Page 10 The Moorabool News – 15 February, 2022
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Taking a walk on the wild side By Lachlan Ellis It’s a conspiracy so absurd, you wouldn’t read about it – except now you can, with a new book from a Moorabool writer delving deep into the sinister cult known as ‘QAnon’. If you’re not quite sure what QAnon is, you’re not the only one – but local writer Van Badham has been in the belly of the beast, which she says is conning thousands of vulnerable people. A post asking her Facebook followers about QAnon garnered hundreds of messages, and Ms Badham got into deeper research before writing an article on the conspiracy for The Guardian, which went viral. She’s devoted the last 12 months to learning more for her book, ‘QAnon and On’, even going undercover in QAnon groups. What she discovered was shocking. “I’ve discovered that there are a lot of bad faith political actors in this space, who weaponise people who are in distress for political ends. QAnon believers were very present at the January 6 attack on the Capitol building in the United States…they had been urged to go there by propagandists,” Ms Badham told the Moorabool News. “People are prone to conspiracy thinking when they’re in distress…obviously, the pandemic has distressed a lot of people. People being cooped up inside [during the pandemic], with the internet…are very vulnerable to manipulation, and there are people willing to manipulate them. “If you can convince people that Hillary Clinton is an alien lizard or that Joe Biden is a clone…and those are things that people do believe…you can convince them of anything. You can convince them to give you money, you
can convince them to, say, set buildings on fire, you can convince them to riot against democracy,” she said. The wacky beliefs of QAnon followers include that John F. Kennedy Jr. will come back from the dead, and that a group of cannibalistic pedophiles conspired against Donald Trump’s presidency. But rather than ridiculing people for believing such a bizarre conspiracy, Ms Badham said she felt sorry for QAnon followers and their loved ones. “I have sympathy the loved ones and family members who watch people they care about go further and further into this extremist thinking. After January 6, there were people reporting their parents to the FBI, because their parents were trying to take down the government of the United States,” she said. “You see similar things in Australia, we’ve seen the antilockdown protests here…a lot of people at those were QAnon followers and followers of other conspiracy cults. The anti-lockdown protest in Melbourne last year was organised by a group of people based in Germany.” The solution, according to psychologists, is to keep in contact with friends and family who are vulnerable or reclusive. “A lot of the time, people get enmeshed in these cults because they feel isolated and lonely, and they’re looking for a sense of purpose and connection,” Ms Badham said. “One of the best things you can do is check in with people, and steer the conversation away from conspiracies and politics. Focus on what’s important like shared positive experiences and memories.” Copies of QAnon and On can be purchased at Collins Booksellers in Ballarat, or online on various sites, including Van Badham with her book QAnon and On. Photo - supplied Amazon and Booktopia.
Closter part of Australian first By Kendall Jennings In an Australian first, Bacchus Marsh Motorcycle Club hosted the opening round of the 2022 Australian Arenacross series. The Arenacross series incorporated a carnival environment alongside motorcycle racing. Motorcycle racing has been strongly hit by COVID restrictions, with events cancelled and series shortened. The storms the day before did not hamper preparation or excitement from 370 competitors filling 18 classes from 50cc to 450cc machines of all brands. Around 8000 spectators were lucky enough to pre-book tickets as some patrons were turned away as the event reached the venue cap. Series promoter Jess Proctor of Protraxx said the series is designed to fill the vital gap between grassroots racing and a professional Supercross championship. “The response we received from the riders was nothing short of inspiring,” she said. “The weather certainly threw some challenges at us, but the feedback we’ve had from the riders was that they thoroughly enjoyed the day and the close racing that the track provided. Being our first event, we learnt a lot, and we’re determined that the second stop of the four-round series at Swan
Hill will be even better for both the racers and spectators.” Ms Proctor said Arenacross racing offers both racers and fans an incredible experience. “The intense on-track action and quality trackside entertainment can be enjoyed by the whole family, as we help shape the next generation of superstars.” Local athlete 21-year-old Max Closter and former Ninja Warrior semi-finalist piloted his Kawasaki KX450 to tenth place overall after round one. Mr Closter said after race one, he was hoping to do better after the fifteenth place. “I actually did do better finishing tenth and eighth in races two and three,” he said. “In race one I was hurried at the start, and struggled to get ‘into the zone.’ “You really need a good start in Areanacross; if you get a bad start, it is harder to find your rhythm with people going, double, triple jumping. I was trying to relax, not get frustrated, ride my own race and focus on my technique. The track was really good and so much fun,” he said Mr Closter will be competing in the complete four-round series with the second round of the Australian Arenacross Championship to be held at Swan Hill on February 19.
Local Max Closter competed in the premier A1 class against factory supported teams for tenth overall. Image Credit: Marc Jones Photography
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