General News
6 June, 2025
BARRY'S CORNER: Hard Time
I hear the comments all the time about how hard things are getting and it seems when did it change because I would contend that it has always been tough to survive.
We face a daily assault on our hip pocket with rising costs all the time.
There are changes to daily life in the form of upgrades to machines and nearly all our work equipment with micro chips, changes to our fees for licences and other permits and super market goods.
Changes are coming at us with such rapidity it is not easy to cope with and respond all the time but thinking and learning of life styles from a century ago when motor vehicles were often broken down, tractors were built without any thought for an operator and became an ad-on; compare with tractors available today with power, insulated cabins and heat and cool adjustments and steering by far away satellites.
Consider a typical farm workshop with enough gear in side to carry out major repairs to a Boeing aircruiser (if one lands nearby).
Or a running household with every energy saving device ever known since we outlawed slave labor.
It takes more time to use the gadgets than by hand.
Motor cars are fuel efficient, quiet, smoother and capable, lightweight by using much plastic.
These cars, utes, tractors, headers are now built with comfort in mind for an operator who might spend all day and night overseeing the movements.
How tough can it be?
Nobody wants the cost of living or life style to go up but our demands for increased fees at our hospital, supermarket or shire council make a good dent in the hip pocket, but consider the improvements in understanding and techniques and health improvements.
We now understand some of the negatives as well; such as the impact on the biodiversity, the soil health and management of the bush reserves.
Sure, it is hard going at various times but compared to the past with its wars and health scares we cannot fail to be positive about the future or more capable of handling the challenges that will confront us.
I am not at all keen to return back to horses or some of the machinery found in museums and scrap yards.
We are a knowledgeable society, creative and reasoning and strong of application, let us celebrate that.