TRC office in Sydney
I read with interest an article by Jacob McArthur on Thursday 25th re a Sydney office for TRC. I thought how quickly the pen can change history. Tamworth council did not expand its office to Manilla, Nundle or Barraba. These offices were the former offices of their respective Shire councils. It was through forced amalgamations that they now display the banner of TRC. On reflection, maybe Jacob you are right in saying Tamworth council, as not much has happened in Manilla in the past 15 years, except the downsizing of our work force.
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On closing, wouldn't it be better to forget Sydney and more cost effective just to open an office in China?
Peter J Dutton,
Manilla
Health insurance
In January of this year, I had to have a crown on one of my teeth. My health insurance included dental cover, so I got some of the cost back from my fund. Then in March I renewed my membership for another year. Last week I went back to my dentist for the first time since January, just for a routine check-up, but this time my health fund refused to pay me a cent.
The "reason" was that although my yearly subscription covered the period from one March to the next, the fund deemed my membership year to run from 1st January to 31st December. No, they had never thought to tell me this. And as far as they were concerned, I had used up all my dental cover for this year in January, which I had assumed would be in last year's membership.
I found this explanation to be, um, unsatisfactory, and complained to the health insurance ombudsman. I received a namby-pamby reply that all health funds do this -- it's just part of their rules. Then I received a reply from my health fund smoothly telling me the same thing. I bluntly demanded a rebate on my membership for this year, to bring my subscription renewal date back to 1st January. To its credit, the fund agreed. My fund and I will now be in accord on this most basic matter. I can only suggest that every Australian with private health insurance do what I have done.
Grant Agnew,
Coopers Plains
Opposites attract
The ads for the latest Australian Bachelor series show the newest young man who is searching for love and it looks like there may be some star-crossed love.
In one of his introductions he mentions that he is an Astrophysicist and the lady replies that she is a Gemini. Subsequent discussion between the ladies in the ad does not show any further in-depth understanding of science.
This illustrates why I, as a retired science teacher, fear for our future and TV is no longer helping as an educational tool.
There needs to be some awareness of the difference between science, astrophysics and false science, astrology. Astrology is silly although mildly fun and probably read by a few scientists for a laugh although it is really fake. The real concern is when people cannot tell what is real and proven by science. There is a need to call out those who deny climate change or won't give their children vaccinations. Perhaps they should be sent to the Moon or Mars and yes, people have been to the Moon. If people find love, then wars and war spending will cease, and science spending will be reinvigorated. I'd love to see that on my TV.
Dennis Fitzgerald,
Box Hill
