QUITE a deal of media and talk back comment in recent days on the value or otherwise of private health insurance compared to a free ride - and sometimes notorious waiting times - in the pubic system.
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There are good reasons in the challenges of balancing the family budget to apply serious thought to decisions on staying in private health insurance or taking your chances in the public system that really has a lot going for it.
But for many of the column's acquaintances the leading decider in staying private is the degrading and dehumanising policy of mixed male/female wards that in recent years has infiltrated the public system.
It's one of the mysteries of the age why this obvious affront to patient wellbeing and dignity has been allowed to take hold in much of the system without horrified public outcry.
Maybe we really are a Third World country after all. And with this situation we deserve to be just that, despite the claims to the status of the world's best public health system, unisex wards and all..
The meaning of goodwill
IN a world where more goodwill is sorely needed and where 'me, me, me, first, second and third' is the doctrine to live by there are occasional glimpses of hope. So full marks to the people from Lithgow's Tin Shed Cafe who every Wednesday evening during our bleak Winter have been providing free soup and an opportunity for a warming chat in Queen Elizabeth Park. And you don't have to be homeless or down on your luck to drop in. Just in need of a little company will do fine. Nice work Tania.
Now on to Mars. Why?
SO 50 years ago we made it to the moon and in the past few days we've really had stars in our eyes about this marvellous milestone in human history. So that one can be ticked off the world's bucket list.
But why now the comes the haste to land on other barren rocks in space? Does anyone really care if there were once microbes on Mars? Let's sort out the challenges and mass desperation bedevilling us here on Earth before wasting resources on the great emptiness out there.
Lure of the silver screen
SOME people were puzzled about the intense activity going on in the late afternoon last week at Sheedys Gully and Pottery Estate at Lithgow, particularly with a burning house. It was film making on a professional scale where the producers found Lithgow to their liking.
And there's a second movie pending with interviews for local hopefuls already under way. It's a trend that began years ago with the 'Coca Cola Kid' centred on the Zig Zag Brewery but which has subsequently gathered pace. Move over Fox Studios; it's our time.
