School Holidays, Commonwealth Games and ????

School holidays have been bought forward this year in Victoria( not sure about the other states) due to the Commonwealth Games being held here . So Term 1 was for a whole SIX weeks after a six week Christmas/New Year break, Term 2 will be 12 weeks with Easter off. I love how the Governments; State and Federal; just switch about the holidays to suit the multi media, mass production known as the Commonwealth Games. Now don't get me wrong, I don't work away from home, so it hardly effects me but if you have just split your leave between yourself and your partner to look after the kids during the summer holidays...What person would have accrued enough leave to have a further two weeks leave six weeks later???? And what employer ( apart from some PS departments) would allow you another lot of leave ,six weeks later????
Despite the Government paying lip service to "family friendly " policies...They counteract with the introduction of industrial relations laws which will strip away the right to even have the leave during school holidays let alone have all the entitled leave. Then they bring in this whammy...Yes, I know there are school holiday programs, which cost money and in some cases defeat the reason for going to work at all. The Government wants more women in the workplace, why? So we can be taxed more? So we spend more?Until the workplace becomes truly and equitably family friendly for ALL this will always be the downfall of any government.

Inso far as the Commonwealth Games goes, well, its great to see the countries of the Commonwealth get together for a who's the fastest/strongest/best/whatever competition, if that is your thing. It's nice to see the creme' de la creme' of their sports represent their country all trained to the nth degree of their fitness levels, what has been pushed to the background as oft it does is that the both the Special Olympics and Paralympics are scheduled for 2006 also.

I don't recall any advertising given to the SO or PO, those who attend are families and carers and others involved in the world of disability and special needs, I have yet to met a member of the general public who has ever attended a SO or PO just for the sporting aspect. As someone who has attended/seen both, let me let you in on a little secret..................
Wonderful though it was to see Cathy Freeman win the 400m in Sydney and the women's swim team win relays and the "Thorpedo" help bring back the glory days for Aussies in the pool....But for my sense of achievement and national pride, you will never, ever get over seeing Louise Sauvage win a wheel chair distance race or the joy on the faces of a relay team on the podium, or the utter disbelief of the winner of a 100m freestyle. For my money, these are the true sports people, they have no high octane sports institutes to attend, no high profile coaches and training teams, no real big name international sponsors, they do it because they love it, because they can and because they are grateful for what they have in life. So instead of buying that 10th ticket to see some sport you may not even like just so you can say you did, maybe look at attending the SO or PO this year, or make a donation to getting the PO team to Sorino.