Interest rate genie on the rise

THE Treasurer, Wayne Swan, has been playing down the strength of the economic recovery before the publication tomorrow of growth figures that could prompt the Reserve Bank to start increasing interest rates.

Pub Crawl Ends In A Mad Rush Of Donations

THE final tally from the Santa Claus Pub Crawl through Wollongong is in, with gifts valued at more than $40,000 donated for the Salvation Army.

Knights Celebrate With Party

EVEN Santa Claus made an appearance as the Knights celebrated the end of their first block of pre-season training with a Christmas party and barbecue at Nobbys Surf Club yesterday.

Holley Full Of Cheer Ahead Of Ocean Classic

NEWCASTLE sailor Jim Holley gets excited every December and it is not because Santa Claus comes to town.

It's A Ho-ho Showdown

FUNDAMENTALIST Santa Claus followers have called on parents to tell their children the truth about climate change and embrace a more commercial Christmas this year. "Climate change is made up; Santa is real," said a member of the al-Santa Revolutionary Guard in a video message released to the world's media last week. "So get spending - or else."

Of Course Santa Claus Really Exists - But Some People Will Never Be Convinced

NO, VIRGINIA, there isn't a Santa Claus.

Pub Tour Offers A Claus To Celebrate

IF climbing up and down chimneys during a shift where time stands still doesn't make you thirsty for a cold one, nothing will.

Santa's Crawl Great Gift

SANTA Claus Pub Crawl organiser Neil Webster says the event's Facebook site has more than 1700 people indicating they will take part in the event this year.

Santa Visits Place Without A Postcode

FOR children of one of Australia's poorest and most remote communities, Santa Claus wears a pilot's uniform and arrives in a plane.

Santa's Horsing Around

THERE'S no need to blame that early Christmas tipple or dodgy specs, Santa Claus really did drop in to the Illawarra on Wednesday.

Girl Sees Brave Dad Attacked

A SIX-YEAR-OLD girl from Bar Beach was robbed while attempting to post a letter to Santa Claus and her father was bashed in front of her when he confronted a group of youths.

A Scrooge Performance, By Public Demand

Investors should not expect much from next week's federal budget. The clear message from the Treasurer, Wayne Swan, is that he will be more of a Scrooge than a Santa Claus - at least for his maiden run.

That's The Spirit, 'bigger Than Harry Potter' Right Now

UNDER the shadow of Melbourne's biggest Christmas tree sits the city's most resplendent Santa Claus. This show comes round once a year, so he takes pride in looking the part, from his polished black boots to the grey dye in his eyebrows.

Pity Poor Suri, A Stranger To Santa Claus

IT'S enough to bring you to tears. This week's New Idea breaks the heart-wrenching news of a Santa ban in the Cruise household.

Sizzle And Swim At Surf Club

NORTH Wollongong Surf Life Saving Club's annual Christmas swim is on at 10am at North Beach tomorrow. "We run a handicap system from nippers through to grand-dads and every entrant has a chance to win a hamper," said North Wollongong SLSC club captain John Wren. Besides having a refreshing swim and the enjoyment and tingle that brings, there will be plenty of Christmas activities on offer. Santa Claus will be making a guest appearance and a sausage sizzle and Christmas cheer will be available. ...

Papa's Little Christmas Get-out Claus

It's a dangerous world out there, dear children.

All We Want For Xmas

WOLLONGONG tourism chief Jim Eddy yesterday called on Premier Morris Iemma to play Santa Claus and dispense some extra infrastructure goodies to the region from his bulging $15 billion energy sell-off sack.

F6 And Rail Link Top Our Wish List

WOLLONGONG tourism chief Jim Eddy yesterday called on Premier Morris to play Santa Claus and dispense some extra infrastructure goodies to the region from his bulging $15 billion energy sell-off sack.

Even Santa Claus

Even Santa Claus can fall victim to the silly season. Polish police are searching for a suspect who robbed a village grocery disguised as Santa Claus.

Mission Impossible?

BEN Cousins' chaperone. Tony Mokbel's image consultant. Santa Claus. All could lay claims to having the world's most demanding job at present. But in terms of the sheer enormity of the challenge confronting them, that trio would graciously defer to the assignment recently accepted by John Dyson.