'Wedderburn' at the Bendigo Writer's Festival
My objection to the inclusion and promotion of the author and her book at the 2019 Festival was purely an appeal for respect for the memory of my Mum, Mary Lockhart and brother, Greg Holmes in Bendigo, their home town.
Repeated appeals to the festival committee were ignored, we had to take our appeal further. We, my sister, Cheryl Bailey, my son and husband, met with Mayor Margaret O'Rourke and Festival Chair Cr. Rod Fyffe, finally having our objection heard and acknowledged. I would like to thank them both for their understanding.
We object strongly to the content of the book, which contains irrelevant personal family information and unfounded gossip, which denigrates the memory of our dead and haunts the lives of the living.
Mum, Peter and Greg would be equally horrified to know of this book. Its very existence and tasteless cover, traumatises members of the family, whether they have read it or not. This book was contrived without the consent of eight of the 10 surviving adult children of the victims. In my opinion, there should be a Code of Ethics for 'True Crime' writing which would protect victims of crime, and their families from authors.
A note of thanks to the Bendigo Advertiser who did not use the abhorrent cover in their most recent article.
Thank goodness, no one will now, have to be confronted with rows of it in the bookshop at the festival. My husband and I attend every year, and our family support and value its continued existence.
I would like to thank friends, family and others who saw this issue for what it was - an appeal for respect and some consideration to our family, and provided their overwhelming support.
Rosalee Anne Clark
Disappointing response
After spending some time at a parking meter in Bull Street attempting to put get my 2 hour limit the coins became jammed after $1.20 This occurrence of failed meters is very common to me and I subsequently rang the Council Office and was cleared to park in my bay for the allotted 2 hours, the time was 11am.
On return to my vehicle at 12.55 I was horrified to find a parking infringement notice on my windscreen written out for 11.58. The feeling these tickets send is very similar to a police siren, quite sickening. I went directly to the Council Office and was told to fill out a form and my complaint would be looked at. I was too flustered to do this so the form was filled out by the staff member.
Why is it that we the public have to go to these extremes to right mistakes, I was told in good faith that I could park for the allotted 2 hours and that the Parking Officer would be aware of my registration No.
I too am very busy and expect things to be done as told, so once again it was a pleasant lunch spoilt by work not done very well.
Helen Lindrea, East Bendigo
Bendigo on show
Hi Bendigonians. You may be interested to know that we featured in the Singapore Straits Times newspaper on July 23.There is a lift-out called Life, and it was all about our trams, art gallery, history and Chinese heritage.It has many colored photos and takes up two-and-a-half broadsheet pages.Very proud to accidentally pick up the paper and read about my home town with such glowing reports in a foreign country.
Len Williams, Strathfieldsaye
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