Like most things In life I think it all depends on who you interact with
My father has a gold card and while has not had much reason to use it has on occasion with good results
Friends of his have had run ins with medical professionals who claim the gold card represents queue jumping and become difficult
Often there is stuff out there that you only stumble upon because someone else found it. Pre Covid days he was scheduled for an operation and was put on to some accommodation on the Gold Coast to go and stay at and have a holiday while recovering. May be RSL related but he is not to my knowledge a member of any RSL. It is not available to the general public and seems it has been there since the fifties. Perhaps popular enough they do not advertise. Said it was basic but very good. Would never have known about it if a friend had not told him about it
To take this in a slightly different direction. Last time we were home he was organizing to meet up and go out somewhere with this friend who knew of the accommodation. My wife could hear the half of the conversation from our end as was sitting at the table with us. When we were alone was asked if they were OK as the conversation seemed shall we say antagonistic. Why had my mother ignored it entirely just wanting to know when he was departing and returning. Had she not noticed? Was there a problem? Had to point out that that was how they had been for as long as I have been around so would think it has been that way for what must be 70 years now. Once they are together it changes. They just wind each other up when organising anything. Friends can sometimes be difficult but there being there for you makes a huge difference
