Business grapples with poor service
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We already have the NBN.
We have all heard about the much promised NBN, but we in Sailors Falls have experienced it for years. The NBN for us is 'No Bloody Network' at all!
We have operated a business in Sailors Falls for nearly 10 years. For much of that time we have struggled with basic telecommunications, the poor service, poor attitude and inadequate responsiveness from Telstra.
Our files are full of complaints, blame from Telstra, poor response times, and promises of improvement.
We are sick and tired of being stuffed around by Telstra. We can't help thinking that if this was happening in or near the CBD all hell would break loose.
It would seem that the problem is that the copper network and some of the wireless network in our area is outmoded or inadequate, poorly serviced and not fit for the purpose of modern times.
Last weekend we lost customers at the cellar door due to 'outages.
We could not use our computer for accommodation bookings, EFTPOS for wine sales or the landline for calls.
It took Telstra four days to get around to 'fixing the problem'.
It is still not fixed and we enter our second weekend without proper communications out here in the trees.
For a tourism operation that does a lot of its business on the weekends, we find it frustrating and absurd in the 21st century that such poor service exists.
We call on Telstra to lift its game and for the Hepburn Shire Council and budding state politicians to use their leverage to improve the communications infrastructure and service for locals in the new telecommunications environment.
We pay our rates and taxes and deserve better.
R&M McDonald
M Brulotte
Sailors Falls
Ode to the Hub - Trentham lament
RRRub-a-dub-dub they are building a hub,
Newcomers are changing the town,
"The old hall is not nice," said the three blind mice,
"We are going to knock it down."
And just like the sheep of Little-Bo-Peep,
Their thinking is all astray.
If we leave them alone, they will maybe go home,
but it seems they are all here to stay.
With their minds filled, it seems, with fanciful dreams,
from the City to here they came,
They have gone to great pains and have taken the reins,
and our town now will not be the same.
Like the cow and the fiddle in Hey-diddle-diddle,
the Townies are over the moon.
For when argument comes, they have all the big guns,
So I s'pose they'll be building it soon.
And news they conveyed, said they'd had it surveyed,
Designed by an architect's hand,
The old hall that we knew in this town where we grew,
will forever be gone from the land.
And as time moves along, the old values are gone,
It is 'progress' you hear them say,
But they never will know what those weathered walls know,
And history will just fade away.
Trentham Sentimental Bloke
Thank you for holiday activities
Kids' activities what a great idea!
We would very much like to say thank you to all the good people who organised this amazing and wonderful program for our kids and grandkids during these winter holidays.
What a great idea, Jen Bray 'Winterfest for kids'.
The ARC activities (rock climbing, soccer, scooter, disco, etcetera). Well done Kareenah, coach John Mayger and his young referees.
The beautiful morning tea all the way from Paris French-inspired by Danielle France yummy yummy, how good it is. Yam Yam, comme ce'est bon ... yes, we even got to speak a little bit of French.
At the library the kids were kept busy making art and craft with Katrina. Circus in the suitcase with Justin McGinley was very funny and entertaining.
To all the special people who volunteered to help make this holiday a remarkable one, thank you all so very much
On behalf of our kids and grandkids who had so much fun, we thank you all.
Lola Juls, grandma Pat,
Shayne and Possum
Hepburn Springs
Winterfest's kids program a winner
We write in appreciation of Winterfest and particularly the recent school holiday program at the ARC.
This program co-ordinated by Kareena Hodgson and assisted by a team of enthusiastic volunteers was engaging, stimulating and professionally conducted.
It was affordable and catered for a variety of age groups and interests. While the kids had fun, parents met in the lounge and the ARC became what it was intended to be a well utilised and buzzing hive of activity.
Thanks and well done, Kareena. We look forward to your next school holiday program.
Amanda de Clifford, Kim Pender and Kellie McDonald
Hepburn Springs
Cost of abortion drug 'shame'
In recent days there has been considerable media concern over the threat by a number of asylum-seeking mothers to take their own lives because of their fear for their children's futures.
Some 12 months ago, Julia Gillard and her cabinet approved changes to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme allowing the cost of the abortion drug RU486 to fall to as little as $5.90 (now $6) under the PBS for qualifying mothers.
No signs of concern then in media circles for this action allowing some mothers to self-medicate, not the death of themselves but that of their unborn children. Shame Australia, shame.
John Gill
Mt Waverly