2012 I resolve to make no New Year resolutions.
But I want to acknowledge a few things like
MY PARENTS' GENERATION
who had to leave school at twelve, but never stopped learning.
THE EDUCATIONAL REFORMS OF DR. CLARENCE BEEBY
which abolished the Proficiency exam so all children could go to High School.
MAGNIFICENT, GIFTED TEACHERS
who taught ignorant young kiwis to love Maths.Science,Latin,Literature. and above all LEARNING.
THE NEW ZEALAND HEALTH SYSTEM
which delivered my eight babies free of charge,even though three of them involved lengthy hospital stays.
PLUNKET NURSES
who gave mothers guidance and assurance.
PUBLIC HOSPITALS
who set broken bones, removed ruptured appendixes, healed burns and twice saved a son's life by knowing how to treat emergencies. All without charge.
THE WELFARE STATE SET UP
for all its faults it paid all mothers a benefit towards raising their children; delivered milk to letter boxes at 4 pence a pint; and supplied milk in schools for free; provided cheap (if not comfortable) rail travel throughout the country; allowed kids to stay at school longer, paid students and apprentices living allowances while training to provide world class housing, education, health care and social infrastructure and finally provided a modest retirement pension at sixty.
I have much to be grateful for and I am.
Now go away and have a great New Year, I want to practice on my Kindle Reader.
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