Former Labor stalwart Jim Kremmer now helping the Libs in the election

Former mayor Jim Kremmer was last week spotted handing out how to vote cards at the prepoll in the Campbelltown Civic Centre.

Kremmer, who had been a Labor member for years before resigning to become an independent on the council, was handing out for the Liberal Party’s candidate, the Member for Macarthur Russell Matheson, alongside the State Member for Wollondilly, Jai Rowell.

Indeed, Jai strongly urged me to take a photo of Jimmy Kremmer helping the Libs.

We gently declined the invitation.

♦ Bumped into south west lawyer Peter Mitchell, who had just appeared for a client in Campbelltown Court.

He was headed down to Dumaresq Street to say hi to his brother Harry Mitchell, who has been running his TV repair business there for decades.

Peter, with whom I went to Sydney University at the same time in the mid to late 1970s, told me a fascinating story about how his family, who come from Bankstown, established a link with Campbelltown.

His parents won the main prize in the Opera House Lottery way back in 1958, this was 6,000 pounds (it was eight years before we changed to dollars and cents) and they invested the money by buying a building in Queen Street, Campbelltown, opposite Mawson Park.

Fifty years later the building is still in the hands of the Mitchell family, right next to the café Peter and I had coffee and a chat on Friday.

♦ Fewer than 100 people turned up to last week’s intermodal protest at historic Glenfield Farm.

But at least all the election candidates attended and took their turn to say a few words to the hardy souls who braved the cold weather. Still, it’s not the size of the dog in the fight that matters; it’s the fight in the dog.

♦ Local author and historian Lauren Hokin will launch her new book ANZACs of Macarthur: Men and Women Who Served in the First World War at Campbelltown’s HJ Daley Library.

The book commemorates the Macarthur region’s 1,000 or so soldiers, sailors and nurses who served in WWI.

The launch will take place on Thursday, July 21 from 2.30pm, if you’re interested.

Light refreshments will be served. This is a free event, however, bookings are essential on 4645 4444.

If you’d like more information visit the website here.