My partner has worked in aged care for 30 years, 24 years at her current job. She's had enough.
She's had enough of abusive residents, enough of being sexually touched by old men, had enough of having her hair pulled out. She's had enough of having human waste thrown in her face, had enough of being spat on, had enough of working short staffed, and enough of demanding family members.
She's had enough of working through breaks, had enough of being called in on days off, had enough of new staff that don't speak English in front of residents and other staff members, confusing residents don't know what's going on and get upset.
She has had enough of jobs being filled by people who are just making up the numbers, and of confidentiality agreements which mean she cannot talk to anyone outside of work including me if she feels depressed because of work-related issues.
She's had enough of top heavy management who have no idea and never spend time on the floor.
If her employer knew I am writing this she would be sacked for breaking confidentiality agreements.
Every local member should spend a week with someone like my wonderful, caring partner instead of turning up for photo opportunities with the nursing home executive, who have usually been given plenty of notice to make sure things are perfect for the important visitors.
Perhaps the nurses sitting in the sunny room were on a break ("Timely focus on aged care", Letters 27/7).
They are not slaves.
Name and suburb withheld
Relying on public transport's risky
ON Wednesday my wife and I had planned a day out to see the 1pm matinee of The Woman In Black at the Civic Theatre. Given the parking problems in town, we decided to park at Fassifern station and catch public transport (train and tram). Our plan was to catch the 11.09am train and then the light rail so we could enjoy a leisurely lunch at Civic Lunch Delights before the show.
Well, the 11.09 was cancelled. The next train was the 11.24, but it was running 24 minutes late and was now an all-stations service to Newcastle. There were others waiting at Fassifern to attend the same performance. We changed to light rail and our leisurely lunch became a hurried sandwich (which was still tasty and well made by Civic Lunch Delights) and we sat down with literally seconds to spare.
The play was very good, and the homeward journey was without incident. But relying on public transport (as we are encouraged to do) is not without risk.
John Pritchard, Blackalls Park
Coalition divided on reactor plans
IT is with amusement that I read of Opposition leader Peter Dutton constantly promoting his dream of nuclear power ("Holding out Liddell hope", Herald, 25/7).
It's amusing because when he announced the Coalition's plans at Liddell and Mt Piper, almost immediately Nationals members Paul O'Toole and Dave Layzell, who represent those areas, said they did not want these plants in their electorates.
Given that, it would mean two out of the seven proposed nuclear sites announced were already off the table.
Maybe Mr Dutton didn't tell anyone, like his predecessor, Scott Morrison when he took over five portfolios without telling the relevant ministers. It's typically Liberal: born-to-rule attitude, full of talk yet there are no details of this pipe dream.
Robert Green, Georgetown
No common sense to nuclear
PETER Dutton says that he is "very confident we can (reach an agreement) because I think common sense will prevail in the end" for AGL to reverse its current renewable plan for the Liddell site ("Holding out Lidell hope", Herald 25/7).
I understand that common sense means sound practical judgement. How then, can a plan to introduce nuclear energy at the Liddell site be classed as suchwhen many of Australia's most respected energy experts, including the CSIRO and AEMO, have said nuclear energy would take too long to implement and be too expensive? Indeed, it'd be so expensive that no commercial operators would be interested in investing in it.
The latest group to cast serious doubts is the Academy of Technological Science and Engineering. Its president, Dr Kathryn Woodthorpe on ABC radio, said that not one small modular reactor is commercially available in any OECD country.
Mr Dutton's claim that nuclear is the only solution for cost effective baseload power flies in the face of the most recent CSIRO reporting. Far from being 'common sense' the LNP plan is both unsound and impractical.
Ian Thomas, The Hill
Put gallery in frame for fair treatment
I FIND minimal government funding towards the Newcastle Art Gallery is typical of the Sydney-centric state government's attitude towards Newcastle. Massive funding for similar projects in Sydney, though. Real independent representation is needed.
Colin Rowlatt, Newcastle
Keep up the in-depth reportage
ANOTHER excellent article by Donna Page ("Leaked email in letters saga only sent to council GMs", Herald, 27/7) on the Scott Neylon/Jeremy Bath/Jason Sivo fiasco. Please continue to persevere on this issue Donna, I am sure the truth of the matter will come out eventually.
Steve Fernie, Maryland
Consequences must be considered
I THINK scientists need to study the consequences of using geothermal and/or tidal power. I worry cooling the earth's core and/or consuming huge amounts of kinetic energy from the earth's rotation and the moon's orbit won't end well.
Dave Hamilton, Jewells
Cabinet reshuffle missed the mark
SO Albo had a forced cleanout at the weekend. The one person he missed, though, was the under performing Bill Shorten. The NDIS is in turmoil with rip-offs in services and charges to the value of billions a year and yet good old Bill slips in again. This is one thing they can't keep blaming the previous government for, as it was the Gillard Labor government that introduced this money-sucker on taxpayers. I am not against the NDIS, just the poor administration of it.
Greg Lowe, New Lambton
Respect humanity on both sides
DESPITE what Matt Ophir thinks ("Homely welcome for Hamas?", Letters, 29/7), members of Hamas are human beings just the same as those in the Israeli army. The conclusions we reach about wars should only come after reading history and unbiased reporting and not based on religion, emotion or propaganda.
