Have a go on the farms
I AM writing in regards to an article I read in your paper recently.
It was in regards to the benefits gained from doing work that has not a great name for itself. That is fruit picking.
I think people hear stories in regards and only hear about the bad ones.
From my point of view, working as a fruit (grape) picker when I was younger, was one of the best experiences I can remember.
It all comes about in summer of 89/90 when I was working for a local farmer.
At the end of harvest, there was not going to be much work to do until we had had some rain, so the boss said to me why you don’t try some picking work.
Being only 21 and with my own car, but little money, I thought “why not”.
Through a friend, I was able to get a job with, I was to find out in due time, a very friendly and kind family, fruit grower in Merrbin, Victoria.
They had accommodation for the workers. The work was hard, but it was rewarding.
I was picking grapes for a week, and then I was put on a tractor picking up the pails of grapes and then spreading the grapes out on racks.
You could earn extra money by helping with the removal of grapes from the racks into packing crates, this was done at night.
Afterwards, the grower would put on a ‘barbie’ and a couple of drinks (sometimes too many).
People may think that is too hot for them to work, but what you have to remember is that you won’t be picking in the heat as the grower does not want their fruit picked hot.
They will stop you picking before it gets too hot.
We started at 06.30 in the morning and we normally finished at 1400-1430.
They feed you a morning tea and a lunch. You look after yourself for the evening meal.
The Murray River was 5km away so nearly every meal was yellow belly.
I got to meet people that I would never have met otherwise and that was to help me be the person I was/am through the life journey that I am currently traveling.
You never know where a job like this will get you, have a go.
James Blunden,
Wycheproof
Edit note: Have you got an experience of fruit picking or farm labour you want to share? Email a letter to the editor. Details below.
GoodSAM app reactivated
I WELCOME news that the GoodSAM smartphone app, designed to alert responders to someone nearby in cardiac arrest, has been re-activated.
In question time this week, I asked the Minister for Ambulance Services about the decision to deactivate the GoodSAM app during COVID restrictions.
Through this app, responders are given the location of the patient and nearest available defibrillator, to allow them to respond (if available) in the critical time before the arrival of an ambulance.
In the early days of coronavirus, there were many unknowns but I am concerned that this app was ever deactivated.
According to Ambulance Victoria’s very own annual report for 2017-2018, those who receive bystander CPR during a cardiac arrest had a higher rate of survival rate (12 per cent) compared with those with no bystander CPR (4 per cent).
The Heart Foundation’s recommendation that compression-only CPR (and use of an AED) is recommended for bystanders assisting in a cardiac arrest event, makes the decision to de-active the GoodSAM app even more baffling.
In my numerous meetings with both Ambulance Victoria and the former Minister for Ambulance Services, the GoodSAM app was identified as an important component of efforts to save lives in rural and regional areas where there are typically far-slower ambulance response times.
Whilst I appreciate the need for COVID safe practices and elements of caution, heart disease remains Australia’s biggest killer and the suspension of such a valuable tool is very concerning, particularly in regional areas where there have been low (or no) cases of the virus.
I am pleased that the GoodSAM app is being reinstated.
Tania Maxwell,
Member for Northern Victoria
