Hospital Staff Congratulated

Illawarra Mercury

Wednesday September 1, 2004

RECENTLY I was admitted to Shellharbour Hospital for routine surgery complicated by medication I take for another condition. As an age pensioner without private health insurance, I had been some months on the waiting list.

I would now like to pay tribute to everyone connected with the hospital - the visiting surgical team, full-time medical staff, ancillary personnel and face-to-face administrators - for the courtesy and care I received while a patient there.

Moreover, this same commitment has been displayed by Community Health and TACT team representatives who have monitored my recovery at home.

Our public health services receive so much negative publicity that the staff's ability to maintain morale is little less than amazing. Many Australians don't seem to appreciate how lucky we really are.

Japanese longevity has lately been the subject of at least one feature article. Yet the 2002 edition of the SBS World Guide lists overall Japanese average life expectancy as 80.11, while Australia's is 80.14.

Such a difference may be insignificant, but what about the average for the United States? At only 76.23, it suggests that our current system may be kinder to national health than a fully privatised one.

And - in my view - Shellharbour Hospital and its attendant services are right at its forefront.

- TOM O'REILLY,

Gerringong.

Forum 10 years late

IT was reported in the Mercury (August 19) that there are 740 vacant jobs in the Wollongong area.

Employers often find candidates lack skills, especially in the metal and engineering trades.

With the advent of hourly hire companies employers no longer have full-time tradesmen and therefore no apprentices.

They prefer to obtain tradesmen when they need them from hire companies, thus being able to hire or fire without risk of industrial action.

This is the greatest failure of the metal unions, that they allowed hourly hire companies to circumvent the benefits of full-time employment for their members.

Another reason for the shortage is the relatively low wages compared to non-skilled unions.

Unions like the Waterside Workers, the Transport Workers Union, and the Storemen and Packers, who have industrial muscle, have obtained much larger wages than the metal trades have for their members.

For years the fitter and turner trade was used as the benchmark for all industrial awards, hence it was always basic and low.

A two tonne truck driver's award was for years higher than a fitter or boilermaker.

Many top class tradesmen have left the trade due to low wages because the only way to make a good wage was to work overtime.

The forum to be held tomorrow to form a skill shortage taskforce is 10 years too late.

- TONY FOOT,

Unanderra.

Terror threat is real

YOUR columnist James Dunn (August 23) has once again been selective and partisan when discussing terrorism and the Athens Olympics 2004.

He has been correct only in stating that so far no incidents of terror have occurred (that we are aware of publicly). But how many foiled attempts at terrorism have already been taken care of?

During the past 35 years the Greek Government, to its monumental shame, had consistently pandered to terrorists in order to avoid their wrath.

We all remember too clearly the Greek ostrich-like tolerance of the PLO, PLFP, Bader-Meinhoff and Black September, by allowing them to roam in, out and through Athens airport willy-nilly, on their way to and from terror hijackings, bombings and murders.

Only now with the enormity of resources committed to their Olympics has the Greek Government tried to stand up to terror. Local security has muscled up and sharpened.

The entire NATO infrastructure is on high alert protecting Greek borders. The US Navy patrols the seashore just off Athens. And Mr Ryan (our former NSW Police Commissioner) now directs security in Athens with a little help from his training stint in Israel.

But Mr Dunn still asks how serious the al-Qaeda threat is! If the twin towers murder of 3000 Americans, Bali bombings aimed at Australia killing 200, and Spanish train murders of 200 have not convinced Mr Dunn of al-Qaeda's intentions and ability, then his mind has also joined the wishful thinking ostrich with its head in the sand.

- JOHN NEMESH,

Corrimal.

Thanks for caring

HAVING recently moved to Scarborough from Darlinghurst, I was taken ill with pneumonia.

Good fortune immediately came my way when I was admitted for a week's care at Wollongong Hospital.

I write this letter both to thank and to praise the hospital for the superb and wonderful care afforded me. From the ambulance to emergency, and especially in C4, Wollongong is a shining example of quality nursing and hospital management.

- TERRY ASHTON-WOOD,

Scarborough.

On a road to nowhere

RE labour shortage and lack of apprenticeships.

This situation has been coming for 10 years or longer.

These are the reasons why:

* Young people generally don't have the work ethics of 20 years ago.

* Because of this, employers are reluctant to give them a try or an apprenticeship because of the hassle to dismiss them for poor performance or,

* If the Government took some steps such as three-month's paid work experience for 16-year-olds as part of their education and part of their school certificate, half the problem would be solved.

* Too much is placed on university education and not enough on trade skills. Why work when you can get government assistance, rent assistance and medical assistance? People sharing a $250 unit have a ball.

* In fairness, a lot of young school leavers don't know what they want to do mainly because they haven't had a decent no-strings-attached go at what they might like to do.

* There are huge holes in the education system. These days there is little training for students who are not included or are unable to go on to higher education. Too many are square pegs being put into round holes.

The information highway moves in the wrong direction for many and perhaps society should take the old country road again and give young people a look at the scenery.

- MAX DOUGLAS,

Corrimal.

© 2004 Illawarra Mercury

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