The news that despite a growing call from local ratepayers for the right to re–elect their own council the incumbent administrators will still be around until at least 2012 is far from acceptable.

Perhaps it’s time now for we ratepayers to march the streets in protest and remind this pathetic State Government that it is we who are paying the rates to keep this city alive and we want to be more personally represented around the council table.

And did you read in The Daily at the weekend a selection of names of who might be our next mayor, if and when we have the right to elect him or her?

There were a few surprise suggestions to make you think or giggle or both, but what is needed is someone who is not only articulate but who is a real doer, and who will have the time to go out and meet the people and ask them what they want.

Remember the days of the late Frank Arkell and his “Wonderful Wollongong” theme, which captured not only our hearts and minds but those people in other places.

The right person will not only be able to effectively chair council meetings but, as I suggested be articulate, not afraid to make decisions, mix with people of all ages, and if and when necessary take on various governments to ensure our city keeps forging ahead.

I think I know a good candidate. ME!!

We lose out again! 

The recent Rudd government federal budget did little for Wollongong and the Illawarra in general with a number of possible infrastructure projects given a miss including the Maldon–Dombarton railway, the Princes Highway, Picton Road and the port of Port Kembla.

But once again our university took the cake with many millions of dollars going towards a new centre to further research at its Australian Institute for Innovative Materials, and while this may be welcomed by some it is not something the majority of taxpayers would regard as assistance from the government in times of a troubled economy.

Not the grandstand again 

It seems that there are still those in the community who truly believe we need a new grandstand at WIN Stadium because it was short listed among what we really need Federal Government support for on the day the Prime Minister visited our city.

What we really need is a new stadium which offers appropriate parking for starters.

A poor welcome for the PM

The Prime Minister came to town last week and, of course, with no ratepayer elected council anymore we couldn’t ask the mayor to make the official welcome.

And from this drab beginning the circus didn’t make too much progress with even the PM appearing to have to take his own notes of what was being suggested.

Our students shine at MUNA

Local students held their own at the Rotary District 9750 model United Nations Assembly at Nan Tien Temple on Saturday with St Mary’s Star of the Sea College No 2 finishing in the top three.

They represented Brazil at the day long event which was won by a team representing St Patrick’s College, Sutherland, who had Mexico as their nation.

Other local schools to join in were Kanahooka High, Shellharbour Anglican College, Holy Spirit College, Keira High, The Illawarra Grammar School and another team from St Mary’s Star of the Sea College.

The adjudicators were also full of praise for Kanahooka High School’s sole representative James Poole ( Egypt ), who narrowly missed being speaker of the meeting.

Well done to all our local Rotary Clubs who once again gave this splendid event their full support.