Wednesday, 29 30 June, 2022 2021
Pakenham
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THE ROAD TO RESPECT THE ROAD TO RESPECT
Pakenham resident
Michael Wright
an advocate for
ending family
The power o
By Jamie Salter
violence. 286709
f one voice
Picture: GARY
SISSONS
The power of a single voice is not to be underestimated and Wright is living Pakenham resident Michael proof. Now an advocate mestic violence for ending which is horrific,” against women, violence he said. “It’s one of those Michael’s life he decided to changed when lence problems that act. it takes money and equality, we can fix and After Michael eyes to the issues which opened up Michael’ done by working commitment but it can was in a car accident be s together.” women and young years ago, he The committ about 10 face. left his Noble ee is getting the Michael’s own children a number Park home seeking independence. ball rolling on lence family of programs “I said ‘Why don’t when his sister’s was touched by vioincluding the Project, which In 2015, he started they just leave?’ Pronoun abusive. relationship said ‘You’re encourages and they use pronoun voluntee became asking the wrong organisations in Pakenham ring at Outlook ‘why s, specifically - a social enterpris question, it’s do the men do “We didn’t get on email signatureto on disability e with a focus that it Michael said along with her programs and s. we had was a light bulb in the first place?’ and this partner project employm a break was and to recognising down in our Michael was moment for ent. the first step chael I’m an educated everyone relationship,” me because said. person ministrator in quickly hired as a system Mi“One of the drivers as equal. ad- thought of it,” Michael and I had never even the IT departm “She was brave for domestic ent. inequality in said. “Initially it was enough to get violence is ation our society, so “There’s just about getting past that situand ask ‘Can house because having respect everybody is out of the do somethinthis huge problem there, so I come back?’ important,” I’d for have done and if I hadn’t I had to g about it.” but also to give been out of work for a while, this work I would “By using pronoun he said. have said ‘no’, I said ‘of course’ Michael have a positive back to the community s on an email, but make everyone because we and riers womenbecome aware of the many impact,” he said. it can women to feel included make that change.” need to support bar- once one struggle with “I really enjoy and equal and person starts in Michael said talking about we’re commun working at Outlook because lence situation and planned a domestic vio- courages everyone it, it en- support that conversa ity focused to play his part preventing violence tion around equality.” people.” and like-min women and put has a role to play to in against women. Also a member ded an end to gender reotypes. He has now sat of Cardinia Shire’s An accredited steand Inclusion Access organisation an State Committ on the White Ribbon VictoriCommittee to “I like to bake bon, all staff promote equality in the commun ee as secretary and I’ve copped receive training with White Rib- months, for the past six ity, Michael said for it and even attending online a on family vioplays his disability telling sexist jokes bit of slack a role in his advocacy meetings with from across Victoria gender inequalit . to generate change. people y comes from,” this is where “Evidence shows he said. “You don’t need abilities are more us that women with to join a committ dis- did, you likely to be a ee like I just need to victim of dodo a little bit thinking about and keep it.”
You don’t need to join a comm ittee like I did, need to do a you just little bit and keep thinking abou t it.”
Survivor to speak at White Ribbon event
A White Ribbon is returning for event and awards ceremon y as collectio 2022 with a twist ing a range of n points. different commun - showcasThe keynote ity services. Local commun speaker for The event will be family violence ity members the event will be held on Wednesd aged to bring are encourJuly at the Outlook survivor Simone ay 20 Community O’Brien Toomuc including Trudi’sdonations for the services who will share her story Centre, 24 Valley Road from of Loved Shop and Angles, Purton Place Pre mination and survival and strength, deter- sented by 1pm Outlook, Cardinia to 3pm precommitment her unwaver ing and Aligned will be acceptinPets of the Homeless which to remaining Shire Council positive. Leisure. “It started with items, clothing g toiletry items, kitchen emotional and Entry is a gold coin donation psychonated to family and pet products to be do- logical abuse, stealing, on the day. and insults. It For more informat violence with me being ended beaten with a ion head to Thanks to a partners victims. kaust.org.au/whit within inches baseball bat outloohip between eribbon2022 to of my life,” Simone ia Shire Council Cardinand Cleanaw said. The 2022 Garry bins will be placed ay, six charity McQuilla Fitzgerald Awards in the commun n and ity to act the will also be presenteTony day. d on Family violence pakenham.star survivor Simone community.com. share her story of strength and O’Brien will au survival.
Wednesday, 29 June, 2022
Wiggles hit town
Budget ‘fail’ The perceived injustice to Cardinia counillor Collin Ross over his uncompensated legal fees carried over to the shire’s budget meeting on Monday night. The budget for 2022-26 passed, despite Cr Carol Ryan calling for division and opposition from she and some of her colleagues, two of whom came in remotely because they have Covid-19.
Mayor Jeff Springfield, Deputy Mayor Tammy Radford and councillors Jack Kowarzik and Brett Owen voted in favor of the budget being adopted, while councillors Ryan, Ross and Kaye Cameron were opposed. Cr Ryan said she found it difficult to find “equality” within the budget as it did not offer compensation to Cr Ross, following an investigation into his travel expenses. “Until this budget includes repaying
$11,500 for legal fees to Cr Ross incurred during the investigation into his travelling expenses, which included council spending $80,000 in legal fees of ratepayers money and over 100 hours as least of paid managers time, the budget cannot be deemed as fair, due to the inspectors finding of no wrongdoing of Cr Ross,” Cr Ryan said. STORY PAGE 3
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PAKENHAM
GAZETTE 23
This week’s Gazette features the second in a series of eight-page liftout features on family violence under The Road To Respect banner. Reporter Danielle Galvin delves into the different areas of abuse, specifically around control of the finances, as explained by Women’s Information and Referral Exchange service delivery manager Jessica Stott. She also profiles Rachna MadaanBowman, who has made it her life’s mission at South East Community Links to work with refugees and migrants experiencing financial hardship, many of whom have experienced family violence. Associate Professor Kate FitzGibbon from Monash University explains the impact of family violence taking people out of the workforce. Reporter Shelby Brooks catches up with a Pakenham Upper woman who has transferred her journey through family violence into a book - and a lawyer discusses the impact the Amber Heard and Johhny Depp case will have on those impacted. TURN TO THE 8-PAGE LIFTOUT ON PAGES 23-26 AND 51-54
Potatoes were not the only hot items at the Cardinia Cultural Centre on Tuesday, as popular children’s act The Wiggles hit town. These mums, back from left, Ashleigh, Kali and Ashleigh, with their little Wiggles, front from left, Ollie, Aletti, Axel and Lenny, had all the Wiggles skivvy colours covered. 287730 STORY PAGE 2
By Marcus Uhe
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