Written by: St.George Leader 12/09/2002 - By Paul Ellercamp
Source: R2K

Kogarah Council is to formally approach Hurstville & Rockdale 
councils asking them each to contribute $50,000 to the campaign to 
get the St.George-Illawarra Dragons back to Jubilee Oval.

But in what's described as "an oversight", Kogarah has
not put any money into the campaign itself.

The oversight has brought to a head a simmering issue amongst 
Kogarah, Rockdale and Hurstville councils which threatens to 
undermine the regional approach the councils have taken to the 
Dragons campaign.

Sources at both Rockdale and Hurstville feel they are being locked 
out of influence in the Dragons campaign.

They say they have not been included in key meetings and were left 
out of the media launch last week when the Dragons formally announce 
their return to Kogarah.

The first time that Rockdale mayor, Shaoquett Moselmane, knew of the 
launch was when he saw Kogarah mayor Jim Taylor on TV.

Hurstville Council is believed to have learnt of the launch the night 
before.

But neither council was invited along, nor was included in meetings 
with the St.George Leagues Club where the club's $400,000
guarantee of the fund-raising campaign was discussed.

Now Rockdale and Hurstville are being asked for money while Kogarah 
has put none into the campaign itself.

Rockdale mayor Moselmane said yesterday : "Kogarah Council itself 
should show leadership on this issue. They should be more inclusive. 
They should put their money where their mouth is."

Rockdale Council has voted $7,000 to support a fundraising co-
ordinator, but has left the issue of donating to the campaign proper 
until later.

Hurstville council has twice deferred the issue, awaiting more 
information.

Hurstville mayor Badalati said yesterday: "When the letter comes
in, our council will consider it".

While Kogarah Council voted $20,000 last Monday night to support a 
fund-raising co-ordinator to raise the needed $400,000, there was no 
contribution to the campaign.

Kogarah mayor Jim Taylor described this yesterday as "an
oversight". He thought the issue had been covered in a previous 
council resolution.

But none of the resolutions passed at Kogarah so far authorise any 
contribution to the campaign.

Mayor Taylor would not say when the "oversight" would be
rectified.

When the issue was raised at last Monday's Kogarah Council
meeting, Cr Sam Witheridge (Lib) suggested that approaches to 
Hurstville and Rockdale should be written into the resolution.

In the end, a new point was added to the resolution, that Kogarah 
write to Rockdale and Hurstville asking them to match the Leagues 
Club's contribution of $50,000.

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