Has Australia gone soft?
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Are we no longer willing to take on the tough jobs?
Certainly in some industries it does seem to be the case.
Nowra East baker John Reminis (pictured) could easily, and happily, employ two apprentice bakers tomorrow, but can't find anyone to fill the positions.
It's a story we are hearing locally across a number of industries.
Strange when you consider how high unemployment, and particularly the youth unemployment rate, in the Shoalhaven is.
Particularly at a time where the COVID Pandemic is biting into many industries and jobs are getting scarce and people in many cases are being laid off.
Remo, as he's affectionately known by his friends [most of the wider Shoalhaven] has been in the baking game for more than 50 years and said he's never seen it harder to get an apprentice.
He has two jobs going for apprentices - and they could start tomorrow.
He's had some start, here and there, and last a few weeks or months.
Are we afraid of hard work?
Or is it just easier to sit back and take the hand outs?
Sure he admits it's a "tough gig with long hours" and you are often "working when your mates are off partying".
But "it's also rewarding"
You can see his passion and the twinkle in his eye as he talks about the industry that has given him so much.
Dare we say it but the "tough as teak" former rugby front rower almost tears up as he talks about what he describes as "one of his loves".
"It gets into your blood" he explains "it becomes part of you".
He says he loves the industry and the old saying - if you love your job, you'll never work a day in your life - is true.
"It's a career and a trade that can lead you anywhere. The sky's the limit," he says.
Simply, as he puts it "it's a JOB!".
But he also says "big business paying big wages and supermarkets discounting products makes the playing field tough" for independent operators.
If you're a young male or female, or any age really, as long as you're willing to start on apprentice wages, head down to Bakehouse Delights and put in your resume.
You never know where it might lead too!
As Remo puts it, as a baker "you'll never be out of work and you can travel the world."