It was one of the best ever speeches delivered at a Campbelltown Council meeting in recent times but it wasn’t by one of the 15 councillors. Accepting a community service award, Aboriginal elder Uncle Ivan Wellington made a speech so eloquent he had the media representatives wishing he was an elected councillor so he could do it on a regular basis. Uncle Ivan spoke of how life is a journey, how we are all the same and, finally, the joy of helping others, especially young people in trouble.
♦ The oldest councillor in the chamber, Wal Glynn, was one of many who praised Uncle Ivan before he was handed his community service award. But Cr Glyn also injected some humour in the proceedings when he described Uncle Ivan’s golfing style – or lack of it: “He plays army style,’’ Cr Glynn said. “Left, right, left, right.’’
♦ And belated congratulations to Cr Glynn on celebrating 60 years of marriage.
♦ The unedifying brawling among the Liberals on Liverpool Council has now spilled over into Facebook with claims and counter claims. One councillor has accused another of abusing their Facebook friends, and there’s posts criticising each other in a not very subtle way. It doesn’t augur well for their election chances next September, while their Labor opponents will be sitting in the wings waiting to pounce, if not exactly cracking open the bubbly.
♦ Still on Liverpool, a little bird told me that the attacks on Liverpool Mayor, Ned Mannoun, are far from over. This person told me that he supplied some of the information that formed the basis of an attack in parliament last week by Shooters MP Robert Borsak. “There’s a lot more from where that came from,’’ I was told.
♦ On a more positive note, reliable sources have told me that Liverpool’s willing to support a new outer suburban sport and entertainment stadium anywhere in south west Sydney. It doesn’t mean that all of a sudden Liverpool and the Macarthur councils like Campbelltown are working together to get Premier Mike Baird to build the facility here but it’s a start. The truth is of course that the south west would have a better chance of getting this multi-million dollar boost if it was united in its efforts.
♦ Further south, at the always interesting Camden Council, last week Liberal Party Councillor Lara Symkowiak was re-elected Mayor of Camden for the fourth consecutive term with Cr Peter Sidgreaves elected Deputy Mayor for the second time. What will really be interesting is to see how Camden fares when council amalgamations are announced? Any bets Camden will be swallowed up by Campbelltown? Camden is building a new headquarters at Oran Park but that won’t worry the State Government in making decisions on reducing the ludicrous number of councils across the Sydney metro area.
♦ Good to see the Wests Tigers finally starting to look at things long term. In announcing that in 2016 the club will play four home games at ANZ Stadium, four at Campbelltown Sports Stadium and four at Leichhardt Oval, it stressed that next year, “we’ll work closely with our council and stadium partners to develop a long term plan that’s in the best interest of the club and all of our stakeholders.’’ And not before time, would say most of the club’s fans.
♦ Still on the mighty Wests Tigers, their very popular annual grand final luncheon will be held on Friday, October 2 at Doltone House, Darling Island Wharf. To get your tickets call the club legend John Skandalis on 8741 3300 or email sponsorship @weststigers.com.au
