It has only been months since I moved back with my wife in Brisbane to Eatons Hill and I already have to complain about something.<br />School fees, for a public school. Yes my two daughters go to Eatons Hill State School and my wife has been telling me about the voluntary school fees that you continually get reminded about, now in the mail today there was a strong letter for each of my children with an invoice in it.<br />Mind you they are voluntary and they send you an invoice, is this arrogance?, intimidation?. For God sake some of us are unemployed and it sickens me when people at a neighbours BBQ were saying that they won't be paying the fees and both of the parents work and earn combined in excess $80,000 per year, why should I pay when we are on unemployment benefits?.<br />I rang the school today to complain and also rang Education QLD to complain about the harsh letter.<br />What's wrong with this school?, this did not happen back in Broken hill in NSW.<br />Phillip

Philip<br />Its good to see you have moved up this way and you don't live that far away from me like around 5kms. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/default/smile.gif" /> <br />My kids also go to the same School and we have received notification about the voluntary fees and have been told that an invoice will soon be issued but we still have not received it. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Confused]" src="images/icons/default/confused.gif" /> <br />Is it that bad?? So they sent you a letter and an invoice with it?? It must be bad to you to post it here.<br />But what I can't understand is if you say and we know its voluntary how can they send you an official invoice for School Fees?, what happens next? warrants for your arrest!!. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Confused]" src="images/icons/default/confused.gif" /> <br />I won't comment yet till I get mine, not that I'm saying that you haven't got yours yet. I want to see the invoice first before commenting. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Confused]" src="images/icons/default/confused.gif" /> <br />Phil

From one Phil to another.<br />Well what can I say Phil from "X" Broken hill is correct.<br />I received my letter and Invoices for both my children today and Phillip is correct, Its says its Voluntary but it tells you have 30 Days to pay. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Confused]" src="images/icons/default/confused.gif" /> <br />Hummmmmm Can't work this out, I've just looked at my daughters dictionary to see what VOLUNTARY means as I'm becoming old and forgetful and it tells me "voluntary means: the act of choice, choosing whether you want to do a particular thing." In this case, why say 30 days?, why send you an invoice?. Is this outright arrogance, or intimidation? or just putting pressure on parents?. I have no problems paying but I can see this letter and invoice were probably checked by a lawyer before posting. The only thing I don't like in the whole deal is the blatant disregard of the word voluntary <img border="0" title="" alt="[Mad]" src="images/icons/default/mad.gif" /> ...its got me stuffed and I personally think this will backfire on the school. I don't think many parents will like it. This might have the approval of the P & C and staff but has it got all the approval of the parents??? It would be quite funny if A Current Affair or Today Tonight contact me over this as I know they are always looking for stories which they have done before as I do know that they look at this forum.<br />What do you think? Am I being a bit harsh? <br />Phil <img border="0" title="" alt="[Confused]" src="images/icons/default/confused.gif" />

Phil the principal/ I wonder if he watches Home and Away on channel 7, Whats his name Mr Hyde?.<br />Come on Phil An invoice for Voluntary schooling?, send me a copy I want to see it.<br />Cathy

My grandkids use to go to that school, not anymore like most parents have followed, They have removed them and now are attending Albany Creek Primary.<br />reasons why?? plenty<br /><br />George

Desperate or what!!<br />Who do you blame? the Government or maybe its the greedy teachers with their powerful unions. The money for their greed has to come from somewhere and now they expect the parents to pick up the tab.<br />Fred

Our kids are in high school and we don't pay any school fees, it also was the same for primary.<br />what are they doing up there in QLD?<br />Peter

Its bit of a shock to move from NSW to QLD, the wages are absolute crap up here. Its not cheaper to live in QLD its about the same as Sydney. The only thing cheaper is Houses, petrol and insurance, otherwise everything else is dearer which is quite a shock.<br />One thing I have noticed is unions don't exist up here and if they do they have no clout, but I was explained that the only unions with clout in QLD are the Police union and the teachers union. They go on strike and get what they want but for others working in the unskilled arena with no unions are paid shit like $410 gross a week. Its hard to live on that and in Sydney doing an unskilled job I was earning exactly $782 gross per week unpacking <br />boxes. Whats wrong up here?.<br />As for the school fees, go jump, I'm not paying anything. The greedy teachers got a pay rise not long ago as I have been told, that money has to come from somewhere and that somewhere is taken out of the budget from the school.<br />And they want me to pay. Go to hell the lot of you .<br />I am very disappointed since I've moved up here.<br />Phillip

Phillip<br />What you say above is very true, wages are shocking up here except for the teachers and the police who are very similiar to NSW.<br />As for the school fees the only thing I don't like is the ABUSE of the word "voluntary", they must remove it or I will not pay a cent.<br />I do voluntary work, No I don't send them an invoice to the over 50's whose computers I fix. I don't charge them a cent, it cost me my time and my petrol and all I get is a smile a cup of tea and maybe a biscuit or two.<br />Most elderly today that have computers to communicate to their children around the world. When their computers stuff up most cant afford to bring a techie out ($45 per hr)they're too weak to take the computer to the local shop so their only out is to have someone come to their house to repair it.<br />I DON"T CHARGE, I DON"T LEAVE AN INVOICE EITHER ON THEIR TABLE I JUST FIX THEIR VIRUS INFECTED COMPUTERS FOR NOTHING AND GO HOME..<br />Phil