Until the onset of COVID, I don't believe the reliance on backpackers for employment in hospitality and agricultural positions was fully appreciated.

When I was growing happy paddock piggies south of Wagga from 2013 until 2019, 28 WOOFers (willing workers on organic farms) lived, contributed and enjoyed their experiences with us.

These were mutually beneficial experiences.

However, with closures of businesses, no extensions for visas or financial support for our international workforce, hundreds of thousands of backpackers and WOOFers returned to their home countries.

With the closure of international borders, the annual immigration of skilled migrants is now zero leaving supposedly huge gaps in the national workforce with the federal government pushing to enable this program again in March.

Instead, let's think strategically.

According to Andrew McKellar, the CEO of Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, 130,000 people over 65 are ready, willing and able to enter the workforce.

But, as Ian Henschke, advocate for National Seniors Australia explains, they won't as those on age pensions will be financially penalised if they work more than one day per week.

With employment and working arrangements changed so markedly over the past (almost) two years, now is the time to enable, not penalise, the full potential of the national workforce.

We have a home-grown solution and, instead of looking to overseas solutions, how simple would it be to simply raise the income threshold for those on the age pension?

In addition to increasing the pool of available talent, more money will stimulate the economy, potential poverty will be eliminated and experienced people with strong work ethics will enhance our communities.

The cost and social benefits outweigh focusing on skilled immigration.

Is there the political intelligence and will to enable these changes?

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Wow! The wow factor marks my reading of the epic Eddie Jaku memoir, the fully illustrated collector's edition of The Happiest Man on Earth. I commend it to all, especially those concerned with unendurable, unrelenting human suffering; like advocates of assisted suicide.

I have read other accounts of Holocaust survivors. Once, while on holiday at Hayman Island, some 50 years ago, (before the resort was destroyed by a hurricane), a Jewish lady was not shy to show the infamous tattoo inscribed at Nazi death camps such as Treblinka and Auschwitz.

It could have been about 27 years ago when I visited the Darlinghurst, Sydney, Jewish Holocaust Museum. Now I know who established it in 1992 - Eddie Jaku!

The book shows him celebrating his 101st birthday on April 14, 2021 - just a few months ago. Eddie passionately advocated kindness as essential to human happiness.

Now that he has passed on - what a reunion with all kin so sadly lost in the Shoah, along with many righteous Gentiles as well.

Farewell Eddie, my new friend!

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