She was not only a champion athlete in her time, but she bravely fought cancer and still found time to give to our community. The late Kerryn McCann will long live in our hearts and minds.

The girl from Bulli who thrilled us all with her courageous win in the marathon at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne justly deserves the many plaudits that are coming in as news of her death spreads.

Even during her battle with cancer Kerryn found time to play an active role as an ambassador for the KidzWish Foundation, an honorary position she loved and gave total support to.

They very least we can do is to erect a suitable memorial to this champion athlete and much loved citizen of our city.

It’s there at last

Wollongong City Council will hold its final meeting for the year next Tuesday and believe it or not the controversial and much discussed West Dapto development is actually on the agenda.

I’m told the actual report for the meeting is not yet finished which could explain why agendas for the meeting are not available until at least Thursday.

We will wait with bated breath to see whether there’ll be action down that way or the whole matter will go back to the drawing board.

Concerns expressed 

Quite a few of the old timers who worked at BHP steelworks and who gathered for the annual retirees Christmas lunch last week were concerned at the news the plant will shut its mill and paint line operations for up to a month with some 1500 employees being asked to take leave over the Christmas – New Year period.

Unheard of in their days at the plant, many of the former employees regarded the situation as “quite ominous”.

Still, a great time was had at the luncheon with nearly 120 retirees in attendance.

Workers unhappy

Don’t be surprised if there’s not union action soon regarding the dissatisfaction by some local workers about loss of superannuation and other strange pay movements.

One worker I spoke to recently is aghast at being asked to not only take several weeks of long service at Christmas, but at an early 1990s pay level!!

And it’s not uncommon to hear others saying they have lost up to $80,000 in super. Phew!!!

Why does management escape?

Our give it all away Prime Minister is now going to splurge more of our taxes on bailing out the motor car industry, but when is someone going to do something about the obvious failure of some managements to do there job.

They get huge wages and bonuses, and if they do get the boot there’s often a more than significant pay out.

Workers get laid off, but poor management seems to get away with it, and that’s not fair as far as I’m concerned.

And what’s more if you read today’s media you will see that my thoughts are supported by members of the US Senate.

Perhaps Kevin needs to forget about petrol watch and introduce management watch.

Tallawarra to get even bigger

Not happy with building a new power station at Tallawarra the company involved TRU Energy has flagged the possibility of a second station immediately adjoining the new one.

The power station development has already become something of a bun fight with many local residents up in arms about what effect the station will have on the local environment and Lake Illawarra itself.

Now we are being told plan B is already with the Department of Planning for an adequacy review, which is sure to raise the hackles of the protestors even more.

I wonder where the local member Lylea McMahon will stand in all this, and I’m not the only one.

Surely not

The news that our four former city councillors caught up in the corruption scandal deal may have their legal costs met from the council’s insurance policy just about takes the cake.

And what’s worse is the possibility that they might have already received compensation for what’s taken place to date.

What hope is there for we ratepayers who wait patiently for overdue repairs to our roads and other matters needing council attention for after all it’s mostly our money that’s being washed down the sink!