BREAKING NEWS

FOOLISHNESS AND CORPORATE CITIZENSHIP

From around the traps:

Some time ago, the university rowing club in Launceston was almost non-existent and UTAS shut it down in the end. North Esk RC absorbed their members. But as we know, there's been a strange revival with the talk of a 'rowing precinct' near North Esk club (NERC) and St Pat's boat sheds and their pontoons. All sneakily organised behind the scenes between LCC and Rowing Tasmania, a body seriously disliked and despised by the clubs around the state. But there was no mention of Utas at that stage. Well we all knew there would be a link somewhere, just a matter of where and when - well here is!!

The issue at the moment is that UTAS is trying to steal elite and Div 1 and 2 rowers who are studying through UTAS from NERC and Tamar. They’ve been offered free memberships, free race fees AND all expenses paid when travel for regattas - including interstate. There is NO WAY the clubs can compete with that. Which raises 2 questions: is it anti competitive behaviour and within ACCC and are UTAS rowing South or other UTAS sports reps / teams being offered same?" (received message 2 October)

So just what is Utas up to in the rowing area in the north? Yes, UTAS is building a rowing club and buying sculls at a ? price.

And according to the Tas Uni Boat Club (TUBC) Face Book page:- "providing rowing opportunities for the University’s Northern and Southern campuses. TUBC is a boat club located at New Town Bay Rowing Centre in Hobart and in the near future the Launceston Rowing precinct. The club caters for all age groups, from junior rowers to masters and for all levels of experience. TUBC is affiliated with the University of Tasmania".

So that's a link between LCC and the rowing precinct plan and UTAS! Nothing to do with the wishes of existing clubs or community, or any benefit to rowing. And obviously no consideration has been given to the boat congestion etc at and around the pontoons between the Charles St bridge and the pedestrian bridge.

What Fools!

ALBERT SAYS ALL THAT WAS OLD IS NEW AGAIN ... PERHAPS

It will all be a blur soon enough

Mayor Albert and his merry band had their Teflon coating severely damaged as the second half of their votes rolled in to Electoral Commission's York Park counting centre. Early on it all looked hunky-dory with minor collateral damage.

However, after the 50% mark in the count the Teflon showed serious signs of wear and tear with the weak spots really starting to show.

Mayor Albert's tussle with Alderman Janie was fast and furious from the get go despite Alderman Janie's impassioned assertions that she was the woman for the job. However, just getting too few votes to get a second chance to prove it was her problem.

Apparently Lonnie's voters have quite long memories and long enough have enough of what it takes recognise 'schtick' for what it is even when it is dressed up as heartfelt, deep and meaningful rhetoric. But there we go, the people have spoken!

Mayor Albert and what's left of his merry band of reliable and compliant henchmen have been off to the repair shop for a bit of a spruce-up and a Teflon respray. With a little walk in the park to refresh his vision Mayor Albert with an adjustment or two he was off to his spin-doctors at Town Hall to pick up his media repair kit. A tuck here, a pleat there, a new bobble over there and off we go to the in the political blue suit with today's blue shirt and stripy tie. No hard hat and high-vis required today. All dusted down out comes the vision almost everything is as good as it was just a little while ago.

Since its a four year term now, and a brand new one too, memories are fading quite quickly and as for aspirations, well they can be rejigged around fading memories plus some new and retouched perceptions. Of we go to do it as we always did again.

So Mayor Albert has strutted his stuff, hinted at enough of this or that to get him out of trouble, hopefully, down the track. It's also been early enough before the upcoming Council Installation for the air to clear and for the new members to become awe inspired enough to roll over on command for a tummy tickle.

Life is actually fantastic and really really simple.

Any time you want a bit of a look back here are some useful links

• Southern Cross News ... 6 minutes in ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGmLQR43Hjw
• Examiner Nov 7 2018  CLICK HERE

Launceston's TEAMteflon remains after all... How? ... Why?

With the election outcome still in limbo it is a bit of a surprise that the 'good ship TOWNhall' is springing a leak and again, surprise, surprise. It is essentially to do with rumours, concerning rumours, to do with accountability and transparency.

Just as a new council is struggling to find out who it is, and who'll be in it, a darkish shadow from the past lingers on.

That along with implications of an evolving cargo cultish 'spend away culture' that exercised a significant number of aspiring election candidates with change on their minds fills the air with the smell of rotting integrity.

It seems that one of Hitler's observation finds an exemplary illustration in Launceston. When he pointed out that “if you tell a big enough lie and tell it frequently enough, it will be believed” is clearly 'on the money' as it were.

Leaking out of Town Hall today are rumours – albeit yet to be smoothed over rumours – that the contractors involved in the city's 'civic works' are in receipt of "extra payments" that are being characterised as bonuses and a range of other characterisations – one or two not so 'nice'. This is somewhat unfortunate. On the other hand a Council engaged with its constituency would be less likely to be the 'victims' of such rumour mongering, or truth telling, whichever it happens to be. 

Yet, how would a hapless bystander ever discover the evidence to even begin to tell what's what in Launceston?

'Trust us, we are your Council' is highly unlikely to run in Launceston. Nonetheless, the characterisation of the elected representatives and the operation wing being TEAMteflon is gaining currency and it is entirely understandable. In the context that 'nothing sticks' – muck, credibility, nothing – rumours/theories/speculations, that  'get a life' for whatever reason at Launceston's Town Hall seem to be able to rely upon 'teflon like clean ability' – and always!

Before the the 'election process' got into full swing Geoff Smedley wrote to The Examiner essentially saying that Launceston 'needed an inquiry before an election'. Well the election went ahead but the case for an inquiry is as viable as it ever was – possibly even more so if accountability and transparency are issues to be dealt with. 

So much for progressing prudently!

Ray Norman Nov 2 2018