Somewhat out of the blue we hear that Throsby’s Jenni George might be about to retire, or be pushed, and that Labor will anoint a left wing unionist Stephen Jones as their candidate.
Jones is the secretary of the Community and Public Sector Union and is believed to have the support of well known ALP mover and shaker Anthony Albanese
And in any redistribution of Throsby it appears likely to take in part of the Southern Highlands which shouldn’t have any real bearing on whether Labor holds it or not.
I for one hope Jenni stays on for she has been, regardless of one’s political allegiances, a most approachable and energetic member for Throsby.
Gilmore is held by Joanna Gash, who has successfully fought off many ALP challenges over the years, but with the suggested changes now in the wind it is predicted she could lose as many as 14 000 regular supporters.
Joanna as usual is preparing to take it in her stride and has already said if the distribution will include part of Shellharbour she’ll happily open an office there.
A quiet achiever over many years Joanna would be most welcome if her seat was even extended into parts of Wollongong.
But when it all gets down to the bottom line why do the mass of the people need any redistributions at all? It’s just nasty politics at work at the taxpayers’ expense!
Mighty marathon man
Hats off once again to our mighty marathon man Dave Taylor who recently completed a 654.3km treadmill running effort which took seven days and helped raise $34,000 for Breast Cancer NSW and Police and Citizens Youth Clubs.
Dave now reigns supreme for the distance covered by an Australian and is ranked eighth in the world.
What a great effort by a super veteran athlete.
Farewell old friend
The recent passing of well known local community supporter and long term BHP employee Peter Hilton saddens me tremendously for he was largely responsible for having me come to this city to be his eventual replacement in charge of public affairs and community relations at the Steelworks.
I had known Peter for some years prior to my coming here and had a deep respect for his work in every aspect.
The work he had put in, particularly in the wider community, made my transition into his old role so much easier.
We are sadder for your passing.
Berkeley re-emerges
Once upon a time it wasn’t unusual for debate to rage about the future of Berkeley, but in recent years all has been quiet until just recently when the local stirrers, or should we call them “community watchdogs” have started to bark again.
Long ago this somewhat neglected area by rights should have been the home for what we now know as WIN Stadium.
Easy to access from the nearby highway and along Northcliffe Drive it would have offered oodles of parking and would have better suited those who live down south.
But that’s another story.
Stay out of sight Rod
So our city’s former General Manager Rod Oxley wants to publish his side of the story about the collapse of the council and the resultant ICAC inquiry.
His announcement almost coincided with an ICAC release which said they would finally get round to deciding what penalties three of the former city councillors Kiril Jonovski, Frank Gigliotti and Zeki Esen might get for their part in the mess that left us without a people elected council.
But if I was Rod I’d be staying behind closed doors.
Come off it
I realise it would be a big plus for Australia to host the world soccer cup series but to suggest that the Aussie Rules and Rugby League people cancel games while it would be played is completely over the fence.
If soccer has to use Ethiad Stadium in Melbourne so be it. The AFL would still have the MCG and its other home venues in Brisbane, Adelaide, Hobart and Perth, and they could always at a pinch play some games in the bush.
The NRL shouldn’t be that worried either. They could even schedule a game between, for example, Eastern Suburbs and Tigers at WIN Stadium!
Just let’s get on with all the games as they will be scheduled. And anyway, shouldn’t the soccer people have worked all this out before they decided to make their bid?
Who really knows?
And all this talk about climate change. Who out there really is an expert on the subject?
As long as I can recall the climate has constantly changed from the once four seasons falling when they were supposed to and hail being a normal part of the rainy seasons.
And anyway there are those out there who see any dabbling with the climate affecting farming and mining and other industrial activity, all of which have provided us with a strong economic background for many years.
Then there is the doubt that any scheme to be put forward will not reduce global greenhouse gas emissions at all.
The best comment I have read to date came from a Liberal MP in Western Australia, Dennis Jensen, who says he can’t vote for any scheme “that will cause significant economic damage and which is based on dubious science”.
But I’ll bet if you live in the bush you will see the kangaroos heading for the trees when they sense rain is coming and the sheep dogs will still bark for the same reason.
I also don’t notice anything different about the way ants act when the weather is about to change and the little lizards in your garden, too.
Sure, we may have to worry about the seas taking over our beaches as is being touted in a yet-to-be-completed Federal Government inquiry - but who has the real answers?
Leave well alone
I don’t know about you but when John Bertrand sailed Australia II across the line to win the America’s Cup I leapt from my lounge chair and cheered and cheered as did the other members of my family who were also watching.
It was a great day for Australia, but now we have it being somewhat strongly suggested we might have led people up the path by saying one of our own invented the famous keel that is largely attributed with our success.
Who really cares these days for the evidence was there to see on the day that the best yacht and its crew proudly won the classic.
Why do so many people these days want to dig up the past and cast aspersions? Leave well alone I say and to those responsible just get on with life in 2009 and make positive contributions.
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Yes Rod the Outrageous the Manager without Responsibility takes the cake with his (or her?) self-defensive booklet! Can't wait to read but hope the proceeds go to Charity? By the way Rod what happened to the Horsley Bridge so long ago promised!
by IAN DOUGLAS
05 Nov 09 13:38