Stop the cycle of domestic violence

Dear Mr Michael Crandon,

As you are the current elected member of Coomera which encompassed the suburb of Pimpama, I am writing a passionate plea to you to review what can be done to stop the domestic violence that is not just rampant in Australian Homes, but specifically in your district.

I have a friend who has lived in your district for a number of years currently going through the domestic violence. She gathered what strength she had left to make changes to her life, first filing a Temporary Protection Order and then a Domestic Violence Order (DVO) to ensure that she is protected. Everything was done by the book.

We thought the system was on the side of protecting women - after all, politician after politician use this issue as a platform to great soundbite. 

In reality, even when her violent ex-husband tried to kick her in front of her police escort - present so that she could gather whatever possession he hasn't destroyed so she can escape, he was not apprehended. He was left with a caution.

Today, after her DVO hearing (where he caused scenes in the corridor, bullied the two children to miss school to attend court with him), he slashed her tyres and again threatened her. He is a smart son of a gun - he uses the kid's email addresses to threaten her so that the Police can't do anything about it. The Police are too lazy to begin any preliminary investigations that would easily see through this facade.

After the death of Teresa Bradford at the hands of her husband, despite all the evidence of her being in danger, let me ask you this:

How do women protect themselves?

Seriously, because she has tried everything. She has gone to the courts and the Police repeatedly. If not for her friends, she wouldn't have made it this far.

DVO is a piece of paper that does NOTHING to protect women. The Police rarely enforce them, and it is always after the fact. After they have driven their fists against women's flesh.

How many more women have to die before Lawmakers and Politicians truly care and make changes? Posters and school awareness are not enough. Polite and politically correct conversations have gotten us nowhere. Now, because children are continuously forced to be with these monsters, they have been taught violence is the norm and the cycle of violence lives on in younger generations.

I challenge you to look around your district and find a handful of similar cases where protection of women was actually achieved. I think you will find that they are in the minority.

Bad Driving Galore

(Initially posted on my other blog Plantation Homes Maintenance, now moved).

I interrupt my house building bemusement and hindsight soul searching to bring you a new page I have created: Bad Driving Queensland.

Yes, you have read it correctly. The topic here is Bad driving.

Being an incredibly safe driver for nearly two decades (starting to show my age), I was involved in a car crash earlier this year when someone ran a red light. I even called his pregnant wife an ambulance and waited with them to make sure everything was okay. It wasn't a serious incident - I walked away and so did they - for which I was very thankful. So thankful that I wasn't thinking of pressing charges.

Months later, I had the Police follow up and the insurance company, wanting proof that I didn't run a red light. Taken aback, I enquired further into this new development and found out that the bad driver that HAD run a red light has engaged a Solicitor claiming I was at fault. If it weren't for someone else's' dash camera footage, it would have been my word against his.

I was obviously in the right, with three eye-witnesses and dash cam footage, yet this guy had the gall to accuse me of wrong-doing.

All my driving life, I have been playing Dodge 'Em Cars with people, trying to correct their mistakes and unsafe practices to what end? That is why I have created this new Bad Driving Queensland Facebook page, in the hope of locally sharing:

1. Popular near-miss spots around Queensland, where drivers can take note and avoid accidents
2. Name and shame the bad drivers and their plates - and for anyone - the police or insurance companies to draw their conclusions in their investigations

Information is power. Facts are undeniable.

Pressing The Issue HOME!

Yes, here is yet another blog pleading and harassing people to sway one's opinion one way or the other. Another blog written in the name of wishful thinking and hoping through the power of words, it will influence some people to action.

My thing is words. I like to write and I (sometimes) like to voice some outspoken issues.

What has prompted me to finally make this blog, independent of my existing blog about another issues passionate to me (my home building blog), is the treatment of animals in this world. My particularly love - dogs. They are the most friendly and endearing species of animals when you give them half a chance. With a steady hand and a loving heart, we can accomplish plenty together - I truly believe this - Police Dogs, Service Dogs and Guide Dogs are one strong examples. I am sure there are other applications.

What finally tipped me over the edge was this online petition started by an anonymous something that also had the urge to try and effect change in this world. The petition is/was about medical research done to Greyhounds by Monash University. The claims are outrageous and disgusting, however, by no means false or a stand-alone thing. Think of animal testing on all kinds of products that we use every single day.

The cure founded on the back of these insanely cruel medical research are not worth finding. There, I have said it. Yes I am not dying of a disease at the moment, but my stance would be the same. I don't want to live so badly that would warrant hurting animals over.

I was further dumbfounded by the fact that this online petition (which takes all of 3 seconds to complete) could not find 25,000 signatures. That is not a lot of signatures, yet right now it has only reached 18,000 signatures. There are a lot more dog owners in this country. Think of your furry loved ones at home and for crying out loud, f*cking sign the damn petition to stand up for the beautiful four-legged creatures that can't voice their pain and fear.

Do something people. Anything!!!!
That link again:
Sign this petition.
Because you know you want to.
1 minute of your time to do what matters.