Jim Laird Driver Training Ltd

LEFT TO RIGHT: CHRIS MITCHELL - GENERAL MANAGER SELINA SUTHERLAND HOSPITAL, ALEX O’DONNELL, JO DAY, LORRAINE KENNEDY, KONRAD SCHWANECKE, GABRIELLE COULSTON, JOLEEN WAKELING, TINA MANSFIELD (BEHIND), SHELLEY ROBERTSON.

Wairarapa’s Medical Services Looking Forward

August was a special occasion for Konrad Schwanecke; he celebrated 20 years of service as an Orthopaedic Surgeon in Wairarapa. “I appreciate the support of all my patients, colleagues and staff.” Konrad works full time at Selina Sutherland Hospital, the private surgical facility attached to Wairarapa public hospital, where he and the team undertake all types of general orthopaedic surgery: “Shoulder and wrist surgery, hip replacements, knee replacements, foot and ankle operations, and fractures. Spinal surgery is referred down to Wellington, but we do provide nonoperative management and advice for spinal injuries. “I worked for 18 years at the Wairarapa District Health Board, but in 2020 I realised I was feeling burnt out, and made the decision to resign from the DHB. I now work in private only. “Selina Sutherland Hospital has a small, friendly, and loyal team, able to offer a quality service with personal attention to our patients. We provide good value-for-money compared to our city competitors.” Like many regions in New Zealand, Wairarapa is struggling to recruit nurses and doctors. There’s also a desperate need for additional resources, from operating theatres, to endoscopy services, clinic space and MRI scanners. In the last issue of Men-at-Work, Konrad promoted the idea of building a new, private, standalone hospital in Wairarapa to attract additional specialists and services into the area - to serve both public and private sectors - and help accommodate our growing population. “With the recent changes in the health system I am looking forward to such a development - to help meet the needs of Wairarapa.”

KONRAD WITH PATIENT, DAVID PITT.

DR KONRAD SCHWANECKE Orthopaedic Surgeon

MBBCh FCS (Orth) (SA) FRACS

Driver training from a seasoned professional

JIM LAIRD.

Jim Laird is Wairarapa’s most experienced course provider for driver licences, endorsements, and assessment services. He is also a Certified Spreadmark Tester, calibrating fertilising spreading equipment on the ground, and in the air, for maximum accuracy and effectiveness. Jim has half a century experience in the transport industry, and 20 years as an accredited licence tester. His clients include individuals who wish to gain a particular licence, and businesses requiring staff to be trained, so they can use specific vehicles or equipment. Along with courses for the popular Heavy Vehicle Class 2-5, Jim offers training for forklifts and heavy machinery, such as front-end loaders, excavators, road rollers, Elevated Work Platforms, telehandlers and HiAb cranes.

Elevated Work Platform training has become especially popular after more stringent safety requirements were introduced in April 2020. These include scissor lifts, cherry pickers, knuckle boom cranes and workshop gantries. Jim teaches the skills to transport dangerous goods too, like acid, fuel, and flammable products. He also trains for trailer licence and vehicle recovery. The practical assessments are in vehicles provided by the applicant or hired when necessary. The courses are completed to a schedule to suit clients and Jim often travels to many locations to deliver his training. Having built strong relationships with transport companies and businesses that use heavy machinery, Jim has gained a reputation for offering quality training that fully prepares drivers for the real world. And those trainees have included everyone from college students wanting their heavy truck licence, to equestrian enthusiasts wanting the qualification to drive a horse truck. He tries to make the training as userfriendly as possible, and this is happily received by the trainees. There is a shortage of heavy truck and trailer drivers in New Zealand. It can be an exciting and diverse career on the road. If you are interested in knowing more, please contact Jim. He has many valuable contacts and details to share.

JIM LAIRD

Driver Training Ltd

Wairarapa’s Course Provider for Driver Licences For Class 2-5, Vehicle recovery, WT&R, DG’s, Forklift, HiAb, EWP, Gantry, Telehandler and 4WD courses All other workplace training catered for Mob: 0274 412 659 Email: Jim.Laird@wise.net.nz