Strike To Curb Fun At Camps

Illawarra Mercury

Saturday August 23, 2003

ABSEILING will be out and canoeing is to be canned - sorry, school students, but your camp counsellors are cranky.

The state's 60 sport and recreation program officers, the people who put the adventure into school camps, are gearing up to go on strike.

For 24 hours on Monday, the 11 NSW school camp centres will be without outdoor activities, Public Sector Association (PSA) industrial officer Anthony D'Adam said.

``We've been in touch with the schools and a lot of them are deferring their attendance for a day," Mr D'Adam said.

``Because of scheduling difficulties some schools are still coming in and they'll be looked after, there will be people there to cook their meals and things, but it affects the delivery of the outdoor program, the fun stuff."

Archery, abseiling, canoeing, caving and more will be off the agenda while the officers protest against a Department of Sport and Recreation plan the PSA said would cut back their salaries and leave entitlements.