Burnt Churches, Trains, Vandalism and Coercion

The Adaminaby Catholic Church gutted by fire has had to be knocked down. Click here

Most of the interior of St Mary's Catholic Church had been destroyed by fire last Thursday night and the Cooma fire chief said the damage was so bad it was decided to demolish the building’s remaining walls.

Adaminaby's Catholic community shared mass yesterday, thanks to the Anglican community. And the Uniting Church has also offered its premises to the Adaminaby Catholic community.

Adaminaby (pop. 400) is a tiny town in NSW, located on the Snowy Mountains Highway not far from Cooma and the ski resort town of Thredbo. It’s popular with trout fishermen. Old Adaminaby sits under the waters of Lake Eucumbene, and the town was moved to its current site in 1956.

I have a soft spot in my heart for Adaminaby. Many years ago my car was hit by a kangaroo whilst returning from a day on the ski fields at Thredbo. We’d been staying at the caravan park in Adaminaby. Kind locals from the town towed our car into the local workshop and gave us all a lift back to town. Then we spent 3 or 4 days stranded in this tiny but charming town whilst waiting spare parts to fix the car. We got to know the town very well and each time I drive through the area I make sure I stop at the town’s bakery for they do bake the most delicious pies and pastries.

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People in Bunbury are up in arms about the proposed changes to the area’s passenger train service. With the new Perth to Mandurah train line fast approaching completion, the government is proposing closing the Perth to Bunbury service and replacing it with connecting buses to Mandurah.

A community group is organising a public rally. A group called Save the Australind is passing two petitions against the proposal around the region that will be presented to the Upper and Lower Houses of State Parliament next month.

Transwa says the proposal is out for public comment and will not go ahead if it is not supported by the community.

And around my town ...

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Alice Springs police are investigating a vandalism spree in the central business district and industrial area over the weekend.

A glass door was smashed at the Alice Springs Youth Centre on Saturday night and windows were smashed at the Alice Springs Town Library, a chemist in the Coles Complex, a business in the Todd Mall and two premises in the industrial area.

Police say several vehicles also had their windows smashed.

Should I mention it is still school holiday time here? And as I recall this happened last year too.

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The Northern Territory Remote Community Drug Desk says sniffer dogs may soon be employed at Alice Springs Airport.

See here

Northern Territory Police say they have been unable to make any arrests in relation to allegations of child sexual abuse in central Australian Aboriginal communities, despite having interviewed almost 300 people.

And so … NT police say they support the proposal by the Australian Crime Commission (ACCC) being given extra powers to compel witnesses to give evidence, particularly in sexual abuse cases.

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This is to help break down the so-called veil of silence surrounding violence and abuse in remote communities.

I just love the police spokesperson’s quote:

"Coercive powers are certainly something that could assist us in investigating the matters of sexual abuse against children - it's just an added tool that we can use."

Personally I just can’t see this working. And using coercion to force people to tell about the crimes committed upon them? Isn’t this a step backwards? Shouldn’t we be looking at why indigenous people (i.e. indigenous women and children) are reluctant to make formal complaints? Might it have something to do with their culture and how sexual matters are treated within that culture? Might it have something to do with not feeling there are adequate resources to protect the community and the complainants should allegations be made?