[dropcap]R[/dropcap]ecently retired Campbelltown Council officer Jim Greiss ended up with 16 years of service to United Services Union, four short of the requirement for life membership honours.
However Jim, who was the union delegate for Campbelltown Council and also served as president of the metropolitan salary officers branch, did receive life membership from none other than Graeme Kelly, the general secretary of the union (pictured).
According to someone who would know, veteran councillor Paul Lake, Jim was held in such high regard by the union members and the executive, they passed a special resolution to be able to confer life membership honour on him.
The big man worked with council for 20 years, including serving as the manager of the Animal Care Facility in Rose Street, before calling it a day this year.
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At last week’s 21st birthday celebrations of Sleeping Giant, Josh Morrison, son of owners Warren and Sue Morrison, got a big cheer when his father announced the 18 year old had successfully done his driver’s licence test earlier in the day.
Getting your licence doesn’t sound like much of an achievement, but young Josh did the driving test during last Wednesday’s big wet, so he deserves a little recognition for getting through such an ordeal under very difficult circumstances.
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Frank Ward will turn 90 next year but the former real estate man and one time councillor is as active as ever.
Last week he drove down from Shoal Bay, where he moved to a few years ago, and spent a few days in Campbelltown catching up with old friends.
He told me he had popped in at the council to enquire about a historic photo of the very first group of aldermen in Campbelltown way back in 1882.
One of his direct ancestors, Charles Bull, was in the photo, but, alas, a search failed to retrieve it from storage.
Frank told me that while waiting at the council the general manager, Lindy Deitz, very kindly got involved in trying to find the photo.
“She was really helpful and I hope they keep trying to find the photo so it can be used in some way as part of Campbelltown’s 200th birthday in 2020, the bicentennial,’’ Frank said.
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Last year Campbelltown Liberal councillor George Greiss became a father for the first time.
Now another councillor is about to join him – Ben Moroney’s partner is expecting the couple’s first child next year.
In the previous term, Campbelltown had one of the oldest councils in NSW but it looks like the age scales have tipped the other way since the last election two and a half years ago.
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The Oaks show jumping rider Sophie Hatch, 16, has had a year she will never forget.
Not only did she win the 2018 Princess Cup in Thailand, she was presented with the trophy by her royal highness the Princess of Thailand.
Our Sophie, pictured, beat some of the bes riders from other countries, including Iran, Japan and Indonesia, for the borrowed horse event held in late November.
She rode Royal De Moens, an Indian horse.
“It was such a great honour to represent Australia at the Princess Cup in Thailand,” said Sophie, who was selected by Equestrian Australia to be one of three Aussies to compete in Thailand.
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Ingleburn Rotary club stalwart Jan Domanski has just picked up not one but two awards for his volunteering efforts in the local community.
His first was an Australian Government volunteers award presented to him by MP Dr Mike Freelander.
The second a few days later was at Wests Leagues Club where Jan received a NSW Education Department principals’ network award for outstanding achievement in the role of community member.
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There’s currently a lively debate on social media about the Western Suburbs Magpies returning to the NRL as the Macarthur Magpies.
The robust discussion was sparked by a petition pushing for NRL status for the Maggies and a quick look this morning produced the usual result of most people in the sensible centre, but plenty of people in either the “all’’ or “nothing’’ edges.
One place they won’t be enjoying the focus on the Magpies is the Wests Ashfield board room, which apparently is content with the status quo.
