understand that the Christian Church has never been a mirror reflecting ethical values of the day which, incidentally, swing wildly within a generation. The church is called to reflect the ethics of the Gospel. That is why we need a separation of church and state.

Not all Christians would be comfortable with the manner this issue of school leadership has been expressed by the Presbyterian Church. But honestly, I would be uncomfortable with a 17-year-old school captain sharing his sexual conquests with fellow students. Parents holding a different opinion are free to select another school.

At several points in history the church has been out of step with society. William Wilberforce (1759-1833) a Christian politician in the House of Commons, finally succeeded with the abolition of the slave trade, despite constant and ongoing opposition.
Lance Sterling, Nunawading

Accepting all with love

The Gospels provide no evidence that Jesus discriminated against anyone on the basis of their sexuality. It is curious therefore, that those claiming to follow His teachings discriminate against their students on precisely that basis.
Glenda McNaught, East Melbourne

Watch our teams for free

The AFL claims success in moving nine games to Adelaide for the Gather Round. Why then are games not shown on free-to-air television in the state where the playing teams are based? As a Magpie fan, I had two options to watch the Sunday game – travel to Adelaide and purchase tickets, or purchase a Foxtel subscription. I did neither, and wonder if the only winner of this game was the AFL.
Georgina Livery, Brunswick East

Well done to the Pies

I am no great fan of the Collingwood Football Club. However, their efforts in condemning the behaviour of supporters and the comments made by previous administrations in regards to the stand made by Nicky Winmar – and their sincere apologies for what happened (Sport, 17/4) – deserve praise.

The ceremony before the game against St Kilda in the Gather Round was both poignant and significant. All power to them and well done. It is, as they said, our opportunity to listen, learn and change for the better.
Graeme Gardner, Reservoir

We’ve all been cheated

Ross Gittins’ excellent article – “How squabbling politicians let mining companies wreck our economy” (The Age, 17/4) – is really disturbing and highlighted the greed and ineptitude at the highest levels of politics and business in Australia. We should feel cheated and more than a little bit naive.
John Harris, Williamstown

Avoid five-star ’blues’

I would love to go to the Melbourne Comedy Festival but I am put off by the number of comedians who include crude or blue jokes. Fine for those who enjoy that kind of humour but I don’t. There are so many well-known comedians who are very funny without being blue on television but can be different live. It’s a bit harder to know what to expect with less well-known comedians on the rise. It would be wonderful if the star rating could also include a “blue” rating. Then I might consider going.
Gaynor Sheahan, Wantirna South

Please, get me out of here

I read where the reasoning for buying nuclear-powered submarines has now drifted from their ability to operate in the politically sensitive waters off Taiwan to an ability to remain submerged for long periods – but much closer to home. Maybe the subs can, but what about the crews? Has anyone factored in the costs of all claims for post-traumatic stress disorder that will be submitted by all ranks when crews disembark after three to four months cooped up underwater in these things?
Jim Lamborn, Doncaster

Proving his point

Peter Dutton said “the Voice will divide our nation”. He then set out to prove this was true by doing his best to divide Australians for his own narrow political reasons.
Doug Steley, Heyfield

Everyone is an ’artist’

The City of Melbourne, having legitimised graffiti in Hosier Lane and other locations in the CBD, has made a rod for its own back. Now it seems any surface is fair game for these vandals. They claim their work is art. If so, let them enter it an an art show so it can be judged on its merits. If it is any good, they may get paid for it.
Dan Drummond, Leongatha

Let the graffiti rip

When the local level crossing was to be replaced some years ago, the community was consulted regarding the type of vegetation to be planted and the colour schemes that complemented the project. We were pleased with the consultation and result. Now the subtle hues are covered in ugly graffiti and no one seems to care.
Kevan Porter, Alphington

Protecting our cyclists

Cyclists, keep your flashing lights operating at all times. Wear your fluoros. Vic Roads and councils, make sure there is enough room beside every road, if a bike lane is not possible, for bikes to use to avoid vehicles. On routes where there are many curves, narrow roads and limited visibility of what is ahead, such as in the Dandenong Ranges, cyclists are often in danger. It is life or death.
Liz Middleton, Clematis

Such a heartless system

How many more stories with tragic outcomes for asylum seekers and refugees need to be exposed before the government ends offshore and community detention? The excellent article by Charlotte Grieve concerning the unfortunate Tamil refugee (The Age, 15/4) highlights yet again the inhumane system to which they are subjected and which has been criticised for many years by the UN Human Rights Commission.

At the same time, we are informed that because of a shortage of workers, migrants numbers will be greatly increased. The long-suffering asylum seekers and refugees should be given the opportunity to work and contribute to society before we bring in more people. They are already here, and there will be no extra cost to the taxpayer. Please can we have some rational thinkers to deal with this mess and bring it to a compassionate end.
Joan Schoch, Avondale Heights

AND ANOTHER THING

Politics

Your correspondent won’t vote Labor again if the PM doesn’t go to the NATO meeting (17/4). I won’t vote Labor again if he does.
Bill Pell, Emerald

Well may we say, “God save the Voice and all who sail on her,” because nothing will save Dutton.
Lloyd Davies, Warragul

While Dutton is making a dog’s breakfast of Morrison’s leftovers, he’s doing a beaut job uniting the rest of us. Yes.
Jenny Bone, Surrey Hills

I believe the National Indigenous Australians Agency is, according to its charter, already doing what the Voice is promising to do.
David Sutherland, Hawthorn

We should accept both the traumatised Sri Lankan Tamil man who was bashed on Nauru and the Afghan refugee cricket star as permanent residents ((17/4).
Miriam Faine, Hawthorn

Sport

Remarkably, after five AFL rounds, the win and loss columns on the ladder are symmetrical, mirror-image on their vertical axes (Sport, 17/4).
Ray Bassett, Glen Iris

Adelaide has done the hard yards with the AFL’s Gather Round. In three years, like the grand prix, it will have to say goodbye.
Paul Custance, Highett

Maybe the AFL should consider Tassie for the next Gather Round.
Greg Lee, Red Hill

Furthermore

The sooner we all become atheists the better, then we can stop all this religious nonsense
Bob Greaves, Mount Eliza

If Melbourne extends to Point Lonsdale (17/4), I’ll be hanging off Pope’s Eye in Port Phillip Bay.
Margaret Skeen, Point Lonsdale

I’m not sure we can be Glad that its plastic bags are ″⁣ocean-bound″⁣ (17/4).
David Johnston, Healesville

The 163rd mass shooting in the US this year. Gun control? Of course not. Just more thoughts, prayers and flowers.
Myra Fisher, Brighton East

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