IPSWICH'S dream to have an NRL team to follow in 2013 is on life support

NRL bid wants to kick off in 2013

IPSWICH'S dream to have an NRL team to follow in 2013 is on life support after expansion plans were dealt a blow by comments from NRL CEO David Gallop.

Gallop sent shockwaves through the seven prospective NRL bids when he said on ABC Radio over the weekend that he thought “we would get to 18 teams by 2015”.

“It might come earlier, but we should be giving our existing clubs a couple of years of new television money to get themselves stable before we introduce new teams into the competition,” Gallop said.

Western Corridor NRL bid chairman Steve Johnson said that the Ipswich bid would prefer a 2013 start and that it would be ready if early expansion was given the green light.

“We can be ready to go tomorrow – subject to getting a football side together,” Johnson said.

“The way our financial model works, the sooner you are on the field the better off you are.

“The 12-month lead-in costs are quite substantial ... so we'd actually prefer a heartbeat lead-in time so we can jump on the field.

“We are disappointed for the Western Corridor if it is going to be delayed because we believe there is a market out there now for a side. But as far as our planning goes it doesn't affect us.

“If expansion comes in 2015 then we will be ready for it.”

Franchises planning to come into the game include Western Corridor, Perth, Wellington, Central Coast, Central Queensland, Brisbane and Papua New Guinea.

Johnson said that if 2014 was the compromise expansion date, the Corridor bid would be ready.

“We have a stadium ready to roll,” he said.

“We have a football club infrastructure.

“We have got our juniors in place. We have got our second-tier clubs in place.

“We are just stepping up one level.

“Whether we start in 2013, 2014 or 2015 – we don't have to reinvent the wheel.”

The Legends of Las Vegas - Issi Dye

Veteran performer Issi Dye will join with Queensland awardwinning cabaret artist Susie Jay to bring to life the voices of Las Vegas. The show pays tribute to the amazing superstar entertainers Dolly Parton, Liza Minelli, Bobby Darin, Frank Sinatra and Marilyn Monroe.

Audience members will hear all their classic hit songs including 9 to 5, Islands In The Stream, Dreamlover, Things, Splish Splash, New York New York, Cabaret and Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend. Issi Dye has been a household name in Australian entertainment for more than 35 years. He has performed thousands of concerts and cabaret shows, and appeared on countless television programs.

He toured with Roy Orbison, The Beach Boys, The Everly Brothers, The Platters, Ray Charles and The Supremes during the 1970s and also shared the stage with Australian music legends John Farnham, Lonnie Lee, Johnny O’Keefe, Russell Morris and Masters Apprentice. Susie Jay has charmed audiences with her bubbly personality, warm witty patter and exuberant energy since entering the music industry at the age of 14.

Learning her craft in cabaret, vaudeville and theatre productions across Adelaide, Susie has raised her profile to be Adelaide’s number one female performer. The talented singer recently starred in Tom Jones and the Divas as one of the divas. Susie has also performed with Matt Munroe, the Drifters and The Platters, and starred in Susie Jay and the Sensational Swing Sisters.

Find and book Nearby Accommodation at Metro Hotel Ipswich International

Mayor Paul Pisasales's Help Ipswich Recover Golf Day

Help Ipswich Recover with Mayor Paul Pisasales's Golf Day

See below for information and a printable registration form.

Shop Ipswich - New Ipswich Campaign

A campaign encouraging residents to spend locally is gathering momentum within Ipswich.

Shop Ipswich – created through a partnership between Ipswich City Council, Ipswich

Chamber of Commerce, Business Enterprise Centre Ipswich Region and local media outlets – was designed as a consumer and business confidence-building campaign, running over 12 weeks.

After the January flood, Shop Ipswich highlights how buying local can have a powerful and immediate impact on the city’s economy and business recovery. Every dollar spent at one business is spent again seven times in the city, with business using the cash flow to purchase stock or services from other Ipswich businesses, or pay staff who will go on to spend their money in Ipswich.

Shop Ipswich aims to create opportunities within the city, supporting and promoting businesses that were affected by the flood or are supplied with stock or services by affected businesses.

The campaign was launched in early February, with Shop Ipswich merchandise including shirts and stickers, visible around town. Visit http://www.ipswichchamber.org.au/shopipswich