Barnesy's plea for northern suburbs

[Ian]

http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,23604912-5006301,00.html

It's good to see he hasn't forgotten his roots, and while a lot of us bag "everything North of Grand Junction Rd" (and I have been guilty) I hope he gets some real support to try and do something with the youth problems out North.
Well done to former Northerners, Governor Rear Admiral Kevin Scarce & Gavin Wanganeen, and Makin MP Tony Zappia for also throwing their support behind the idea.

[evans01]

yeah good on him.....i was born and breed in the northern suburbs (of english stock surprise surprise... )
and it great that they are trying to lift the profile etc......

good work!!!!!...

go the Northerners!!!....

[MightyEagles]

Well done to him.
I thought that CDFC were doing that already by winning flags.

[Dirko]

and breed in the northern suburbs

How much did you breed whilst out there ?

[stampy]

yeah good on him.....i was born and breed in the northern suburbs (of english stock surprise surprise... )
and it great that they are trying to lift the profile etc......

good work!!!!!...

go the Northerners!!!....

so thats whats wrong with you?

[Dogwatcher]

Interesting comments from Barnesey, considering his previous lack of interest in the place, as well as the opinions he has previously aired about 'the Hood'.
However, I think it's great that he's using his profile to help air some issues.
It's great he's focused on the North, as that's where he's 'from', but I think there are other parts of Adelaide that really need a look as well.
If we're on about social inclusion, then it would be wise to include parts of the south and the west in any sort of review of how our communities are living.
I went to Arndale Kilkenny, the other day and man oh man....if the north needs help, so does that place.
Time for our pollies to get out and have a look at how the real people are living, right across this state.

[smac]

Fair points DW, but I guess it is 1 step at a time.

Nice to see someone trying to get people to take their foot of the head of those less fortunate and allow them to stand up.

[Dogwatcher]

Definitely agree Smac.

[Footy Chick]

Ok, I'm ready to take any gunfire that comes my way here..

How many pshycologists does it take to change a lightbulb? None, the lightbulb has to want to change...

Lets face it, there are just some folk out that way that just don't want to be saved and feel that there is absolutely nothing wrong with the way they live. As long as the dole cheques keep coming in and we give away money to 13 year olds to have babies, it won't change.

At the end of the day, the government can spend as much as they like, but it's not going to instill a "get out there and do something with your life" message with some of these people. These kids are, for the best part always going to be held down, not by a inadequate education system, or lack of funding for youth activities etc.. these kids are going to be the next generation of people happy to live on centrelink benefits all their lives because they're the morals and values beaten into them by their parents who have never worked a day in their lives.

[JAS]

No gunfire from me FC...I think what you say is true...sad...but true. What's possibly even sadder is that their attitude is global...you could be posting that in almost any city/town in the world.

There have always been people who chose to live that way and no matter what governments or well-meaning individuals do there always will be.

Regards
JAS

[Dogwatcher]

As you said FC - SOME. There are some people happy to do that but it's a minority.

I get your point, but you CAN help people to change and you CAN fix up some of the societal issues with a bit of willingness to stick to the job at hand and not put it in the too hard basket.

[Footy Chick]

DW - If it's a minority, then why is it such an issue? Why is there a 38% unemployment rate?

Can you honestly tell me that if you were to look at an old school photo, you could say that all but a couple of the people in that photo are now fine, hard working upstanding citizens like your good self?

Sorry luv, that's not a minority, that's a way of life.. and to go back to my original point, you can't change something that doesn't want to change.

[smac]

So you propose we continue to do the same thing and continue to get the same results?

Kids/young adults who have not been taught by their parents/communities to follow the path to employment can be taught this by others. Until now, this hasn't happened.

[Footy Chick]

So you propose we continue to do the same thing and continue to get the same results?

Kids/young adults who have not been taught by their parents/communities to follow the path to employment can be taught this by others. Until now, this hasn't happened.

Thats true. but look at it from this perspective..

A kid who successfully obtains a trainee/apprenticeship figures out that they are barely earning more than their mates who are sitting on their arses at home on the dole playing playstation all day. Who do they think has the better deal? Does that give them any motivation to stick at it?

Bugger that.. you're average kid doesn't know the meaning of hard work and doesn't appreciate the self satisfaction from receiving a pay packet that's not a friggin handout.

How pissed off do you think I used to get when one of my best mates who has 2 kids was receiving almost as much centrelink benefit as my take home pay once upon a time? She chose NOT to go to work because she did the sums and it wasn't profitable to her to work.

Her ex-partner is one of these people Im talking about...from Elizabeth who's a lazy prick and has never had a full time job in his life and had dodged all attempts by centrelink to get out of working. I'm surpirsed he's still eligible for payment. She has had to work damn hard to send her kids to private school without his help to make sure they DON'T end up like him.

Sorry I know it's a subject close to your hearts but in reality these guys aren't going to have a fairy tale ending and get out like you guys did because it's UP TO THE INDIVIDUAL.

[smac]

No one said it would be easy, Chicky...

But you seem very negative, based on one personal experience. I thought DW and myself might give you some hope of this being successful...

[woodwt]

Its no different down south either!

[Dogwatcher]

Just because you're better than me, doesn't mean I'm lazy.
Just because you're going forwards, doesn't mean I'm going backwards.

[Footy Chick]

Smac, I hope it does work but he's making sound like they're going to achieve world peace

I wouldn't call it being negative..just realistic. How would you suggest we rid some northern suburbs residents of their current mindset? Please don't think Im generalising because we could pull out any amount of statistical data to prove it and you know it. Plus we also know that Elizabeth has produced some of our finest sports stars and moderators but it was the values of your parents who chose to work hard and put you through a different high school. I could put to you the same question. How many people from your year 7 photo do you think would be in full time jobs?

I know there are fantastic people in Elizabeth who just can't afford to get out. All it would take is for a kid (who's parents have bothered to teach them manners, values etc..) to become mates with some kid who's parents (or parent in most cases) don't give a toss, and there goes all the hard work. In fairness though, that last example could happen anywhere.

I could be a smart arse and say make Elizabeth a dry zone, take away all the pokie outlets and bring in a law that says anyone on the dole needs to pass a drug test before receiving benefits. That'll clear things up pretty quickly but in a realistic world that isn't going to happen.

My best mate lived in Elizabeth for about 12 months (apparently in what was back then one of the worst streets, just near Elizabeth Oval somewhere and not by choice) She said she would never go outside after dark and would never make eye contact with most of her neighbours, she said she witnessed drug deals, prostitution, neighbours breaking into each others houses, kids killing animals just in this one street. How do you think the government is going to change these peoples mind set?

[Dogwatcher]

How many people from your year 7 photo do you think would be in full time jobs?

As it's the second time you asked that question, I'll respond.

As far as I'm aware very few people from my year 7 class finished school. But i don't think that's a reflection on them as such. I would have no idea what they are doing now.

However, I can look through a photo of my under 15s side, and see that very few of them are bludgers if any. As far as I know they all have jobs.

Your assertion to look at a school photo is like suggesting we look at a photo of graduates from Prince Alfred College, who all 'apparently' became lawyers or accountants, and figure out how many of them have done crooked deals or broken the law in their jobs. Maybe one? Maybe two?

[Footy Chick]

How many people from your year 7 photo do you think would be in full time jobs?

As it's the second time you asked that question, I'll respond.

As far as I'm aware very few people from my year 7 class finished school. But i don't think that's a reflection on them as such. I would have no idea what they are doing now.

However, I can look through a photo of my under 15s side, and see that very few of them are bludgers if any. As far as I know they all have jobs.

Your assertion to look at a school photo is like suggesting we look at a photo of graduates from Prince Alfred College, who all 'apparently' became lawyers or accountants, and figure out how many of them have done crooked deals or broken the law in their jobs. Maybe one? Maybe two?

Sorry, just used it as an example. But how can you also suggest that the fact they didn't finish school doesn't reflect on them? They CHOSE not to finish school, they CHOSE not to try and better themselves through education. Surely you can't blame the government for them not finishing school? Parent's? probably..and that's my point and so these kids didn't finish school and are possibly doing exactly what their parents did...nothing. Chances are these people have had kids and so on... surely you can see the point Im trying to get at. It's a viscious cycle that has moulded over generations and is going to be a tough nut to crack, no matter how much the government throw at them.

I really hope they can...I really do.