But who could begrudge those who sat up, bleary-eyed into the wee small hours of yesterday morning to watch Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal slug it out in a titanic Australian Open tennis final?

It was one of the greatest sporting contests witnessed in this country. For almost six hours the fortunes of the world’s top two players ebbed and flowed in stifling heat until Djokovic prevailed 5-7 6-4 6-2 6-7 (7-5) 7-5.

It was a display of courage, extraordinary skill, athleticism and sportsmanship we are unlikely to witness again for many years.

And another thing ...

Sometimes the most vulnerable youngsters in our society end up before the courts with the likelihood of spending time in detention.

Many of them are kids who for one reason or another have strayed towards drugs and alcohol and are in need of help and rehabilitation.

So the move by Wollongong’s Community Drug Action Team to develop a specialist rehabilitation program to keep them out of the detention system is highly commendable.