Taking on the world

She’s only in her very early 20s but Mt Ousley kayaker Elyse Yardley is currently in Europe battling it out with the world’s best in World Cup meetings that could lead her to a place in the Australian team at the world titles in Poland later this year.

Elyse and seven other “girls” and 10 “boys” have set up a base at the Australian Institute of Sport Camp in Italy and are competing in that country, Germany and Hungary over a four-month period.

She started the sport in the juniors aged 16 and after a three to four year break while she studied nursing she is back in full swing again.

Elyse says she took up kayaking to help build up her body so as to compete in surf carnivals and ironwomen events.

A member of the North Wollongong Surf Club, she also competes for Bulli.

We’ll keep you informed of her progress.

Let’s give Jessica praise   

So there is at least one sceptic who has gone public because he believes around-the-world teenage sailor Jessica Watson will have fallen short by 2000 miles of the previous record, but let’s thank the Lord she has made it and give praise where it’s due.

As she said herself when she heard of the claim, “If I haven’t been sailing around the world it beats me what I’ve been doing out here all this time.”

Well spoken Jessica.

Smoking ban for steelworks

My spies tell me the steelworks management plans to introduce a non–smoking ban on all workers in the immediate future.

I remember when they tried this once before and it just didn’t work.

The place is just too big to enable management to keep an eye on everyone and there are heaps of nooks and crannies where the ardent smokers can find a place for an undetected puff or two.

What about the parking?

The improvements and extensions to WIN Stadium’s grandstand are back on the agenda, with a figure of some $29 million being bandied around.

But is any thought being given to the shocking lack of parking around the area?

If, as it is being suggested, the revamp will make the ground a better attraction for major sporting events and not just rugby league, then the parking question must be attended to.

And on the subject of traffic   

Also back in the news is a proposal to build a new 108–unit complex on the former Dapto Public School site, and here again traffic movement must be taken into account.

It’s being suggested that proposed new buildings could be as high as four storeys and there will be parking available in the basement, but this is already a busy corner and traffic problems could be a major setback.

Crown St Mall back in the news   

The controversial Crown St mall is back in the news with a $14.2 million five–year makeover being suggested.

There’s even talk of fast–growing eucalypt trees being planted with a variety of seats placed beneath them and the amphitheatre being relocated.

We’ve heard all this before so let’s just wait and see if anything really happen this time around.

Boozing in the spotlight  

Boozing has taken the spotlight what with the police deciding to keep a watch on known traditional night clubs and hotels and stepping in when a doorman says to a customer he or she cannot come in because of what they’re wearing or they look a shade intoxicated .

I would have thought our police have much more important things to do!

Then there’s the move by the State Government to empower city council officers with the right to confiscate alcohol in parks and other areas.

Now I don’t have a problem with this and I already thought they were empowered to do it.

Mixed views on Campbell  

There are mixed views on the sacking of State Transport Minister and Member for Keira David Campbell over his recently publicised gay tendencies.

While many say he has been hard done by, there are many commuters who are delighted he has gone.

No matter which way you feel about it all, I know I’m not the only one who thinks his work as Transport Minister was very disappointing to say the least.