Friday, August 10, 2012
A Star News Group publication
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Basketball fans set to rug up at Arena for the cold and homeless
Blanket coverage: Supercats Nathan Freind and Jamie Medved rug up for the homeless appeal with GMHBA’s Radford White. Picture: Phil Nitchie
BY MICHELLE HERBISON BASKETBALL fans will help keep the region’s homeless population warm this winter with donations of blankets at a game this weekend. Leaders for Geelong’s Luke Britnell said his Rugged Up project included a blanket drive at Geelong Supercats’ last match of the season. A group of four participants from Committee for Geelong’s two-year leadership program were behind the drive, Mr Britnell said. “The hardship Geelong families and individuals face struck a chord with our project group and we’ve developed a way that will help.” The Rugged Up project had so far worked with Salvos Connect, Salvation Army and Barwon Youth to provide 120 blankets to the homeless but a “real shortage” remained, Mr Britnell said. “On any one night there could be 500 people homeless in Geelong, including sleeping in cars, couch-surfing and sleeping on the streets. This year the cost of living has gone up and this seems to be an increasing issue.” Mr Britnell said the group aimed to collect 500 blankets at the game to be distributed “immediately”. “We’ll take anything as long as it’s clean.” Mr Britnell said collection bins at VicRoads, GMHBA outlets and Geelong Arena could continue to accept blankets throughout August. The Supercats play Bendigo Braves 5.30pm Saturday at Geelong Arena.
Bully claims ‘rise fast’ BY MICHELLE HERBISON OFFICIAL complaints of cyber bullying offences are mounting at Geelong and Corio police stations, according to a senior officer. Leading Senior Constable Robbie Noggler said reports were “coming thick and fast over the counter” at the region’s police watch-houses. Snr Const Noggler will conduct a free seminar for parents and
children at St Joseph’s College this month on cyber-bullying and its consequences. “The majority of kids these days are all on Facebook, even under the age of 13. Kids are committing offences without even knowing it,” Snr Const Noggler said. The seminar would address parents’ “fear of the unknown” and children’s tendency to “treat it as a joke”, he said.
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The campaign would distribute information about bullying and Brodie’s Law to more than 8000 Victorian schools, workplaces and police stations, Mr Clark said. “Everyone is entitled to be safe in our community and no one should be forced to suffer from bullying. “Authorities rely on information from the community to stamp out bullying, so if you or someone you know is being bullied, report it. All
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duct endangering life and many, many obscure charges relating to stalking. Basically, it’s comments made about people that cause fear and apprehension in them. “It could be anything, like appearance or weight.” Snr Const Noggler said police must receive official complaints in order to lay charges. Attorney-General Robert Clark this week launched a Take a Stand Against Bullying campaign.
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Brodie’s Law, introduced in June, could punish perpetrators of “serious bullying” with up to 10 years’ imprisonment, he warned. The law was named for a bullying victim who committed suicide. Snr Const Noggler said cyberbullies could face 76 stalkingrelated and 38 cyber-related charges. “This includes threats to kill, threat to inflict serious injury, con-
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bullying is unacceptable, and serious bullying is a serious crime.” Mr Clark said Department of Justice would conduct the campaign with VECCI, Victoria Police and Lifeline. Brodie’s parents Damien and Rae Panlock said they were committed to raising awareness about the “very serious nature of bullying and its consequences”. “We don’t want any family to endure what we’ve been through.”