There’s a bit of a sporting theme to this edition of South West Confidential and we kick off with news just in that the former NSW premier Morris Iemma is the newest committee member of a local sport club. That’s right, the former NSW Premier is now serving on the Campbelltown Camden District Cricket Club management committee. In a note sent to the media the club, popularly known as the Ghosts, marks itself out as master of the understatement. Here’s what it says: “Morris Iemma has been elected to the CCDCC MC possessing a background in cricket administration and is a former trustee of the SCG and Premier of NSW. His significant skills developed throughout his working life will benefit the CCDCC and his passion for cricket is more than evident.’’ Too right, and having met the man himself we vouch that Morris is a terrific fellow.
♦ Once upon a time there was a young Prince named Scott. This Prince, in partnership with a young Kiwi Marshall named Benji, plotted to steal the NRL Premiership from under the nose of their more fancied rivals. There was dancing in the streets of south west Sydney and Leichhardt the night Prince and his Marshall rounded up the galloping Cowboys in the vast arena of the Sydney Olympic Stadium. Well those days are long gone and now our Prince has formed another useful partnership. This time, instead of beating rugby leagues foes, Prince and his new partner in crime, school deputy principal Dave Hartley, write books for teenagers and are already in their third Deadly D and Justice Jones series.
Prince may be co-writing books now but he hasn’t strayed too far from rugby league – the game is at the core of the stories. Wests Tigers fans will be a little disappointed Deadly D is a boy by day and a legend by weekend playing for the Brisbane Broncos. His sidekick Justice Jones is a little cheeky Kiwi – ring any bells, touch of déjà vu maybe? The first Deadly D and Justice Jones: Making the Team series was written in 2013 and it won a Kuril Dhagan Indigenous Award and an Indigenous Children Speech Pathology Book of the Year award. Well done, Scotty, we still love you at WT and wish you never left.
♦ OK, that’s enough sport for now, let’s talk matters culinary. Following the furore some people have called “porkgate’’ there are also rumblings about the food served at the dinner held for Liverpool councillors and officers before each scheduled meeting. It seems that some of the non-Muslim councillors (seven out of a total of 11 councillors) have got a little tired of eating halal chicken every time. As for “porkgate’’, for those who are not aware, Liverpool Council had to add pork to the menu for this Sunday’s inter faith lunch at Liverpool Catholic Club, where representatives of 14 different faiths are expected to attend. Originally pork was left off the menu. But following a number of media stories condemning the decision to leave pork off the menu choice, council added it to the options for Sunday’s lunch. Mayor Ned Mannoun told the South West Voice yesterday he even got an international call about the story, among others.
♦ Wattle Grove resident Allan Corben, a passionate opponent of Moorebank intermodal plans has just one question he wants answered: What has happened to democracy?” He goes on to say: “I’m against the State and Federal Governments proposal to build Australia’s largest inland container terminals in the midst of residential housing at Moorebank. During my involvement with these proposals I have had reasons to write many, many emails/letters of concern to members of both the State and Federal Government and their departments. I always address my correspondence to the senior person or MP as I wish to bring our concerns to the attention of the highest position of authority that I can. The normal reply you receive, if any, is written and signed by a person with little authority. I recently received a reply email that had been written and signed by a person with the title of Assistant Deputy Secretary, which is absolutely ridiculous. These people are elected to represent the Taxpayers/communities, yet it’s impossible to have your concerns read, let alone addressed by the person you write to. How in the hell do we, the taxpayers bring our concerns to the decision maker level of Government and not to just the back office?’’
♦ It was interesting how on Sunday the State Government announced the strategy for Campbelltown’s railway line corridor but there wasn’t a local councillor within cooee of the media event. The planning minister, Rob Stokes, made the announcement surrounded by two of his fellow Liberal MPs, Camden’s Chris Patterson and Holsworthy’s Melanie Gibbons. We have nothing against either MP, but last time we looked there was no railway line through Camden and Holsworthy is not in Campbelltown. On top of that, Campbelltown Council’s officers have been working in tandem with the State Government bureaucrats to produce the proposed strategy, so it just would have been a simple courtesy to invite Mayor Paul Lake or his representative to attend the official release of the policy.
♦ The South West Sydney Research Council is seeking expressions of interest for community representatives positions and locals with an interest in contributing to the development of research in south western Sydney, are encouraged to apply. The council meets every second month; with meetings currently scheduled on a Wednesday between 3.30-5.30pm. To apply or for further information, please contact Dr Tanya Ward on 8738 9125 or email tanya.ward@sswahs.nsw.gov.au.
♦ We do like a new program at schools called Responsible Pet Education whereby trained pet handlers visit classrooms armed with tips to young students about canine traits and characteristics. The 40 minute lessons incorporate strategies to help children minimise their risk of being bitten by dogs. The program, which is open to all primary schools, for students in kindergarten to year 2, is in response to the alarming rates of dog attacks on children throughout NSW.
