Well, yesterday I spoke about the tragedies on the Central Coast.

Impossible to believe that in Australian in 2007 a road can just open up and swallow a whole family.

Equally impossible to believe that 11 people can be killed in a level crossing smash.

But while these are overt instances of tragedy of unspeakable proportions, different tragedies are played out every day in this country to which Government seems to turn a blind eye.

The Sydney Morning Herald features a 500 word column each day in their paper and it's called The Heckler.

Last week there was a piece by Jasmine Smith.

It began by saying "Hello, I'm sorry, you don't qualify for the Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care assistance.
 
"Records show that your private child psychologist reported that your child can speak and his IQ is not under 75.

"We cannot case manage you or offer you funds.  Have we sent your our handy dandy list of places to go, things to do?"

As Jasmine Smith wrote, "Several times".

But she says, "Things to subscribe to and stuff for autism costs money and are spread from Carlingford and North Rocks and Forestville and Putney, Peakhurst and Campbelltown and Woop Woop, but nothing accessible by public transport with a toddler in tow, you understand".

The mother writes, "The child speaks because we've scrounged 20,000 dollars for private speech therapy, occupational therapy and more while on a public health waiting list and riding taxis to the therapy groups. 

"When not managing the toddler I campaign for autism therapies to be put on Medicare."

Jasmine goes on, "The Department is right, we are well off. 

"My husband has a job at the moment.  He didn't for five years.  That's Asperger's for you.

"The house is weatherproof and we own it.

"It's needed renovation since 1970 so we cannot sell, mortgage or rent it out.

"What are we complaining about?  Nothing really", she writes, "Just autism, a sort of big nothing. 

"Your child watches shadows and fluttering leaves when he should be watching the rest of his soccer team.

"He does a teapot dance facing away from play at the far goal when he could be striking the ball. 

"His chances of living independently, being employed and thriving socially are diminishing with every year that he doesn't receive any sort of behavioural therapy.

"The education system says we're ready for the mainstream, which is odd considering that my son is nearly 7 but has yet to make a friend, unless you count sitting on kids or kissing Jack.

"Apparently saving money and sticking to the Board of Studies curriculum is more important.  The school says we're doing well enough and should be happy with that.

"They won't have to live with him when he's a maladjusted, rejected 25 year old.

"We're paying for private therapy for half the family because of the grief of autism."

"Moreover, we were a bit preoccupied when the only relly living locally, my brother, started making cries for help. 

"We've hardly had time to grieve since he committed suicide.

"We don't qualify for autism therapy or the Department's help, so what do we do?

"Buy lottery tickets.  Shame the odds are longer than the incidence of autism."

Well, that's tragedy too.

And the greater tragedy is there are in Australia too many Jasmine Smiths.

We're a rich country.

Time to use some of it on people in genuine need.