paul was keen to explore the world of hotel management but spent the week as free labour.

Winter 1990

To their credit the Work Experience Coordinator at George Town High secured placements for almost every one of the 100 students in Grade 10 that year. No mean feat considering most of the placements were with businesses based in Launceston and the Tamar Valley that were located some distance from our school.

I had nominated ‘Hotel Management’ as my preferred placement, and the Coordinator secured me a plumb role at the new 4.5 star, Launceston International Hotel. Built two years prior, it took pride of place in Cameron Street on the site of the old Jackson Ford car dealership. Launceston’s newest hotel, it had been open less than year when I landed there one Monday morning in the middle of winter, 1990.

Although I had been working at the pool for a couple of summers, I was nervous about this new ‘adult’ environment. My parents had helped me purchase a pair of black shoes, and I was told I would be issued a hotel suit for the week. Upon arrival I was ushered to the laundry and my size measured for the suit and shirt. I was presented a fresh suit and asked to get changed. I thought I had hit the jackpot as I emerged in my pressed white shirt, black pants, and business jacket. Then it turned south.

On an elevator I was introduced to Head of House Keeping, a Swedish guy in his mid twenties, who led me to a second floor room and showed me the vents above the shower. He demonstrated how to remove the lint and dust from the vent with a tooth brush and clean up the residue. I was then issued with a clip board and a master key and instructed to clean as many rooms as I could and mark then off the list. Rather than asking about ‘hotel management’, I accepted my assignment without objection. I was told to knock on each door and call out “house keeping’, before entering and beginning the mind numbing task.

I had been in the Hotel less than 20 minutes when I was effectively released with a master key to go cleaning. I had similar duties in my paid part time role cleaning the scum lines at the pool, and I had a  key for the complex there too, so this was familiar ground and a similar level of  responsibility. Needless to say, I was bored. I did this for three days. On the fourth I was reassigned, but it was hardly a step up. I was instructed to enter every vacant room and remove the ‘free’ tooth brushes from the vanity. On the bus back to George Town that night I wondered if the poor work experience kid the following week would be assigned the task of reinstating all the tooth brushes.

When I explained the situation to my parents they encouraged me to ‘speak up’ and ‘ask for additional tasks’. I’d pretty much written the experience off and considered not even attending the final day, but I did. I nervously mentioned that I had wanted to explore hotel management. The Head of House Keeping though he could help and made a call. I was reassigned to ‘Banquets and Conventions’ for my final day.

In the centre of  the top floor of the hotel is the ‘Presidential Suite’. Sporting two bedrooms, luxury bathrooms, and a butler’s pantry, this space was also used for Board Meetings. A large 12 seat hard wood table occupied the large open plan dinning and lounge space adjacent to the arched window that provided views to the north of the city. My first duty in my new role was to help set the table for the lunch time meeting, and then serve the guests. I was given no instructions nor support, nor did I question the situation. I honestly believed I could pour water for each guest once they were seated. Holding a carafe for the first time I approached the first guest and asked if they would like a drink. They accepted and I attempted to pour the water, but with no spout the water dribbled down the outside of the carafe and onto the table. I apologised and retreated immediately. I dumped the pitcher on the bench in the butler’s pantry and left the room. I basically hid for the remainder of the meeting and then went to lunch myself.

Sitting in the gardens of the church opposite the hotel I seriously considered quitting. I stuck it out, however, to my own detriment. After lunch I returned to the Banquets and Conventions office. No body asked about my sudden departure from the Board Meeting, so I didn’t bring it up. In fact, as soon as I returned from lunch the three staff left in unison. They gave me instructions to take a message if anyone called and left me in the office by myself. I busied myself completing my ‘work experience journal’ before being interrupted by the phone. I answered the call and engaged the caller politely. I noted their interest in holding a function in the Ball Room and their desired function date. Things were going well, until the caller, with a faltering accent, asked me if the hotel could serve small saveloys at the function. I was unsure, but mentioned I would find out and let them know. They kept me on the phone, continuing to inquire about the size and shape and texture of saveloys we served. They wanted to know how they tasted when they were in your mouth, and if they were the ‘little boy’ type. It was at this point, the caller burst out laughing, dropped his fake accent, and introduced himself as one of the convention staff. He was playing a prank. Upon reflection it was a type of hazing, with serious sexual and paedophilic overtones.

I returned my suit and left the moment the town clock struck 5pm. The week had been a complete waste of my time. I gained nothing positive from the experience, and I’m not convinced the hotel gained much either, other than having an extra cleaner for a few days. I returned to school the following week, made light of some of the experiences and wrote it off as a bad joke. I strongly encouraged my mate, who had also nominated Hotel Management for his upcoming week, to pick another career.

Postscript

I concede more than three decades have passed since this experience, however my observation of the ‘My Education’ activity in public schools in Tasmania is patchy. Highly reliant on motivated Principals and staff, the coordinator at my son’s high school didn’t coordinate any work exposure activities. I believe there is opportunity for improvement here, particularly in the public education system from primary school through to senior secondary. Painting the horizon for children as to their possible career paths is one way to promote options, motivate, and excite the next generation about life post their formal education. This is particularly important for student from hard places where opportunities and role models may be limited, and intergenerational unemployment may be the norm.