The cruise on Sydney Harbour last Friday for disadvantaged and disabled children representing the KidzWish Foundation was an outstanding success with some 100 participants having the time of their lives.

Thanks largely to the sponsorship of local businesspeople Peter and Joy Hanbury and some splendid support from well-known local artists including the inimitable Scott Radburn, it was a day they will remember for years to come.

On the day Bottomline was represented by Fiona Connery, some of whose still photographs appear below, and then there’s the video shots you can watch by pressing the play button at the end of this column.

These shots tell the story of the day.

Neighbourhood forums get green light  

While it is encouraging to see that the city council has given the green light for the formation of eight new neighbourhood committees in our city, one can only hope that what these people put forward is listened to and acted upon.

A quick glance at council’s charter for these groups would suggest they will be butting their heads up against a very strong brick wall.

I just happened to attend the initial meeting of the proposed Dapto Neighbourhood Forum last week and it was pleasing to see a good roll up and to listen to the views – some very strong indeed – of those who made the effort to be there.

My general impression, after talking with many of the attendees, was that they would much rather have the ICAC thing finalised and an elected council returned to manage the city.

One matter of concern I had was that there was a distinct absence of younger people at this meeting.

What the city desperately needs is for the younger brigade to step forward and show some interest in their community and the city generally and for these people to seek nomination if and when we get the chance to re–elect our own council.

Another distinct impression gained at the meeting was that there are a growing number of Dapto residents who regard council’s plans for the suburb with disdain and grave concern, particularly those who live in the western areas of the suburb.

He hasn’t gone away

No, Graeme Jackson the founder of the West Dapto Rural Ratepayers’ Association hasn’t disappeared into the nearby hills and he’s still actively campaigning against certain aspects of the city council and State Government’s plans for the escarpment down that end of town.

Graeme has submitted a superbly thought through and drafted document regarding the proposed Draft Local Government Plan 2009 in which he suggests the proposals don’t meet an accepted level of social justice.

He also believes that the conflicting and discriminatory regulations listed in the plan which he suggests will be unenforceable and inflict a social injustice on landowners in the area.

New role for Senator 

One of our two Liberal Senators for NSW, Helen Coonan, has a new role as Shadow Minister for Finance, Competition Policy and Deregulation and in her most recent newsletter she warns us that the incumbent Rudd government will leave us with a $200 billion debt by the next election.

She also warns that the new industrial relations laws are likely to see 65 per cent of small and medium retailers shed staff while 82 per cent of them will need to restructure their workforce, which will certainly mean changes to staff rosters.

One can only hope, Helen, that while you spread ongoing gloom about our economy the opposition will get off their collective butts and make some positive moves in the parliament.

Another icon in trouble  

It doesn’t seem to get any better for Wollongong with the news that the, somewhat historic, Regent Theatre has been listed for sale by the Gateway City Church.

Opened in 1957, this inner city building was patronised for one reason or another by countless locals over the years, whether it was just going to the movies or attending a live concert.

I can recall seeing Jimmy Barnes perform there and Kate Ceberano, just two of the many stars who graced the stage.

More bad news  

The rumours seem to have come home to roost with what seems likely a further shutdown of a major blast furnace at BlueScope Steel.

The company bosses have set a date in May to decide whether to keep the No5 blast furnace idle despite a costly multi-million dollar reline.

The worldwide fall in hot–rolled coil steel prices is seen as the major reason for the doubts over the future of this local steel icon.

Aussie Rules still the one   

Aussie Rules footy kicked off nationally last Thursday night and over the weekend with some 350,000 people watching the games which is, I’m told, the biggest number in any one round for many, many seasons.

NRL, however, drew just over 100,000 people, while we wouldn’t know how many go to rugby union games because they never publish their attendance figures.

I promise not to labour this point again in the current footy seasons.