Our Oscar Winners

Our Oscar Winners  

There’s no doubt that if we were presenting Australian Oscars that Prime Minister Kevin Rudd would be the best actor for his role in “Confusing Down Under”.

And his deputy Julie Gillard would be the best actress for “Education Planning on the Run”.

New NSW premier Kristine Kenneally would have been a close second to Julie for her role in “Trying to Save the State”, but Liberal leader Barry O’Farrell would have also missed out for his role in “The Constant Loser”.

And Another Thing …

While on the subject of Kevin Rudd, I was shocked to read recently that he is plumping for recognition of Aboriginal Sorry Day in the same regard as Anzac Day.

There’s no comparison between the two Kevin so leave our Anzacs alone.

Health does need a shake-up  

Had a bit of a health problem last weekend and my doctor sent me to the Wollongong Hospital’s emergency ward for further check-ups.

After spending four-and-a-half hours in the waiting room on Sunday and not being attended to I left and said I’d be back on Monday.

Arrived early on that day and with only two of us there I pretty well went straight in and was told to lie down on a bed.

I was also told a doctor would see me in a short time as there was only one patient he had to see before me.

Four-and-a-half hours later he still hadn’t turned up and I left in disgust.

Whichever way the current the political debate goes our hospital systems need urgent attention!

What next?   

The news that our former disgraced city council general manager Rod Oxley will be a keynote speaker at a forthcoming local government function in Sydney and his chosen subject is how to prevent graft and corruption and scandal leaves me speechless.

Particularly when you recall an ICAC enquiry found that Oxley had engaged in conduct somewhat unbecoming in his time as general manager.

What’s the world coming to?

Wise Waterfront words  

Those people advocating little if any development at Wollongong Harbour deserve a pat on the back.

As one resident suggested, overdevelopment of the area would make it a “congested mess”.

The area has a natural beauty and the visitors to the city that I’ve taken there over the years have always marvelled at “how nice and friendly it is”.

Minister on the right track   

The State’s Local Government Minister Barbara Perry is on the right track when she suggests local councils waste money on lavish buildings and overseas trips instead of concentrating on their basic responsibilities.

Amongst other things she is looking hard at councils’ expenditure on consultants and legal advice.

And when you look at how many people, for example, that occupy seats at our local council offices she’s on the ball.

Leave escarpment alone   

Wollongong City Council shouldn’t be drawing up any plans to allow housing development on our wonderful escarpment.

The escarpment is part of our natural beauty and that’s the way it should stay.

Parking meter shambles   

Debate continues to rage over the city council’s decision to install parking meters in our CBD with many people commenting that the whole new system is unclear.

One woman I spoke with says she thought she was paying $2 for an hour’s parking – that’s what her ticket said – only to return to the vehicle and find a notice adhered to the windscreen suggesting she’d over-stayed her $2 worth by half an hour.

Really, when you look at the whole thing, it’s just another money grab on us ratepayers and the monies earned will probably finish up being spent on our city CEO’s pet subject, The Blue Mile!