Denied basic human rights
The treatment of children in the Northern Territory’s Don Dale centre, exposed by the ABC’s Four Corners, is probably the tip of the iceberg of government sanctioned abuse.
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The Guardian’s release of documents detailing hundreds of reports of alleged abuse on Nauru shows that, under the intense secrecy imposed by the Australian government on asylum seeker and refugee detention centres, systematic denial of basic human rights is occurring.
Minister Peter Dutton responds to such revelations with a refusal to address the issue and shows callous contempt for the suffering of people in our care.
If you are concerned by this continuing tragedy being perpetuated in our name, paid for by our taxes (more than $1 billion per year), please consider attending the One Voice, One Vision conference to be held at St Andrews Hall, Myers Street, Bendigo on September 3 and 4.
The conference has been organised by Rural Australians for Refugees, Bendigo and includes speakers Julian Burnside, Pamela Curr ASRC advocate, Hani Abdile refugee/poet and award-winning journalists Ben Doherty, Nick Olle and Anthony Radford.
Pat Horan, Sebastian
Avenue honouring soldiers must be restored
I write in support of Gemma Starr’s campaign for restoration of the Bendigo East Avenue of Honour devoted to the five fallen WWI soldiers from East Bendigo.
Whilst I am intending to nominate next month as a council candidate in the Eppalock ward and the avenue of honour is across the ward boundary in Whipstick ward along Strickland Road/Murphy Street, I feel strongly in pushing for the restoration for my family’s sake as former residents of Bendigo East.
My mother’s parents – the late George and Margaret (Peg) Dorrington – operated their mixed business in McIvor Road/Charleston Road between 1938 and 1956, with my mother Anne’s assistance.
Their eldest son George Dorrington was killed on October, 22 1943 in Ramu Valley, Rabaul, Papua New Guinea.
Being part of the Bendigo East community, a photo in memory of my late uncle is on display in the Bendigo East Progress Association Hall in Lansell Street.
Uncle George attended Marist Brothers College, was a member of the band there and in the Bendigo Fire Brigade.
His name and that of his younger brother, Frank Dorrington, are recorded on the school’s honour board now on display at the Bendigo RSL Memorial Hall museum.
My grandfather enlisted in 1916 in the 14th Battalion and fought in Pozieres, France and in Belgium before returning home after WWI, marrying my grandmother, who sailed to Australia from Glasgow, Scotland in 1920.
Grandpa was one of “Jacka’s mob”, together with other Bendigonians.
Fully restoring this historic site at the former Bendigo East School is about having a place that our future families can visit and know that these valiant Bendigo East residents shall not be forgotten.
Lest we forget.
George Flack, Kennington
Organics bin an unwelcome addition
Tell me it isn't true that cafes and restaurants have not been provided with organic waste bins, while ordinary residents, who would have a fraction of the organic waste as a food business, are expected to house and pay for a bin they don't need.
One small cafe worker told me yesterday that they do not even have a blue lid recycle bin; all they have is one rubbish bin.
What about the huge takeaway businesses? They must have to throw away enormous amounts of unused food. Where does that go?
My green lid bin is still on the verandah where I found it. I don't want it.