Newspapers / Fotofax (Brevard, N.C.) / Dec. 1, 1968, edition 1 / Page 6
Part of Fotofax (Brevard, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
MEMBERS iiwm ii=\iu»N CARHOM. WA«;M R JVOTI H!nsH\N MAX UIUMH VRt S'. .1. klMHAl ! ■ rilANKl i * i'^S i r J0m i ■# It Denis Whitmore, Australian plant manager was amused to find the Brevard plant had a Kangaroo Club. When he learned it was a dub to reward employees for wearing seat belts, and thereby having escaped death or serious injury, he saw the analogy. “That would really amuse the chaps back home, ” he said. AUSTRALIA Land of Golden Opportunity For nine months Denis Whit more, of Sidney, Australia, trained at the Brevard plant. His intensive orien tation in all aspects of medical x-ray film finishing is part of the preparation he undergoes before assuming man agership of the new Du Pont plant being built 20 miles outside Sidney. Compared to Brevard, the Australian plant will be a relatively small opera tion. Rolls of coated widestock from Brevard and Parlin will be shipped there for slitting, chopping, inspection, packaging and release to the Aus tralian markets. This new facility is made possible by favorable changes in the Australian custom laws vyhich permit the import of semi-finished product. This plant will allow us to expand our product market by be- r' Architects drawing of the Sid ney, Australia Du Pont x-ray film fin ishing plant. coming more competitive price-wise with foreign films. Also we will meet a real need of supplying a top quality medical x-ray film to the Australian markets, which in turn will create new jobs and contribute to their economy. Denis Whitmore was workirrg as manager of a special purpose ma chinery plant in Sidney when he ob served an unusual advertisement in the local newspaper. Somewhat cur ious, he responded, and got the job as a Du Pont plant manager designee. Denis stated that Australians receive many of the American TV pro grams, as well as news coverage, so the average Australian is very well informed about America. The most frequent question he encountered was, “How can 1 get to go to Australia?” There are a number of ways, including Australian govern ment subsidy for persons wishing to migrate to Australia. He stated that anyone who wants a job in Australia can get one. When asked why he thought Americans were so interested in Aus tralia, he stated that it is considered by many to be a Land of Golden Op portunity. Asked if this was indeed true, he said Australia is young, dy namic, and rapidly developing. More opportunities could likely be found there, perhaps, than in older, more fully developed countries. Denis said the income there was about 60% of what we make here. The cost-of-living, however, is pro- portonate except for some luxury items. Motor vehicles, he said, are about the same price as here, but if you make 40% less, the purchase is more difficult. They compensate, he revealed, by purchasing compact, economy cars. One odd quirk he metioned was the clothes copper. A large basin made of copper, and similar in size, shape and function with our old iron wash pots are in extensive use throughout Australia. Even if a family has a modern agitating washing ma chine, they are likely to have and use a clothes copper too. Modern clothes coppers are heated with gas or elec tricity, and the Australians believe some washing is best done by boil ing in the coppers. One bright feature Denis found here was the variety of color in the autumn forest. In Australia, he said, most of the trees are evergreens and the few other types simply turn a dirty brown. You would never, he said, hear anyone remark that the Australian bushland was pretty in the fall. Other differences in America and Australia which Denis has noted include: In Australia, light switches work in reverse to ours. Up is off, down is on. Electrical current is 240 volts and 50 cycles. Vending machines are not in extensive use, and never to dispense food. There is little or no late shop ping—the stores open at 8:30 and close at 5:30. On Saturdays, they are open only until 12 o’clock. Australia recently converted its monetary system to a decimal system. In coinage, they have a one, two, five, ten, and twenty cent piece, but no quarter (initally a fifty cent piece was minted, and was the only coin with silver content. These were quickly hoarded and none are in circulation). In currency, they have a one, two, five, ten and twenty dollar bill, but nothing larger. The law requires all wage roll salaries to be paid in cash. Australians drive on the left side of the road. Australians are not vocal on political issues. They would never re veal how they were planning to vote. No one except party officials display emblems supporting a candidate, and only a few hours of TV coverage is given national elections. Denis stated that he was most impressed with the friendliness and kindness of everyone in the Brevard plant, and grateful for the help given him. He says he will long remember his warm reception and the Carolina mountains.
Fotofax (Brevard, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Dec. 1, 1968, edition 1
6
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75