Sexting victims are not to blame
The headline "Don't Swap Snaps" (Bendigo Advertiser, August 19) was good.
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Whether between children, adults or public figures, messages and images shared privately ought to remain private unless there is some compelling reason to break that privacy. The message in the article was less encouraging, though.
Instead of focusing on the violating, unethical and illegal actions of the people who share images without the consent of the person who was photographed, the focus is once again primarily on making people - mainly girls - responsible for preventing the violation of their own trust.
Wouldn't it be better to try to prevent people making public that which was intended to be private, and holding the trust-breakers to account?
Damien Hurrell, Strathfieldsaye
Donor makes school’s day
As a teacher at a small country school (East Loddon P-12 College), I am privileged to witness amazing things every day.
Kids reaching milestones and achieving in things they never thought possible, for example.
But last Friday was an extraordinarily amazing day. I received a letter from an anonymous person who read about our school’s efforts to raise money for our gym.
In this letter, the lady said how her mother had gone to East Loddon and she knew first-hand the hardships of living in isolation with facilities which could do with some updating.
So she decided to donate to our cause. I know this person wishes to remain anonymous, but I can tell you when I opened this letter and read the story the effect was amazing.
From telling the PE teacher, to having cheering kids, the grins, the clapping and the principal and assistant principal telling all within earshot.
You see, while I witness amazing things every day, it’s not every day that something like this happens.
I hope this lady reads this letter and knows, with heartfelt thanks how myself, all the staff, students, parents and community are so grateful for her kind gesture.
Hayley Lethlean, East Loddon P-12 College
Hold council to account
There are some who disagree with critics in our media who raise issues with councillors’ conduct.
These same critics are opposed to direct democracy and favour “indirect democracy” and conveniently forget that these letter writers are only responding to demand created by a disaffected council.
As shareholders in the community, they have every right to an opinion, without the need to be a councillor, it is called popular participation, not exclusive indirect participation.
When residents see five councillors in three years being censured for breaches of their own code of conduct, it raises questions as to possible personal interest and poor leadership.
It is of interest that the Ombudsman of Victoria reports that complaints about local government in Victoria accounts for almost 25 per cent of all jurisdictional approaches to their office .
In the last 10 years there have been 18 reports by the ombudsman concerning local government, which included: oversight of local government, open council meetings, complaint handling, political affiliation and donations for elections, conflict of interest and codes of conduct.
This council seems to have a penchant for development which creates industry without smokestacks –tourism – as the answer to all the problems facing an ever -growing city.
The problems which face residents from our extraordinary growth in population are traffic congestion, ageing population, over-development of some areas and public open-space provision.