Commonwealth Games
WHILE it’s very good to see Australia win so many medals, the greatest thing about the 2018 Commonwealth Games has been the integration of the paralympians, capped off by Kurt Fearnley's and Madison de Rozario's wins in the men's and women's T54 marathons.
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These people make light of their afflictions and overcome them in spectacular fashion.
They deserve our greatest admiration and this must work wonders in the acceptance of people with disabilities in the wider community.
Richard Hill, Newstead.
Finding work
A TRULY excellent and thought provoking front page and article (The Examiner, April 7), but unfortunately this article appears to provide “nil assistance” for anyone like our son who has been looking for an adult apprenticeship for more than 15 months.
The cancellation of the Commonwealth Government Adult Apprenticeship Support Scheme as from July 1, 2015, and the supposed unavailability of suitable apprentices and workers for employers throughout our state, so the employers state, is but a complete furphy.
Some employers advise our politicians that suitable workers are not available and in one case, less than a week prior to such advice, one such employer in Launceston advised our son “that he had no work”.
In another case our son was advised that the major building firm with huge advertising signs had “no work so they could not employ”.
With a large majority of many TAFE courses under his belt, it seems but to exemplify the lack of forethought by employers, currently in the trades area.
Our family have either been in the building industry directly or associated with that and other industries since the mid-1800s, including a number of family members working for J & T Gunn, which is recorded in the book by Brendon Lyons, All Gunns Blazing, J & T Gunn and the Development of Launceston 1871 - 1997.
Fifty years ago the lack of apprentices was foreseenwith the resultant problems in the trades.
We are now seeing exactly these problems, while some employers continue to advise all that “no work contracts therefore the employers cannot employ”, while telling our politicians and the public, exactly the opposite.
F. Deane, Evandale.
TasWater
I READ with interest recently the article published (The Examiner, April 11) where the board of TasWater have taken positive action and agreed to support the policy to implement the publishing of water quality data on a monthly basis.
This policy reform has been a genuine crusade by Tim Slade from Pioneer in the North-East and was supported through a notice of motion put forward by the then Member for Apsley now McIntyre in the Legislative Council in August 2016.
I believed then and still do that access to water quality data in a timely manner will be benefit all Tasmanian communities.
I would like to acknowledge Mr Slade’s efforts and commend TasWater for committing to this important initiative.
Tania Rattray, Independent Member for McIntyre
Devious minds
SANDPAPER and paper was used on the smooth reverse side,should have been the get out answer, too late now, not very clever cheats. Another idea could involve a built-in abrasive material inside the trouser pocket.
The wicket keeper with the large gloves offers many fingers to hide some substance to alter the surface texture of the ball.
A slow bowler with resin powder in one pocket would also help to get a better grip, but don't over do it as the ball could stick in the hand preventing a clean release.
The mind boggles with devious ideas.
Hugh Boyd, Prospect Vale.
Worldwide Co-operation
HOPEFULLY President Trump’s neo-realistic response to Bashar Al-Assad’s use of chemical weapons on his own people will ensure that the world will never ever again witness televised images of innocent people – especially children – fighting for their lives.
Ordinary Russians cannot possibly approve of Putin’s policy to support a Syrian regime that carries out these dastardly actions that will be classed as war crimes against its own people.
It is encouraging that both the United Kingdom and France have cooperated with the United States of America in sending Al-Assad and his Russian backers a clear message that enough is enough.
Ed Sianski, West Moonah.
Shopping Trolleys
WHEN are we going to get handbrakes on shopping trolleys?
Bob Elliston, Bruny Island.
CD players
CAR companies forget there are many people that have brought music DVDs and want to at least listen to the music of the DVD, or those that may have their own favourite music on DVDs to drive to.
Lots of people still do not know how to burn SD sticks for cars and no idea if it will play in many formats.
Change the CD player to DVD player.
Walter Christy, Shearwater.
Call Centres
PLEASE Telstra, I implore you, please return your call centres to Australia.
Over an hour spent trying to understand Indian accents and robotic voices just to make a simple enquiry has been too much for me.
Why can't we get assistance at one of your Telstra stores, whose only purpose is to apparently sell and advise on mobile phones and computers?
As a telecommunications company the ability for your customers to communicate with you is absolutely appalling.
Could you please just supply one line for inquiries with a non-accented operator, and with a reasonable waiting time.