Keith Wheely Busy On Recycled Cycle
Illawarra Mercury
Thursday August 17, 2000
When Keith McKay, 68, was asked the secret to perfecting the tricky art of one-wheel bike riding his response was straight from a sportswear advertisement.
``You just do it," he said, with a smile.
``There is no particular skill or secret."
Mr McKay, a former marine engineer, has proved the old saying ``you can't teach an old dog new tricks" is completely untrue.
Three years ago the retiree built himself a unicycle using spare bike parts he had stored in his backyard shed.
He decided to take up unicycling after seeing a unicycle hockey match at a Kiama street fair.
``I had a lot of bike parts at home and I thought I could easily make one," he said.
``It took months to build and months to perfect riding it. But there is no secret to it, it comes to you in time, you just have to practice."
And practice he does. For the past three years he has spent every morning (except Saturdays) attempting to perfect the art of unicycle riding at Coniston soccer oval.
Saturdays he steers clear of the ground because soccer matches are played there, but every other morning he can be seen riding his one-wheeler.
***
Reporters staying in the Olympic media village at Lidcombe can only drink a certain brand of soft drink, pay for it using a particular credit card and tune in to payTV.
The only free-to-air channel available to the media is Seven, the official Games network.
While the newshounds can switch on Showtime, watch all- night music videos, the Discovery channel, BBC and CNN, they cannot access channels Nine, Ten or ABC.
What, no SeaChange? That's right folks.
Not only that - many will not be able to access their own network's nightly news bulletins!
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A Corrimal man's wife phoned him at work but he was away from his desk so a colleague took the call. When he returned to his desk he was told his wife had just called. ``Who?" came the baffled response.
``Umm ... your wife," said the stunned colleague.
``Which one?" he asked with his tongue firmly in his cheek (at least the message bearer hoped he was joking).
***
Up to 20,000 shopping trolleys had been abandoned around NSW each year forcing a rise in prices, the Australian Retailers Association said.
A revised code of practice for the management of shopping trolleys was launched yesterday by Local Government Minister Harry Woods.
Under the code, supermarkets will be required to make instore announcements about returning trolleys and ensure sufficient services are provided for the collection and return of trolleys.
``We estimate the collection and replacement of trolleys is costing industry about $150 million a year," Retailers Association executive director Bill Healey said.
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© 2000 Illawarra Mercury
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