When one has the privilege of serving a community as wide and active as the public sector, as PS News does, hardly a day goes by when a reader or two don’t find the time to write in with comments about one thing or another.
Whether it’s to congratulate us for doing something well, admonish us for doing something poorly, or just letting us know they’re still reading PS News, the notes and messages are always welcome.
But this week a lovely note slipped across the desk we thought was well worth sharing.
Letting us know the bitter sweet news that she was about to walk out of the workforce, Jane A of the NSW TAFE’s Belmont campus wrote in to said goodbye in a most endearing way.
“Thankyou for years of awesome information and articles,” wrote Jane happily. “I am retiring next week so need to unsubscribe.”
What can we say Jane, but thanks for such a kind comment. I’m sure we’re not alone in saying we’ll be sorry to see you go.
We hope you’ll accept a nice going-away book from the PS News prize desk as a retirement present from us.
Very best for the future.
Infectious invasion
Another cheeky nomination for a PS-sssst award for creative acronyms now with agriculture agency Primary Industries and Regions South Australia (PIRSA) setting a new standard of hope for the millions of patriotic Australians zealously jealous of our cricketing rivals, the English.
Announcing with great seriousness that viruses containing the potentially disastrous ‘Pacific Oyster Mortality Syndrome’ had been discovered in Adelaide’s Port River and could pose a threat to the State’s multi-million dollar oyster industry, PIRSA implored its community to take great care to ensure the deadly virus didn’t spread to the State’s oyster grounds.
Using the syndrome’s internationally imposed abbreviation POMS, the agency put into words what generations of blue-blooded Australians would have loved to say if they thought they could get away with it.
“Fishers and boat operators,” PIRSA declared wisely, “can help stop the spread of POMS by taking precautionary steps.”
Wise advice for sure but some would say it’s about 250 years too late!
Time revisited
Many thanks to Nicki G of Sydney now for adding value to Philomena S’s wise words of wisdom last week which pointed out the comforting fact that the dreaded future doesn’t actually start till tomorrow.
Nikki put pen to paper to add her poetic pound’s worth to the concept of time with a timely reference to a time-honoured rhyme that ties down time to show where we all stand time-wise.
“Yesterday is history and tomorrow is a mystery,” Nikki proffered rythmically.
“Today is a gift which is why it’s called the present!”
Very clever, Nikki, and well metered-out to boot.
A well-timed book prize is on its way for taking the time to write.
Being it!
To Rama Gaind’s weekly giveaway now in which three lucky readers stand to win DVD copies of the movie So B. It starring Talitha Bateman and Jessica Collins simply by knowing the name of the author whose book the movie is based on.
That author is Sarah Weeks and the first three correct entries emerging from the PS News Barrel of Booty were those from Ros M of the Federal Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, Kate L from Country Health South Australia and Sharlenne S of the Australian Taxation Office.
Congratulations to all the winners and thanks to everyone who took part. The DVDs will be on their way to their new owners soon.
For another chance to be a PS News winner, visit Rama’s giveaway for this week at this PS News link and give it your best shot.
Good luck to all who do!
Reflected glory
And finally, with Commonwealth Games medals dripping from the necks of so many Australian sports superstars this week, excitement reached fever pitch on the floor of the PS News newsroom as the public sector’s favourite news and information service laid claim to a link to at least one of them.
Deepest and heartiest congratulations to medal winning cyclist and former journalist Bec Wiasak for scooping up silver in the Women’s 3,000 Metres Individual Pursuit at the games last week.
Bec spent a fair while saddled up in the PS News writing team a couple of years back and we’re all deliriously happy to see her succeed on the international arena.
Champion cyclist. Champion journalist. What a team!
Till next week….
