Sadly though, real support for these young Australians is very lacking despite all the comments we might hear from support services.   With this background, the news that the Anglicare Victoria’s Educational Services Unit is set to be closed down is devastating.  

It is devastating for the broader community, devastating for the young Australians who have come to rely so heavily on the school, and devastating for the families of those young people, and also I am sure devastating for the teachers and staff of the school, people who have given their everything, to help these wonderful young people.

The reasoning given for the closure is very unclear, so I have to ask is this something we need to be approaching the education department about, the premier, who?  Or is an internal decision, based on dollars and cents?

Reading the comments of the schools Anglicare Victoria regional director Carolyn Wallace, I am tempted to think so.  For Ms Wallace to say, “she was confident the students would cope well in mainstream schools” shows little understanding of the gravity of this closure.  I personally know one of these fine young students and I can say with absolute certainty that many if not all of these students will now end up on the education scrap heap, which is where they were before they found ESU.   Ms Wallace please be a community leader and find a way to save the school.  If the community can assist in anyway, ask us as we all care.

There has been so much in the media recently about young people who are not engaged in our community other than to hang around the streets and cause problems.

I've seen loads of people suggesting programs and initiatives to help keep these kids off the streets and move them into meaningful education and or employment.

I'm at a total loss then to understand why the department of education and Anglicare are ending a special program in Bendigo providing education to vulnerable young people who can not get the support they need from any other educational institution in the local area.

It's heartbreaking for the kids who have their hopes and dreams resting on their time at the Anglicare education unit who have just been told their school is closing at the end of this year.

They already know no other school can offer them the specialist assistance they receive there and are now left wondering what they have to look forward to apart from hanging around the streets where they will be judged and ostracized by the community in general.

Shame on those making decisions that hurt the most vulnerable among us.

I hope Nick Kyrgios, Bernard Tomic and other petulant sports people had the opportunity to watch the world’s most gruelling sporting event, the Tour De France, so magnificently covered by French television and SBS.

In particular I hope they picked up on the demeanour of the 3 time winner, Chris Froome, on and off the bike. In all media interviews Chris came across as a beautiful person; patient, respectful, modest, self-effacing and only too pleased to acknowledge the support of his team and pay tribute to his competitors.

A breath of fresh air to see a true unassuming champion, free of tantrums in stressful situations!