Mother seeks clarification
I AM the mother of two children that you did a story on in last the Weekender (The Standard, June 25) under the headline, Childhood Scars Remain.
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First off there were only five children, not seven as stated. The children were taken by the police from my home in Frankston. We were taken to the Children’s Court in Melbourne. The magistrate stated the children were to be put into care. They were taken from the court and I was not allowed to say goodbye to them.
They were put into Alambi Children’s Home. I used to travel from Melbourne to see them every weekend. When the children were put into Ballarat Children’s Home, there was never a weekend that I was never there to see them. I never had transport at the time so my boss used to lend me his car to go to Ballarat to see my children. I had never seen Vicki with any bruises on any part of her body at any time.
I can’t go on writing as the memories are too hard. You can believe who you want.
Name withheld
Cash considerations
I WRITE to ask the Member for Wannon for clarification on the following.
It has been suggested that the bombs that we drop on Syria are purchased from the USA for between $50,000 and $650,000 each.
The cost incurred for each refugee imprisoned on Nauru or Manus Island is in excess of $400,000 per year. The cost to resettle a refugee in Australia is under $35,000.
Approximately seven per cent of immigrants into Australia each year are refugees. With a net population increase exceeding 1000 per day the refugee numbers become insignificant, except for them. So at a glance, our money could be better spent.
Andy Pettingill, Gorae West
Brexit’s interesting times
I HATE to say I told you so. I remember only saying a few weeks ago about how this change in the European market is something we should be watching. I remember the response: "What’s it got to do with us over here?”
I think that question has been answered. Billions wiped off shares, and superannuation funds struggling to distance themselves from all things British.
So the Scottish Nationalists want to step forward and claim that another referendum on Scotland’s independence is in order because when the initial vote took place the people of Scotland did not realise that Britain, as a whole, would leave Europe. Their intent is to regroup, re-vote, leave Britain and rejoin Europe as an independent country. If Scotland rejoins Europe they will need to have a passport to enter England and Northern Ireland.
Even worse is the loony Londoners who want their city to leave Britain and rejoin Europe as an independent city. I wonder if this is a ploy to throw up smoke and divert attention away from Scotland’s plan to devolve. In any case there seems to be a few tail feathers chewed off and many a political peacock will be grounded in Britain looking at their former offices in the EU.
There will be interesting months ahead.
David MacPhail, Warrnambool
Technology we deserve
AFTER the election, we are supposed to have the government we deserve. But will we all have the National Broadband Network (NBN) we deserve? High-speed internet has a crucial economic and social role creating opportunities and, through developments such as virtual classrooms and e-medicine, addressing the disadvantage experienced in many regional areas such as the south-west.
Unfortunately our local member Dan Tehan and his Liberal Party colleagues have diminished the project, so that the fibre-optic cable ends at the street corner (fibre to the node), with Telstra’s decades old copper cables left for the last few metres to individual homes and businesses. It is an inferior product compared to the original fibre-to-the-premises plan and will need costly replacement in the near future.
Rather than wasting billions of dollars doing the job twice I suggest that as many premises as possible have fibre to the premises installed. Mr Tehan and households who vote for the Liberal and National parties could have their modems configured so they only receive the slower fibre-to-the-node speeds. Of course, they would be charged the same for this inferior service. But billions of dollars would be saved. Then even if we don’t get the government we deserve, everybody would get the NBN they deserve.
Peter Martina, Warrnambool
Language matters
WE ARE writing to register our concern regarding the reporting of commentary relating to the attack on June 19 which has ended in the death of a woman in Port Fairy.
The article in question (on The Standard’s website) included a quote which implied a history of family violence, and the observation that the victim was, “Not usually very helpful”. The publication of this statement is of concern, as it suggests that the victim of a terrible attack was in some way to blame for the violence committed against her, by her previous unwillingness to assist police.
There are legitimate and substantive reasons why a woman may choose not to cooperate in the investigation of a family violence incident. These reasons – none more compelling than a genuine fear for her own life and the lives of those around her – are sufficient to warrant sensitivity and diligence in their reporting.
The most dangerous time for a woman who is experiencing family violence is when she leaves or tries to leave. The choice to stay does not mean that a woman is content with her situation, or that she accepts and invites violence. She may be financially unable to leave. She may have experienced threats against her children, family or pets.
It is simply not for those outside a relationship of sustained violence and intimidation to judge the actions of those who experience it, any more than we would judge a young man “king hit” on the street.
Victim blaming comments like these, may make it less likely for women to seek assistance if they believe that those who could assist hold women at least partially responsible for the violence they experience.
We all share a responsibility – none more so than the media – not to reinforce dangerous myths associated with family violence.
Sue Walpole, chairwoman and Emily Lee-Ack, executive officer, Women’s Health and Wellbeing Barwon South West
Recognising NAIDOC week
NAIDOC Week takes place from July 5 to 12. It is a time to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It also provides an opportunity to shed light on one of most significant issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples – homelessness.
Aboriginal people are significantly over-represented at the Inner West Youth Homelessness service, making up 17.8 per cent of our young people. Australia-wide, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 23 per cent of those accessing specialist homelessness services, but only make up 2.5 per cent of the population.
Youth Off The Streets recognises the importance of this issue, that is why we developed our #laceitup campaign, which aims to raise funds and awareness for both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal homeless young people in Australia.
The campaign draws on the idea that not everyone has the privilege to untie their shoes of a night; some young people have to keep them on in order to flee from danger at a moment’s notice. By getting the community to get involved in campaigns like these during NAIDOC week, we are not only helping to raise the public’s consciousness about youth homelessness, but we are also raising awareness to the over-representation of Aboriginal young people in this issue.
NAIDOC Week is a perfect opportunity for all Australians to get involved in Aboriginal issues because unfortunately, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are over-represented in many of our services. Our goal is to bring these numbers down, but we need communities to get behind this if we are to make it a reality. This NAIDOC Week I encourage everyone to get involved and participate in the celebrations and activities that are taking place across Australia. It is important to get involved and show your support.
For more information about NAIDOC Week and to find an event near you, please visit www.naidoc.org.au and to get involved you can visit www.laceitup.com.au to learn more about our #laceitup campaign.
Father Chris Riley, CEO and Founder at Youth Off The Streets