COMMISSION MUST RECONSIDER DECISION FOR SAKE OF the VICTIMS
As Headmaster of St Patrick’s College I would like to join the victims and survivors of child sexual
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abuse in questioning the decision to hold the November sitting of the Royal Commission into
Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in Melbourne and not in Ballarat.
In recent months I have had the privilege to work closely with several victims and survivors and
believe we have made significant progress in building solid relationships for the future.
At a time when these brave men will endure significant stress, they should not be forced to worry
further about logistical matters such as commuting, parking, accommodation etc. The Royal
Commission should come to them.
In addition, the offences in question were committed in Ballarat. Many victims and survivors still live
in Ballarat. The first round of hearings was heard in Ballarat and it is the Ballarat community that will
have the ultimate responsibility to continue to support these men after the Royal Commission has
completed its work.
It is with their welfare in mind that I ask the Royal Commission to reconsider its decision.
John Crowley
HEADMASTER
St Patrick’s College.
multiple trail opportunities missed
Both the Ballarat Council and Ballarat Tourism have so far neglected to take the opportunity to develop and promote our district tracks and trails as an ongoing source of revenue from visitors, as well as a healthy activity for local walkers and cyclists.
The existing Yarrowee Trail which goes through the city, the Wallaby Track which also goes through the city linking Ballarat North and Mount Buninyong, the Skipton Railtrail - a well constructed asset, the Rainbow bird trail, the Buninyong circuit, the Eureka walk and other local walks and rides, could be effectively promoted creating a steady flow of visitors throughout the year, bringing in more income than expensive one day entertainment events.
Additional walks and rides could be added at a modest cost.There is a tremendous opportunity to make Ballarat, and in particular, as part of our city - Buninyong - the regional centre for walking and cycling if our civic leaders showed some imagination and foresight.
Patrick Hope
Buninyong
How can we be so backward
At the same time the U.S. Obama administration is introducing new clean power plans to help curb emissions in the face of climate change, our own senate committee has just announced it will propose further penalising clean energy in the form of wind power by putting in place new noise standards. Talk about a fiasco!
The committees report (ignored by the Greens who saw it as akin to examining how to curb alien abductions) has been rightly labelled as reckless, ridiculous and irresponsible.
The attack on renewable energy is shameful and the liberal and cross bench senators who have crafted this report now find themselves at odds with the science, the church, the international community and major parts of the business community. It begs the question, who are these senators, including our local senator John Madigan, listening to when it comes to addressing climate change and the necessary reduction in fossil fuel use?
Rod May
Blampied