Wise words on keeping safe

WITH a week to go of my term as Road Safety Advisory Council chair, I wanted to take the opportunity to compliment the road safety letter writers (November 23). If we all do what they said, fewer people will be killed or injured on the roads. S. Wallace’s reminder about the 40km/h speed limit around school buses is timely. We’re coming into a busy time of year when the temptation to go a bit faster is stronger than usual. The school bus law is there to protect children. Children have lost their lives because drivers didn’t slow down. I’ve seen drivers go through school zones at speeds obviously faster than 40km/h. They are putting children’s lives at risk. School zones are also on 80km/h and above roads, where it’s even more important to slow down to protect young lives.

Robert Rodway’s plea to drivers to keep their cool is on the mark. When we lose our cool, we lose our common sense and road sense. The suggestion about yellow lines at first glance seems a good idea. But there’s a risk of confusion as yellow lines denote no-parking areas. Drivers who run red lights are putting their lives and those of others at risk, as Phil Willing warns.

It’s up to all of us to stick to those rules, no matter how much we think we need to hurry. If we all show more concern for other road users by driving safely, we’ll save lives and prevent some people from having a terrible festive season.

Step up on science

WITH the school year coming to an end, appearances are that, as yet, the Tasmanian Government and Department of Education have made little meaningful effort to bring about improved teaching of chemistry and physics. It is generally accepted they underpin much of STEM. They can be taught so comprehension and application, linked with mathematics, are embraced. A “love for learning” can be developed from intellectual involvement generated from curiosity and emerging understanding. This journey can begin from quite early in the school years. Teachers with robust knowledge can ‘unpack’ concepts and present the fundamentals. Schools do not have sufficient numbers of ‘robust background’ teachers. Now is the time to put in place teacher education, ongoing teacher development and a review of teacher registration.

Continuous what?

ACCORDING to health Minister Michael Ferguson, we now have a continuous improvement program. That is why the waiting time to see a gastroenterologist at the RHH is 1384 days, or if waiting for neurosurgery, 1589 days to see a specialist. The Royal Australian and NZ College of Anaesthetists has threatened to pull training from the North West General Hospital ( Mercury, November 24) and this follows cessation of psychiatric training at the RHH, and internal medicine training at the LGH.

I sense a pattern that perhaps the minister, immersed in his continuous improvement program, has not yet realised.

Give us a break, Jeff

AT the same time as spruiking over 9000 Tasmanian Hawthorn members and in his eagerness to promote continuation of a deal which pays his fabulously wealthy club (over $14 million profit last five years) almost twice per game as Cricket Tasmania receives a year, Jeff Kennett says Hawthorn “brings at least 5000 people to each game”.

So when Hawthorn plays before 10,553 people this season, or before similar crowds against the Lions and Suns in 2018, does Mr Kennett expect us to believe that every second person at the game is from interstate? What happens to the 9000 local members? Or non-members who just buy a ticket? Give us a break Jeff, my second head is starting to spin.

Farewell dear pet

OUR beloved pig Pauline Mary was euthanased by our vet as she had developed a painful, terminal illness. We have loved and cared for Pauline for 6½ years. To our family, neighbours, friends and many Chinese tourists who visited Pauline, thanks for your interest in our beautiful girl. Special thanks to kind and skilful vets Phillip and Jemma who helped us care for Pauline throughout her life. It was a pleasure and a privilege to love and be loved by such an intelligent and affectionate animal. We feel so sad to have lost a precious member of our family. Rest in peace darling Pauline. We will never forget the joy and happiness you brought us and your adopted siblings, three cats, a little dog and five chooks. Our hearts are broken.