Kiama, Australia News

Three people were rescued from a rip south of Seven Mile Beach yesterday morning.

With a stellar career tipped for 2010, Mt Warrigal girl turned national celebrity Natalie Bassingthwaighte has been taking stock during a sojourn in the Illawarra.

An Illawarra pilgrimage to Rome is expected for the canonisation of Mother Mary MacKillop, Australia's first saint.

A creditors' meeting held to determine the $3.4 million debt of a Kiama company ended dramatically last night with replacement of the appointed administrator.

The Illawarra's unemployment rate dipped below 10 per cent last month but was still well above the national average, according to figures just released.

Fore the interest of Kiama,

How will Copenhagen work, how much will it cost, and why is there so much unhappiness with the outcome? Louise Gray, UK Telegraph environment correspondent, in Copenhagen What has the world signed up to? For the first time the world has agreed that the global temperature rise must be kept below 2C to avoid catastrophic climate ...

Also here is the draft text in full http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/2009/cop15/eng/l07.pdf and a full transcript and video of Obama's Copehangen speech http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20091218/obamas-copenhagen-speech-video-transcript.htm http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9SSb-1XOLU&feature=player_embedded

After watching the preview screening of James Cameron's 3D epic fantasy "Avatar" at Greater Union cinemas at Shellharbour on Wednesday 17th December, 2009, I am moved to write a review of the game and the film.

It is quite simply a generational breakthrough

While the mechanics of movement in the Xbox 360 game are quite clunky at times and with the opportunity to create a alien culture on Pandora, Cameron went for space elves, these are small criticisms of an epic with a theme very apt for our times ( you know, climate change). It brings together all the themes Cameron (who has not directed anther film for 14 years, since Titanic) has followed in his previous films, in the idea that on Earth, our World Spirit Gaea is dead, and on a new world Pandora, humans take their civilization of metal and exploitation to a new world and end up in the fight of their lives with the alien world spirit Ertya despite the many cool military toys the mercenaries have. It catches the major themes of modern times the clash between the different value systems of imperialism and biodiversity. Australian Sam Worthingon's performance as ex-Marine Recon paraplegic Jake Sully who replaces his dead brother in the Avatar program,(remote bonding inside a alien Naa-vi body, exultng in his new legs)on behalf of evil corporation RDA is low-key and overwhelmed, which grounds the audience is the reality of how exhausting such a world would be like, and show up the passion for life in the Naa'vi so well expressed in the love interest Zoe Saldaña as Neytiri who is the most likely to win a Oscar for acting in this film. However it is the environment, and the 3D, which really makes this film a new experience. You see, and hear the blast waves coming at you. Bullets are seen, and hear whizzing over your shoulder.

Receiving a high ATAR is an achievement for any student, but for Elly Unicomb, who suffers from profound hearing loss, success is particularly sweet.

Live sea urchin dish at Hugos Manly by chef Massimo Mele. Photo: Marco del Grande Olivia Riordan and Lissa Christopher December 15, 2009 Afew courageous chefs, the discovery of great local product and diners' willingness to try novel foods have combined to bring a strange-looking creature off the sea floor and into Sydney's fine dining venues.

Christmas came from Kiama and Started Woolworths! Woolworths was started in Sydney, December 6th, 1924 by Percy Christmas, who was born in Kiama and son of the local Bank manager, Robert Christmas, and his wife Mary Caroline King.

Former Wollongong City Council general manager Rod Oxley's role as director of Southern Phone Company is being challenged by councils who are shareholders of the company.

Spare a thought tonight for heroic Jamberoo nipper Jhy McFarlane, who is recovering in a Sydney hospital after a horrific boating accident.

One of five men who violently robbed three elderly women at Dapto last year has been sentenced to a minimum 18 months in jail.

Time is running out for Illawarra mums and dads keen to avoid a big parking headache.

Hand-picked: Ms Keneally says she will make decisions on merit. New South Wales Premier Kristina Keneally will spend today talking to her colleagues about who will be on her new frontbench.

"The sacked minister Matt Brown moved the spill motion and another dumped minister, Tony Stewart, seconded it."

Here is Nathan Rees historical puppet speech, a political hand grenade when he realised he had no hope of retaining the NSW ALP leadership in full. http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/brought-down-by-malign-and-disloyal-group-rees-20091203-k787.html

and a Liberal attack ad on Youtube using this speech, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsZi3ssUi2U

Don't worry, Woollongong - the Yellow Pages have got you covered. But apparently their spell-checker has not.

Minnamurra River - less than 30 minutes drive from Wollongong CBD. Commonly described as 'paradise' by locals and visitors alike, the Minnamurra River is a stunning environment to meet new people with QuickConnections.

http://www.quickconnections.com.au/

Three Illawarra MPs have played a leading role in a move against embattled NSW Premier Nathan Rees, who will face a leadership spill this evening.

The Illawarra is lagging behind major regional cities and the rest of the nation on job creation, a regional leaders summit has been told.