BigBlog

At long last our Cab Depot got its security cameras for our cabs. Hey they look Micky Mouse.  About $3k eack.  Ok, we got them, guess what though no instructions how to use the bloody things........Duh......Oh the instruction sheets are comming we are told.  Right, so is Christmas, which milenium may one ask?

Been a while since I bloged. Been down with a bout of Flue and yes, I did manage to get to WYD.  Yes we got our free travel after much screaming about it and nearly loosing half of our local volunteer task force.

It was worth going to and we met some very interesting overseas characters.  Got some excellent Pics as souvineers.

There was one hickup though, On Monday 21st July, there was as we were advised for the participating volunteers an event which we were told was to be held in the Domain entitled 'Breakfast with the Pope'.  Ahem, some one forgot to tell the organisers that breakfast was supposed to have been provided.  Still it was good and after the event having paid $19.00 to a local coffee shop for breakfast, I did the tourist thing and had a good cruise on Sydney harbour for free.  Had not cruised the harbour in over 30 years as that is how long ago I left Sydney.  Hasn't Sydney changed since then.  Not sure though whether it is for the better or the worse.

Received today was the following email and I quote in part personal names omitted for privacy reasons; this came from one of the organising persons of WTD.

We have now arranged for WYD volunteers from your district to have their tickets pre-purchased. This has been made possible by (Name omitted) and your district who will be purchasing the tickets for you on Monday 14th July.  Of course these costs will be reimbursed.  You will then need to pick up your ticket from........I beleive  (name omitted) will be calling all of you to discuss the details of this arrangment.

WYD Organiser (Name omitted)

After posting the post below a person emailed me and told me their woes about working as a volunteer for another Catholic Organisation. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul. Her words were:

"You think you got it bad, Our volunteers have been treated like slave labor and when I dared to complain a brain dead Nun commented that Jesus suffered so we all have to suffer for His glory."

The biggest load of Cods Whalop I have ever heard she goes on to say. She walked out of the organisation in disgust.

It is apparent to me that the Catholic Church does not know how to treat their volunteers.

One wonders how many liberated free thinkers will do the same?

Volunteers have been shafted for World Youth Day Event.

Received from one of the coordinators for the Rural Fire Service of the World Youth Day Event was a rather disturbing and down right insulting newsletter to the generous people who have willingly agreed to help with whatever tasks need doing to make this event a tremendous success that it deserves to be. I saw a copy of it today.

It would seem our penny pinching beurocrats cannot give those volunteers living in the outer reaches of Sydney free rail travel to the event but have to purchase full price rail tickets to the boarders of the Sydney Metropolitan Area Rail boundaries.  All be it that the cost of the tickets will be eventually refunded to the said volunteers when their claims are submitted by the various volunteer organisations supplying the much needed staff.   How long that paper shuffling exercise will take is anyone’s guess.

We were initially told that free transport on State Rail would be provided from Katoomba now it has been changed stating that we have to pay for our own tickets  from Katoomba to Emu Plains on a daily basis this calculates at $13.30 per day or on a seven day state rail pass costing $44.00.

This is totally insulting to any volunteer who is kind enough to donate their time to work at any state function and the state or in this instance the Catholic Church should pay up front to any volunteer that has been kind enough to give his or her time for free. The Catholic Church, who is always with their hand out rattling the collection plate under your noses at mass and who is one of the wealthiest organisations in the world seems unable to pay a miserable $44.00 to these good people and not ask them to shell out up front and then wait for a refund. A wonderful privilege Ad Majoram Deo Gloriam.  (To the Greater Glory of God)

In the Sydney Metropolitan Area volunteers producing their identification are allowed free travel on all public transport to and from their allocated duties. The Country and outer area dwellers are discriminated against.  Shame people shame. The good people of the Rural Fire Services statewide provide an excellent service to the community in all major catastrophes and minor ones as well unpaid. Is this the way they are rewarded for their dedication and service to the community?

Wake up Mr. Premier and Cardinal Pell, whose priests by the way get a liquor allowance to nearly triple the value of the train ticket for a volunteer. I recall at one instance, for a non state but a local acolyte training event, the local parish priest hosted one heck of a slap up meal at the then Katoomba Presbytery with all the grog they could drink.  Where did that money come from?

Hell will freeze over before I ever set foot in another Catholic Church again for any occasion or event.

It is not so much the money that is the problem but the insult of the issue. Not only do our volunteers have to put in full long tedious shifts for the whole week but tolerate the abysmal conditions of commuting by what will more than likely be ‘sardine can’ style transportation by State Rail, two and a half hours on a train each way in peak hour is enough for normal unfortunate commuters as Michael Hart BMG Wend. June 4 Page three correctly pointed out.  Imagine what it will be like when the Pope gets here.  Nightmares anyone?

Written by a friend of a volunteer