It was only a few weeks after the June 2002 removal of Glyn Dorling from St Martins Lutheran School that I was introduced to Mr Perryman by another father at something at the Civic Centre...can't remember what...it might have been a Council meeting.
For that conversation I basically stood back and let Steve, the father, and a couple of others I didn't know discuss what had happened, and of course Steve already knew because his mother works at the school.
I would normally consider having a swipe at someone's mum to be entirely in-appropriate, but Mrs Perryman Snr has been a senior St Martins employee for 15+ years, and one of several 'Lutherans' who have seen fit to abuse me in public.
I genuinely believe that it was this repeated public abuse through late 2002, 2003, and into 2004, that at least contributed to and even possibly created my 'Agorophobia'.
But I digress; what Mr Perryman did not know before that conversation was explained to him during it. If anything at that stage I felt mildly sorry for both Steve and his mother, because I considered that we were all effectively on the same side of the fence, that we had all been deceived by Glyn Dorling.
Unfortunately we parents always considered that because the St Martins matter was being dealt with by SAPol, and then the Teachers Registration Board, etc, we have never really pursued the issue with Council to the degree we have with those authorities that could/should do something about it.
The fact remains that I and other parents have repeatedly discussed St Martins with Mayor Perryman, former CEO Greg Muller, new CEO Mark McShane (Tomorrow's TFTIM) and numerous Councillors.
It is not an exaggeration to suggest that all Councillors know; even if I haven't told them it has been in the local media often enough.
As Mayor, Steve Perryman always remained 'adjacent' to the St Martins issue, sort of compromised because of his mother's involvement but not really sort of 'legally' responsible; that situation entirely changed though when he won Liberal pre-selection for the 2010 state election.
As Liberal candidate he made himself fundamentally responsible for what was happening; the fact that they completely cocked-up the election is irrelevent.
As per previous blog, what ever had or hadn't happened up to the March 2010 Election Forum at the Sir Helpmann Theatre, Mr Perryman's behaviour at that forum showed him for what he is.
When a near weeping parent falteringly raised the St Martins Issue as the last question, Mr Perryman was snidely mouthing off in my left ear "is there a question in this (father's name)?"; to me, who he knows is one of the fathers involved....it was pretty much the whole reason I was on that stage.
And then, having had so much to say during the question, Mr Perryman just sat there with fellow candidates Viv Maher, Don Pegler, and Henk Bruins; all with hands crossed, all heads bowed, all staring at the desk...all silent...all complicit...all beneath contempt.
Mr Perryman's personal political aspirations have been pursued to the greater detriment of Mt Gambier; see any of my posts re development issues, eg, the Main Corner, the Rail Lands, or Bunnings/Penola Rd, etc, really where-ever you care to look.
Those aspirations have been encouraged by other Liberal members like former City Councillor Tony Pasin, but Mr Perryman has clearly outlived his usefulness there as well with Mr Troy Bell winning/ being offered pre-selection for the 2014 election....not that that's a bad thing as best I can tell.
Mr Perryman will feature frequently in many future blogs, eg, for his in-excusable comments dismissing as irrelevent the loss of the International Tennis Tournament; but not always as you might think. For example, most people struggle to believe that I lodged a complaint with the Australian Press Council in March 2010 asking the APC to investigate and address the massive anti-Perryman bias in Election reporting in The Border Watch.
Which leads nicely to...
Tomorrow: The Australian Press Council - Why Bother?
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Fundamental
It' such a good joke that I'm going to use it twice;
Fundamental - what you do with that tiny percentage of your tax dollar that goes to paying my Disability Support Pension.
I have covered much of the following in previous posts, but it is important in explaining who I am and why I behave the way I do.
In early 1997 I was a full-time, self-employed Courier in Adelaide, when my ex-partner moved back to Mt Gambier; I immediately quit the fulltime job, began working part-time nights, travelled weekly, etc, and quit that job to move full-time to Mt Gambier late 1998.
I really struggled to make aquaintances, let alone friends, until some-one explained to me that the 'negative' response I was getting when people asked me 'Why are you here?', and I responded - to be near my child -was because they didn't believe me.
People were not able to understand the context and therefore the reality; they had no experience of a man who would literally give up everything and move to Mt Gambier, and therefore applied their own context, one they could understand.
And that context? My ex-partner was fleeing a violent and/or problematic relationship and that I had followed her to Mt Gambier to continue the harassment and/or abuse, etc. It was one of those whirrr-clunk moments when so much immediately becomes clear under the right lense.
This general attitude of others, this other context, has plagued me through-out my existence in Mt Gambier, and I still occasionally see that certain look on peoples faces. Being a large man is not always a positive.
After winning an Unfair Dismissal against the Gambier Hotel in 2001, I was rendered effectively 'un-employable', and was 'working' full-time doing volunteer work at my child's school, Lifeline, etc, to assuage my sense of guilt for receiving the dole. Very different to pre-fatherhoodness when I just didn't give a stuff.
Point is, that I was fully participating and broadly functioning, albeit well outside of normal paradigms; not particularly unusual for me...but then something changed.
Following the June longweek-end 2002 removal of teacher Glyn Dorling from St Martins Lutheran School, which I believe I may have mentioned in previous posts, the many balls that I had in the air hit the house of cards I'd built and in a cacophany of mixed metaphors, the whole lot blew away...and with it went my mind.........sssuui....here boy...sssuui...come on....
By early 2003 I was irretrievably in the grip of a massive psychological trauma forced on me by the Lutheran Church, the rancidly corrupt Rann Labor government and particularly Rory McEwen, a gutless, pointless Opposition, SAPol, supposed 'Child Protection Providers, etc, as they all involved themselves in the Cover-up of the abuse of my child and dozens of others.
I asked for help, often, and in early-mid 2003 (will try to find exact date) I attended an appointment at Centrelink with their Psychologist Luciana (last name unknown). Her 'report' states;
"...Primarily, I would recommend developing a good rapport with Nicholas, however, the
boundaries must be clear. He is seeking affirmation, and the PSP worker must be careful
not to give this to him. Once rapport is established, Nicholas would benefit from referral to
a Psychiatrist. He requires a full assessment of his presentation - this will also assist in
developing the intervention plan. Individual counselling would also be useful, preferably
psychological counselling with a Psychologist......
...He reports volatile relationshipwith* most individuals, and talks of writing to Ombudsman,
the Premier and Prime Minister. He is of the belief that hehas* been wronged, and that he is
totally justified in seeking retribution." (*I have copied her typos)
This is unfortunately a not entirely un-accurate description of how I 'presented', but the fact remains that I received none of the support or counselling identified, whilst this report pre-haunted me around a 'system' that was being officially told 'don't listen to him'; the language above specifically describes me, without using the actual word, as delusional.
Oh, how I wish...nothing would please me more than to have completely imagined the last 10+ years, then I could just have a nice tall glass of Lithium* and go on a long holiday...well away from here. Unfortunately, the reality is the reality, and I'm here 'til it gets sorted.
(*this is an attempt at humour to highlight the fact that despite the extreme nature of my experience
as I claim in this blog, that even with the below diagnosis, I am not now nor have I ever been
on any prescribed 'mental health' medication. I suggest this is because of the basic truth of what
I am saying)
My continued pleas for support took me through Viv Maher's counselling rooms amongst others, but I never received any proper support until I ended up with a local 'Mental Health Provider' (psychologist), who in February 2012 subsequently diagnosed;
"Major Depressive Disorder"
"Generalised Anxiety Disorder"
"Panic Disorder With Agoraphobia"
and I was placed on the Disability Support Pension.
I do not mind sharing this for two reasons;
1) these are real issues and nobody who suffers these "Disorders" should bear a stigma for it, and;
2) because I consider that it highlights rather than diminishes what I have achieved, eg, for all the anger
and mental trauma, etc, I have never raised my hand. Other than to pick up a pen...or a lap-top.
Receiving the DSP has driven me to try harder so as to assuage the increased sense of guilt as above (more benefit, more guilt), fueled by the relentless sense of failing my child and all the others. (please refer previous posts)
This Arvo: TFTIM Mayor Steve Perryman
Fundamental - what you do with that tiny percentage of your tax dollar that goes to paying my Disability Support Pension.
I have covered much of the following in previous posts, but it is important in explaining who I am and why I behave the way I do.
In early 1997 I was a full-time, self-employed Courier in Adelaide, when my ex-partner moved back to Mt Gambier; I immediately quit the fulltime job, began working part-time nights, travelled weekly, etc, and quit that job to move full-time to Mt Gambier late 1998.
I really struggled to make aquaintances, let alone friends, until some-one explained to me that the 'negative' response I was getting when people asked me 'Why are you here?', and I responded - to be near my child -was because they didn't believe me.
People were not able to understand the context and therefore the reality; they had no experience of a man who would literally give up everything and move to Mt Gambier, and therefore applied their own context, one they could understand.
And that context? My ex-partner was fleeing a violent and/or problematic relationship and that I had followed her to Mt Gambier to continue the harassment and/or abuse, etc. It was one of those whirrr-clunk moments when so much immediately becomes clear under the right lense.
This general attitude of others, this other context, has plagued me through-out my existence in Mt Gambier, and I still occasionally see that certain look on peoples faces. Being a large man is not always a positive.
After winning an Unfair Dismissal against the Gambier Hotel in 2001, I was rendered effectively 'un-employable', and was 'working' full-time doing volunteer work at my child's school, Lifeline, etc, to assuage my sense of guilt for receiving the dole. Very different to pre-fatherhoodness when I just didn't give a stuff.
Point is, that I was fully participating and broadly functioning, albeit well outside of normal paradigms; not particularly unusual for me...but then something changed.
Following the June longweek-end 2002 removal of teacher Glyn Dorling from St Martins Lutheran School, which I believe I may have mentioned in previous posts, the many balls that I had in the air hit the house of cards I'd built and in a cacophany of mixed metaphors, the whole lot blew away...and with it went my mind.........sssuui....here boy...sssuui...come on....
By early 2003 I was irretrievably in the grip of a massive psychological trauma forced on me by the Lutheran Church, the rancidly corrupt Rann Labor government and particularly Rory McEwen, a gutless, pointless Opposition, SAPol, supposed 'Child Protection Providers, etc, as they all involved themselves in the Cover-up of the abuse of my child and dozens of others.
I asked for help, often, and in early-mid 2003 (will try to find exact date) I attended an appointment at Centrelink with their Psychologist Luciana (last name unknown). Her 'report' states;
"...Primarily, I would recommend developing a good rapport with Nicholas, however, the
boundaries must be clear. He is seeking affirmation, and the PSP worker must be careful
not to give this to him. Once rapport is established, Nicholas would benefit from referral to
a Psychiatrist. He requires a full assessment of his presentation - this will also assist in
developing the intervention plan. Individual counselling would also be useful, preferably
psychological counselling with a Psychologist......
...He reports volatile relationshipwith* most individuals, and talks of writing to Ombudsman,
the Premier and Prime Minister. He is of the belief that hehas* been wronged, and that he is
totally justified in seeking retribution." (*I have copied her typos)
This is unfortunately a not entirely un-accurate description of how I 'presented', but the fact remains that I received none of the support or counselling identified, whilst this report pre-haunted me around a 'system' that was being officially told 'don't listen to him'; the language above specifically describes me, without using the actual word, as delusional.
Oh, how I wish...nothing would please me more than to have completely imagined the last 10+ years, then I could just have a nice tall glass of Lithium* and go on a long holiday...well away from here. Unfortunately, the reality is the reality, and I'm here 'til it gets sorted.
(*this is an attempt at humour to highlight the fact that despite the extreme nature of my experience
as I claim in this blog, that even with the below diagnosis, I am not now nor have I ever been
on any prescribed 'mental health' medication. I suggest this is because of the basic truth of what
I am saying)
My continued pleas for support took me through Viv Maher's counselling rooms amongst others, but I never received any proper support until I ended up with a local 'Mental Health Provider' (psychologist), who in February 2012 subsequently diagnosed;
"Major Depressive Disorder"
"Generalised Anxiety Disorder"
"Panic Disorder With Agoraphobia"
and I was placed on the Disability Support Pension.
I do not mind sharing this for two reasons;
1) these are real issues and nobody who suffers these "Disorders" should bear a stigma for it, and;
2) because I consider that it highlights rather than diminishes what I have achieved, eg, for all the anger
and mental trauma, etc, I have never raised my hand. Other than to pick up a pen...or a lap-top.
Receiving the DSP has driven me to try harder so as to assuage the increased sense of guilt as above (more benefit, more guilt), fueled by the relentless sense of failing my child and all the others. (please refer previous posts)
This Arvo: TFTIM Mayor Steve Perryman
Saturday, March 23, 2013
Simon Crean - A One Man Fifth Column
Is it just me?...it is, isn't it?...I mean, I know I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed (more of a mattock really, possibly the anvil) but surely I have somehow mis-interpreted Simon Crean's previous statements, because I could have sworn that he had repeatedly stated that the world's palest rapper K Ruddy (Puff Kevvy, Flo Rudda, Vanilla Nice...whatever) was not the man for the job, whatever that job was...um, is...err, will be?
Has anybody ever before called a leadership spill against a leader whom they do actually support, and then nominated themselves as potential new deputy leader? Sorry, that is a genuine question...I don't know...maybe it isn't so unusual...I am not a political expert by any means, but it does seem really odd.
However, to my mind, Simon Crean has acted on behalf of Julia Gillard not against her.
Oh, I'm so confused...my head hurts already...and it appears that my malady is contagious because I'm watching various commentators over the last 48 hours saying much the same thing...oh, yeah...except for former Labor advisor and Gillard supporter Cassandra Wilkinson (I think that is her name-sorry)(on the ABC The Drum program)...yet another example of an intelligent person whose opinion is entirely compromised by their subjective attachment to the subject matter.
I don't have that problem.....when it comes to politics, I have a bristling, almost resentful loathing for pretty much everybody involved....so no problem there.
Right, let's deal with what has happened for sure ...and hopefully the rest will follow.
On the day they apparently wanted to apologise to those who suffered the horrors of Forced Adoption, the Gillard Labor government decided to have a leadership squabble that pretty much everyone else doesn't care about. I have made jokes about swearing, but neither is appropriate in this context.
It is not bizarre; it is a fundamentally selfish and otherwise in-explicable piece of stupidity; an absolute insult to all of the people who should have had at least one day of genuine apology. I personally feel much the same about the Stolen Generations Apology, that I had hoped would be much more than just one day, and it's really not my place to say much more than that because I am not an Aboriginal person.
It is not for me to tell Aboriginal people about their experiences. But I'm well happy for them to express their opinions, concerns, etc, to me...and they do.
But I digress: Is Mr Crean simply setting himself up (or being set up) for a Messiahnaic Re-de-volution as the former current leader of a Labor Party that is an exact replica of the Liberal Party?
And I'm sure that we will all be the winners.....yeah, that's sarcasm.
I've already heard a number of 'commentators' stating how noble Creany is by sacrificing himself for the good of the party, and this is Rudd's fault, etc. Listening right now to Crean saying that Rudd supporters urged him to do this, Rudd says he texted Crean saying 'I won't run', etc.
Did I mention my head hurts? I thought I had a bunch of opinions, but the more I learn about politics, the more I understand the fundamental reality that we all edit what we hear, it's editted before we hear it, and our eyes do deceive us...all of our senses deceive us....and even if you watch/read/write enough political debate that your head explodes, your own personal biases will decide for you the veracity of the argument.
Again, I don't have that problem...I hate all of them equally....ahahaha
But Simon Crean, the Minister for the Regional Dismantling of Australia....oh, bazinga, I've been dying to use that one...but seriously... Mr Crean; dead set champ, your response to those who were deeply offended by your ludicrous behaviour, both of which I've just heard on ABC Radio news (complaint and response), your response was un-acceptable.
I would hope that the specific quote is repeatedly raised with Mr Crean, indeed preferrably shoved quite emphatically right in his face. I do not have it to hand but it shouldn't be hard to find somewhere in the ether.
If I may paraphrase...'stuff happens, get over it'...
A 'Fifth Columnist' is someone who pats you on the back to find where the knife will go in easiest, someone who pretends to help, to sympathise, etc, but actually seeks to undermine and betray. So to the Ruddmeister, Simon Crean is the fifth column, but to Gillard and Co, he is the vanguard.
To everybody else he's just another tool...ohh, it's a bazingafest...
But who knows, maybe he had to shank Rudd to get to Gillard's back...at this point I do not know and nothing would surprise me, but whatever, his nick-name should be Smokey....Smokey S Crean....a very tired bazinga.
Tomorrow: Fundamental
One of my favourite words, and what you do with that tiny percentage of your tax dollar that goes toward paying my Disability Support Pension.....well, if one cannot laugh at oneself....
No Arvo (afternoon) Post this Arvo, but Tomorrow Arvo: TFTIM Mayor Steve Perryman
Has anybody ever before called a leadership spill against a leader whom they do actually support, and then nominated themselves as potential new deputy leader? Sorry, that is a genuine question...I don't know...maybe it isn't so unusual...I am not a political expert by any means, but it does seem really odd.
However, to my mind, Simon Crean has acted on behalf of Julia Gillard not against her.
Oh, I'm so confused...my head hurts already...and it appears that my malady is contagious because I'm watching various commentators over the last 48 hours saying much the same thing...oh, yeah...except for former Labor advisor and Gillard supporter Cassandra Wilkinson (I think that is her name-sorry)(on the ABC The Drum program)...yet another example of an intelligent person whose opinion is entirely compromised by their subjective attachment to the subject matter.
I don't have that problem.....when it comes to politics, I have a bristling, almost resentful loathing for pretty much everybody involved....so no problem there.
Right, let's deal with what has happened for sure ...and hopefully the rest will follow.
On the day they apparently wanted to apologise to those who suffered the horrors of Forced Adoption, the Gillard Labor government decided to have a leadership squabble that pretty much everyone else doesn't care about. I have made jokes about swearing, but neither is appropriate in this context.
It is not bizarre; it is a fundamentally selfish and otherwise in-explicable piece of stupidity; an absolute insult to all of the people who should have had at least one day of genuine apology. I personally feel much the same about the Stolen Generations Apology, that I had hoped would be much more than just one day, and it's really not my place to say much more than that because I am not an Aboriginal person.
It is not for me to tell Aboriginal people about their experiences. But I'm well happy for them to express their opinions, concerns, etc, to me...and they do.
But I digress: Is Mr Crean simply setting himself up (or being set up) for a Messiahnaic Re-de-volution as the former current leader of a Labor Party that is an exact replica of the Liberal Party?
And I'm sure that we will all be the winners.....yeah, that's sarcasm.
I've already heard a number of 'commentators' stating how noble Creany is by sacrificing himself for the good of the party, and this is Rudd's fault, etc. Listening right now to Crean saying that Rudd supporters urged him to do this, Rudd says he texted Crean saying 'I won't run', etc.
Did I mention my head hurts? I thought I had a bunch of opinions, but the more I learn about politics, the more I understand the fundamental reality that we all edit what we hear, it's editted before we hear it, and our eyes do deceive us...all of our senses deceive us....and even if you watch/read/write enough political debate that your head explodes, your own personal biases will decide for you the veracity of the argument.
Again, I don't have that problem...I hate all of them equally....ahahaha
But Simon Crean, the Minister for the Regional Dismantling of Australia....oh, bazinga, I've been dying to use that one...but seriously... Mr Crean; dead set champ, your response to those who were deeply offended by your ludicrous behaviour, both of which I've just heard on ABC Radio news (complaint and response), your response was un-acceptable.
I would hope that the specific quote is repeatedly raised with Mr Crean, indeed preferrably shoved quite emphatically right in his face. I do not have it to hand but it shouldn't be hard to find somewhere in the ether.
If I may paraphrase...'stuff happens, get over it'...
A 'Fifth Columnist' is someone who pats you on the back to find where the knife will go in easiest, someone who pretends to help, to sympathise, etc, but actually seeks to undermine and betray. So to the Ruddmeister, Simon Crean is the fifth column, but to Gillard and Co, he is the vanguard.
To everybody else he's just another tool...ohh, it's a bazingafest...
But who knows, maybe he had to shank Rudd to get to Gillard's back...at this point I do not know and nothing would surprise me, but whatever, his nick-name should be Smokey....Smokey S Crean....a very tired bazinga.
Tomorrow: Fundamental
One of my favourite words, and what you do with that tiny percentage of your tax dollar that goes toward paying my Disability Support Pension.....well, if one cannot laugh at oneself....
No Arvo (afternoon) Post this Arvo, but Tomorrow Arvo: TFTIM Mayor Steve Perryman
Friday, March 22, 2013
TFTIM: MLC Anne Bressington
Such a long day...must post....so many opinions...
Ms Bressington convened/attended the Anti-Flouridation Meeting held at St Martins Lutheran School in late 2010 ( sorry-I'll have to check date) and I spoke to her afterwards in her car in the carpark about the Statutory Authorities Review Committee and St Martins (previous posts).
We met again the next day (with another father) and discussed her position as a member of the SARC and the issues with Child Abuse at St Martins, and how it had been handled by authorities, and of course particularly the Teachers Registration Board, etc.
She heavily criticised former MLC Nick Xenophon (who helped establish the SARC Inquiry that she was a member of) as being a "fifth columnist" who had deliberately led us into an Inquiry that would not achieve anything, and I defended Mr Xenophon as per my previous blog, that is, he didn't have to do anything and what he did do gave us an 'official credibility'.
In response to our concerns (indeed sharing our concerns) that the SARC would simply be another official failure, Ms Bressington promised us she would produce a "Dissenting Report", but I am unaware of any such report.
Instead, Ms Bressington has signed her name to the final report. Check it out for yourself on Hansard; SARC Report no.54.
Ms Bressington was not present when I gave evidence to the SARC but we had already discussed the realities of the St Martins Child Abuse Cover-up, and as far as I'm concerned, signing that Report no.54, makes her part of the Cover-up....I would be genuinely happy to be very wrong....
I literally don't know what else to say. Please read my previous posts to understand why I would be so angry and so sad that this is what people do...turn their backs....what's that thing about no evil in the world, only good people who see wrong doing and look away...something, something....
Tomorrow: Simon Crean - The One Man Fifth Column
Please, please, please tell me nobody's going for this latest farcical Clash of the Demigogues currently being rammed down our throats by Simon Crean, as anything more than orchestrated pantomime with solely one motivation...to stuff up Kevin Rudd.
It is absolute rubbish that Crean is acting like an 'Elder Statesman for the good of the party', but even that shows the focus....the Party not the people.
Ms Bressington convened/attended the Anti-Flouridation Meeting held at St Martins Lutheran School in late 2010 ( sorry-I'll have to check date) and I spoke to her afterwards in her car in the carpark about the Statutory Authorities Review Committee and St Martins (previous posts).
We met again the next day (with another father) and discussed her position as a member of the SARC and the issues with Child Abuse at St Martins, and how it had been handled by authorities, and of course particularly the Teachers Registration Board, etc.
She heavily criticised former MLC Nick Xenophon (who helped establish the SARC Inquiry that she was a member of) as being a "fifth columnist" who had deliberately led us into an Inquiry that would not achieve anything, and I defended Mr Xenophon as per my previous blog, that is, he didn't have to do anything and what he did do gave us an 'official credibility'.
In response to our concerns (indeed sharing our concerns) that the SARC would simply be another official failure, Ms Bressington promised us she would produce a "Dissenting Report", but I am unaware of any such report.
Instead, Ms Bressington has signed her name to the final report. Check it out for yourself on Hansard; SARC Report no.54.
Ms Bressington was not present when I gave evidence to the SARC but we had already discussed the realities of the St Martins Child Abuse Cover-up, and as far as I'm concerned, signing that Report no.54, makes her part of the Cover-up....I would be genuinely happy to be very wrong....
I literally don't know what else to say. Please read my previous posts to understand why I would be so angry and so sad that this is what people do...turn their backs....what's that thing about no evil in the world, only good people who see wrong doing and look away...something, something....
Tomorrow: Simon Crean - The One Man Fifth Column
Please, please, please tell me nobody's going for this latest farcical Clash of the Demigogues currently being rammed down our throats by Simon Crean, as anything more than orchestrated pantomime with solely one motivation...to stuff up Kevin Rudd.
It is absolute rubbish that Crean is acting like an 'Elder Statesman for the good of the party', but even that shows the focus....the Party not the people.
Dental As Anything - Tanya Plibersek Stole My Teefff
Immediate apology for a technical error in that Ms Plibersek didn't write directly to me or specifically sign her name to any correspondence, but the two letters I refer to below are both headed thus;
and the 'reminder' letter I received in October 2012 (?)* states that;
"On 29 August 2012 the Minister for Health, the Hon Tanya Plibersek MP, announced
a $4.1 billion Dental Reform package. This package builds a fairer dental system."
*(sorry, could have been as late as November; first letter Sept/October; both letters unsigned and undated
and received well after the issues already covered in media)
I have previously referred to the CDDS as the Enhanced Dental Care Scheme...that is how it was originally described to me...same animal.
As a former Cancer patient (previous post) I was extremely fortunate to qualify for and be put on the CDDS in April 2011 when a new dentist happened to begin practising in Mt Gambier who happened to be accepting CDDS patients; at the time I had a bad cyst under one tooth and a second infection starting to develop on the other side under another tooth.
Within weeks the infections were resolved, and within months the rest of my teeth were effectively saved; I only lost one tooth....good dentistry...good dentistry.
When that dentist left Mt Gambier (early 2012) the other dentist took over her CDDS patients, as per previous post...good humanity...good humanity.
I did have to pay the 'gap' of about $1,000 across 18 months, but I have received approx $3,500 of funding for work that would not have been done at the Mount Gambier Hospital because the public dental services have a specific limit as to how much time and money they are allowed to spend per tooth...literally.
I do not know exactly what these limits are, and even whether they are officially 'written down' somewhere, or if dentists are officially told, whatever...the limit exists and its a very low bar.
The two tooth-saving 'root canals' that I had treated under CDDS would not have survived the South Australian Public Dental Service cost criteria...three teeth gone.
The remaining CDDS work saved two more teeth with major cavities, and fixed several other problematic teeth with minor cavities, etc...five teeth gone and more still going.
I have spoken to several other people who have accessed the CDDS at different stages, and unfortunately a couple of those could not get their work completed, and others who failed to qualify despite having quite obvious dental health issues, not least of all because they've shown me..."...I've got this rotten tooth here, look....", etc.
The current Public Dental Service waiting time in Mt Gambier is 4 years...four years...not days...or weeks...or even months...years...I chose a bad expletive deleted week to give up expletive deleted swearing!
And that is why Ms Plibersek's letters are so offensive, because she either just doesn't know or jusn't care that she/the Gillard Labor Government are destroying a system that clearly does work, and dumping those patients back into the already chronically over-loaded PDS;
"Most patients who accessed services under the Chronic Disease Dental Scheme are
eligible for services in public dental services. From December 2012, $344 million will
be available to the states and territories for public dental services to assist many former
Chronic Disease patients to get access to public dental services much sooner.
From July 2014, an additional $1.3 billion will be prepared to the states and territories to
further strengthen the public dental system and get services to those people most in need."
That is throwing responsibility to the states and territories, and particularly in South Australia, means that whatever small sums do actually eventuate for SA will be spent entirely in Adelaide.
Far more likely that that money sees new chairs in the Premier's office before it does in the SA PBS.
Destroying a system that is working and dumping those patients back into a PDS that isn't, and then blaming that demise on a few alleged rorts and/or the dentists, and trying to excuse the whole thing with empty promises of an un-funded program that they will never get to implement because of the electoral backlash they are sailing into....expletive deleted....explet....wait...^#@**)@$?><?))#.....oh yeah....*^*$#@%?>? @*%)_##.....that's the stuff....
I reiterate: proper school based dental clinics offering on-site early childhood intervention using trainee technicians, etc, in a preventative strategy, with mobile units for Regional areas. This also frees up the PDS to address current adult problems....it is just that simple.
And get that flouride crap out of the water supply; it is undeniably a scattergun application of an alleged medication via the water supply...which reminds me...
Ms Plibersek was recently on Q and A (an ABC TV political panel show) slinging the same sloppy non-science and personal denigration at Flouridation opponents as Paul Willis (of Catalyst) recently did on the ABC Radio (as per previous post).....I feel a song coming on....
Well I do know why I came here to write,
I got a feelin' that somethin' ain't right,
So scared we'll lose all of our dental chairs,
And I don't know how I'm not goin' to swear,
Clowns to the Left of Julia, Jokers to the Right,
Here I am, stuck in the middle with you. (extreme apologies to all musicians concerned)
I am not a dentist, doctor, health technician, etc, please access professional health advice should you require it, however, some truths are 'self-evident' - the best way to address dental health issues is always by prevention, by pre-emptive programs of education and regular childhood check-ups.
This Arvo: TFTIM: MLC Anne Bressigton
oh boy...the excitement (yes, that is absolutely sarcasm)
Australian Government
Department of Health and Ageing
Notice To Patients
Closure of the Medicare Chronic Disease Dental Scheme
"On 29 August 2012 the Minister for Health, the Hon Tanya Plibersek MP, announced
a $4.1 billion Dental Reform package. This package builds a fairer dental system."
*(sorry, could have been as late as November; first letter Sept/October; both letters unsigned and undated
and received well after the issues already covered in media)
I have previously referred to the CDDS as the Enhanced Dental Care Scheme...that is how it was originally described to me...same animal.
As a former Cancer patient (previous post) I was extremely fortunate to qualify for and be put on the CDDS in April 2011 when a new dentist happened to begin practising in Mt Gambier who happened to be accepting CDDS patients; at the time I had a bad cyst under one tooth and a second infection starting to develop on the other side under another tooth.
Within weeks the infections were resolved, and within months the rest of my teeth were effectively saved; I only lost one tooth....good dentistry...good dentistry.
When that dentist left Mt Gambier (early 2012) the other dentist took over her CDDS patients, as per previous post...good humanity...good humanity.
I did have to pay the 'gap' of about $1,000 across 18 months, but I have received approx $3,500 of funding for work that would not have been done at the Mount Gambier Hospital because the public dental services have a specific limit as to how much time and money they are allowed to spend per tooth...literally.
I do not know exactly what these limits are, and even whether they are officially 'written down' somewhere, or if dentists are officially told, whatever...the limit exists and its a very low bar.
The two tooth-saving 'root canals' that I had treated under CDDS would not have survived the South Australian Public Dental Service cost criteria...three teeth gone.
The remaining CDDS work saved two more teeth with major cavities, and fixed several other problematic teeth with minor cavities, etc...five teeth gone and more still going.
I have spoken to several other people who have accessed the CDDS at different stages, and unfortunately a couple of those could not get their work completed, and others who failed to qualify despite having quite obvious dental health issues, not least of all because they've shown me..."...I've got this rotten tooth here, look....", etc.
The current Public Dental Service waiting time in Mt Gambier is 4 years...four years...not days...or weeks...or even months...years...I chose a bad expletive deleted week to give up expletive deleted swearing!
And that is why Ms Plibersek's letters are so offensive, because she either just doesn't know or jusn't care that she/the Gillard Labor Government are destroying a system that clearly does work, and dumping those patients back into the already chronically over-loaded PDS;
"Most patients who accessed services under the Chronic Disease Dental Scheme are
eligible for services in public dental services. From December 2012, $344 million will
be available to the states and territories for public dental services to assist many former
Chronic Disease patients to get access to public dental services much sooner.
From July 2014, an additional $1.3 billion will be prepared to the states and territories to
further strengthen the public dental system and get services to those people most in need."
That is throwing responsibility to the states and territories, and particularly in South Australia, means that whatever small sums do actually eventuate for SA will be spent entirely in Adelaide.
Far more likely that that money sees new chairs in the Premier's office before it does in the SA PBS.
Destroying a system that is working and dumping those patients back into a PDS that isn't, and then blaming that demise on a few alleged rorts and/or the dentists, and trying to excuse the whole thing with empty promises of an un-funded program that they will never get to implement because of the electoral backlash they are sailing into....expletive deleted....explet....wait...^#@**)@$?><?))#.....oh yeah....*^*$#@%?>? @*%)_##.....that's the stuff....
I reiterate: proper school based dental clinics offering on-site early childhood intervention using trainee technicians, etc, in a preventative strategy, with mobile units for Regional areas. This also frees up the PDS to address current adult problems....it is just that simple.
And get that flouride crap out of the water supply; it is undeniably a scattergun application of an alleged medication via the water supply...which reminds me...
Ms Plibersek was recently on Q and A (an ABC TV political panel show) slinging the same sloppy non-science and personal denigration at Flouridation opponents as Paul Willis (of Catalyst) recently did on the ABC Radio (as per previous post).....I feel a song coming on....
Well I do know why I came here to write,
I got a feelin' that somethin' ain't right,
So scared we'll lose all of our dental chairs,
And I don't know how I'm not goin' to swear,
Clowns to the Left of Julia, Jokers to the Right,
Here I am, stuck in the middle with you. (extreme apologies to all musicians concerned)
I am not a dentist, doctor, health technician, etc, please access professional health advice should you require it, however, some truths are 'self-evident' - the best way to address dental health issues is always by prevention, by pre-emptive programs of education and regular childhood check-ups.
This Arvo: TFTIM: MLC Anne Bressigton
oh boy...the excitement (yes, that is absolutely sarcasm)
Thursday, March 21, 2013
TFTIM: Former MLC Nick Xenophon
In previous posts about the Child Abuse Cover-Up at St Martins Lutheran School, Mount Gambier, I have regularly mentioned Senator Nick Xenophon (Federal Upper House) and his role in establishing the Statutury Authorities Review Committee Inquiry into the Teachers Registration Board October 2008-July 2011 as then Member of the Legislative Council (Upper House of parliament in South Australia).
Mr Xenophon travelled to Mount Gambier in Sept 2006 specifically to meet myself and four other parents at one families home.
We spent well over two hours (nearly 3?) decribing what our children had been through and the failures of the 'Child Protection System', the outrageous response from the Lutherans in attacking us parents, etc.
Mr Xenophon repeatedly expressed his concern and sympathy, asking over and over 'why didn't police do this?'; 'why didn't the police do that?'; 'why didn't your lawyer tell you this?; 'why didn't so and so do such and such?'.....for over 2 hours.
Literally every response from parents brought a furrowed brow, a shaking of the head, and a furious scribbling of notes. He was, I believe, genuinely shocked at the length and breadth of the Cover-Up.
Parts of his statement made in the parliament in September 2007 calling for the SARC Inquiry was reported in The Border Watch October 2nd 2008;
"I believe that their concerns about process are legitimate, their concerns about the way
the matter was dealt with are legitimate, and they ought to be the subject of an Inquiry."
On ABC Local Radio Mr Xenophon stated;
"...as a parent, I'm glad it hasn't happened to me."
Please refer to the many previous posts on this issue (and indeed the many to come, eg, I haven't finished with the Crown Solicitors Office, barely started on the Lutherans themselves, and have merely scratched the surface with SAPol, etc) to understand what it is that Mr Xenophon is referring to specifically when he states that, "...their concerns...are legitimate...".
Numerous people, eg, MLC Anne Bressington, have alleged that Mr Xenophon is a 'fifth columnist' who deliberately helped Rann Labor lead us into an Inquiry that had no power to resolve anything, in effect a protracted dead end....interesting observation from Ms Bressington a member of the SARC, whom sat on the TRB Inquiry.
I believe that Mr Xenophon got us the insipid Inquiry he knew he could get established, as opposed to trying for a more powerful Inquiry that neither major party would allow....must keep those skeletons in those closets.
I believe that he gave us the credibility of an official parliamentary Inquiry in a context where he didn't have to do a single thing.
And Ms Bressington; still waiting for that Dissenting Report (to the SARC Report no 54) you promised me to my face....oh, and of course there was another father there so that's technically a witness to a verbal contract blah, blah, blah... now that deserves it's own post;
Tomorrow Arvo: TFTIM - MLC Anne Bressington
whom I met at the Anti Flouride meeting held at St Martins in 2010, which works very nicely because,
Tomorrow: Dental As Anything - Tanya Plibersek Stole My Teeff
I must remember to write to Ms Plibersek to thank her for;
(1) cancelling (December 2012) the excellent Enhanced Dental Care Scheme that has saved
many of my teeth well into the future, and then;
(2) writing to me to explain what a huge favour she'd done me by destroying my dental care,
followed by ludicrous, un-funded promises of some super new service to be introduced in 2014.
Mr Xenophon travelled to Mount Gambier in Sept 2006 specifically to meet myself and four other parents at one families home.
We spent well over two hours (nearly 3?) decribing what our children had been through and the failures of the 'Child Protection System', the outrageous response from the Lutherans in attacking us parents, etc.
Mr Xenophon repeatedly expressed his concern and sympathy, asking over and over 'why didn't police do this?'; 'why didn't the police do that?'; 'why didn't your lawyer tell you this?; 'why didn't so and so do such and such?'.....for over 2 hours.
Literally every response from parents brought a furrowed brow, a shaking of the head, and a furious scribbling of notes. He was, I believe, genuinely shocked at the length and breadth of the Cover-Up.
Parts of his statement made in the parliament in September 2007 calling for the SARC Inquiry was reported in The Border Watch October 2nd 2008;
"I believe that their concerns about process are legitimate, their concerns about the way
the matter was dealt with are legitimate, and they ought to be the subject of an Inquiry."
On ABC Local Radio Mr Xenophon stated;
"...as a parent, I'm glad it hasn't happened to me."
Please refer to the many previous posts on this issue (and indeed the many to come, eg, I haven't finished with the Crown Solicitors Office, barely started on the Lutherans themselves, and have merely scratched the surface with SAPol, etc) to understand what it is that Mr Xenophon is referring to specifically when he states that, "...their concerns...are legitimate...".
Numerous people, eg, MLC Anne Bressington, have alleged that Mr Xenophon is a 'fifth columnist' who deliberately helped Rann Labor lead us into an Inquiry that had no power to resolve anything, in effect a protracted dead end....interesting observation from Ms Bressington a member of the SARC, whom sat on the TRB Inquiry.
I believe that Mr Xenophon got us the insipid Inquiry he knew he could get established, as opposed to trying for a more powerful Inquiry that neither major party would allow....must keep those skeletons in those closets.
I believe that he gave us the credibility of an official parliamentary Inquiry in a context where he didn't have to do a single thing.
And Ms Bressington; still waiting for that Dissenting Report (to the SARC Report no 54) you promised me to my face....oh, and of course there was another father there so that's technically a witness to a verbal contract blah, blah, blah... now that deserves it's own post;
Tomorrow Arvo: TFTIM - MLC Anne Bressington
whom I met at the Anti Flouride meeting held at St Martins in 2010, which works very nicely because,
Tomorrow: Dental As Anything - Tanya Plibersek Stole My Teeff
I must remember to write to Ms Plibersek to thank her for;
(1) cancelling (December 2012) the excellent Enhanced Dental Care Scheme that has saved
many of my teeth well into the future, and then;
(2) writing to me to explain what a huge favour she'd done me by destroying my dental care,
followed by ludicrous, un-funded promises of some super new service to be introduced in 2014.
Tonight at Mt Gambier City Council - 19/03/13
This exciting new series of posts is not generated by a desire to embarass or ridicule Council....they do enough of that for themselves....a very small and highly predictable bazinga; and in future will be posted the evening of the meeting or next day.
I genuinely appreciate the feedback I'm receiving 'off-blog' (and some of it is actually quite positive), and if there is something you see you know is wrong, or you have specific information to contribute, etc, please let me know.
Mt Gambier City Council meetings are a farcical 'Ground Hog Day' rubber-stamping of matters that are decided outside the Chamber; there have been at least two internal complaints about exactly this.
I view with grave concern that Council's Development Assessment Panel members are the same people involved in those complaints; and the appalling self-interest and gross nepotism of their decisions are there for all to see in the ugly, pointless, elitist Main Corner....annex...thingy...building...corner of an old aircraft hangar randomly slammed into the side of a beautiful, heritage-listed building...fiscal black-hole...etc.
There also appears to be a direct connection between how funding is approved for many other projects, eg, sports facility upgrades, and Councillor's connection with those clubs, organisations, etc.
Most extraordinary is the conduct of Councillor's when it comes to issues of 'Conflicts of Interests'.
This is covered in numerous previous posts.
For example; the massive Main Corner cost blow-outs that included a near million dollar Commercial Kitchen, creating a brand new function facility that Mayor Steve Perryman and Councillor Des Mutton's son Lachlan tendered for, and Mutton Jnr was subsequently given exclusive, free control of the entire facility and exclusive catering rights to the many functions that Council forces through there.
Millions of dollars of rate-payers money spent on an entirely un-neccesary function facility, then handed free of charge to a Councillor's son....
I know I've said it all before but it just doesn't get any less corrupt by just talking about it; and I apologise that I have not taken these issues to SAPol, the Ombudsman, etc, as promised, but I have no faith they'll move on any of it and/or it'll disappear into the 'Star Chamber' style secrecy of the ICAC for years and nothing will happen...that's why you set up a 'secret ICAC'...We've been put through that crap time and again with the St Martins Child Abuse Cover-Up.
On 19/03/13 Cr Lee suddenly excused himself on 'Conflict of Interests' re an already rejected application for a Food Van, but I'm sure he has remained in the Chamber on other occasions when this was discussed, and Cr Mutton whose son owns Sorenttos Cafe stayed put...his behaviour alone on 'CoIs' is random and unprofessional.
I'm certain they both have stayed in the Chamber for many votes on Main Corner issues, eg, the December 2012 meeting in previous post.
Council spent more time (19/03/13) on 'removing native trees from Valley Lake' than any other issue, but that did include Cr Maher quite correctly arguing that not all Eucalypt species are limb-dropping killers and that semi-mature natives should replace those natives removed.
I believe that Council employed professional arborists to assess the trees, but those experts should be looking at the large trees literally right in Council's own front yard, the Cave Gardens.
Ten years ago I was helping set up a stall at the Cave Gardens prior to the Christmas Pageant, when a largish bow fell from the tree nearest the new Library, and landed right where someone was setting up their small ride-on train; if that bow had fallen an hour after the pageant rather than before, dozens of people would have been hit.
I formally urge Council to review those trees that I note are literally being held together by ropes and/or cables tied from one branch to another; I will write to Council today.
It is not disingenuous or irresponsible to suggest that Council has a very specific 'Duty of Care' with those trees and the people of Mt Gambier, because of the Rail Lands Retail Agenda (previous posts).
Instead of events being held at an open Rail Lands Parkland with appropriate permanent cover and suitable native shade trees, an amphitheatre, etc, Council's clearly definable attempts to 'force' the Main Corner onto people (and a lack of alternative) means Council is specifically directing people to be under those dangerous trees.
Has Council had those trees "assessed" by their professionals? Surely they must have, particularly after the limb-fall as above.
Are those trees still standing purely because of where they are?
Is Council knowingly putting people at risk? That is the 'Duty of Care'.
On 19/03/13 Council also approved a new $42,000 car for (Grant Humphries or Daryl Sexton...not sure)
instead of the $30,000 option...but that's just fine according to CEO Mark McShane because the cheaper car somehow 'de-values' twice as much as the expensive one...he's "researched it"...so thorough.
On a much more positive note Council unanimously passed/agreed on a 'Social Inclusion Charter' that should be available on their website or at their offices.
Whilst I genuinely and fully support any such initiative, I haved earned the right through my personal experience of Council, to suggest that Council needs to do more about issues like "Respect" and "Equity" than write it on a page.
Beyond that, I genuinely believe that there are those on Council who are beyond help, beyond ever really having "Respect", or treating the community with "Equity".
I do not believe that the Old Hospital, Rail Lands, New Swimming Pool, or Bus Shelter issues were discussed at all, other than reference to external Committees...guess I'll have to start going to those meetings as well.....
This Arvo: TFTIM former MLC Nick Xenophon
I genuinely appreciate the feedback I'm receiving 'off-blog' (and some of it is actually quite positive), and if there is something you see you know is wrong, or you have specific information to contribute, etc, please let me know.
Mt Gambier City Council meetings are a farcical 'Ground Hog Day' rubber-stamping of matters that are decided outside the Chamber; there have been at least two internal complaints about exactly this.
I view with grave concern that Council's Development Assessment Panel members are the same people involved in those complaints; and the appalling self-interest and gross nepotism of their decisions are there for all to see in the ugly, pointless, elitist Main Corner....annex...thingy...building...corner of an old aircraft hangar randomly slammed into the side of a beautiful, heritage-listed building...fiscal black-hole...etc.
There also appears to be a direct connection between how funding is approved for many other projects, eg, sports facility upgrades, and Councillor's connection with those clubs, organisations, etc.
Most extraordinary is the conduct of Councillor's when it comes to issues of 'Conflicts of Interests'.
This is covered in numerous previous posts.
For example; the massive Main Corner cost blow-outs that included a near million dollar Commercial Kitchen, creating a brand new function facility that Mayor Steve Perryman and Councillor Des Mutton's son Lachlan tendered for, and Mutton Jnr was subsequently given exclusive, free control of the entire facility and exclusive catering rights to the many functions that Council forces through there.
Millions of dollars of rate-payers money spent on an entirely un-neccesary function facility, then handed free of charge to a Councillor's son....
I know I've said it all before but it just doesn't get any less corrupt by just talking about it; and I apologise that I have not taken these issues to SAPol, the Ombudsman, etc, as promised, but I have no faith they'll move on any of it and/or it'll disappear into the 'Star Chamber' style secrecy of the ICAC for years and nothing will happen...that's why you set up a 'secret ICAC'...We've been put through that crap time and again with the St Martins Child Abuse Cover-Up.
On 19/03/13 Cr Lee suddenly excused himself on 'Conflict of Interests' re an already rejected application for a Food Van, but I'm sure he has remained in the Chamber on other occasions when this was discussed, and Cr Mutton whose son owns Sorenttos Cafe stayed put...his behaviour alone on 'CoIs' is random and unprofessional.
I'm certain they both have stayed in the Chamber for many votes on Main Corner issues, eg, the December 2012 meeting in previous post.
Council spent more time (19/03/13) on 'removing native trees from Valley Lake' than any other issue, but that did include Cr Maher quite correctly arguing that not all Eucalypt species are limb-dropping killers and that semi-mature natives should replace those natives removed.
I believe that Council employed professional arborists to assess the trees, but those experts should be looking at the large trees literally right in Council's own front yard, the Cave Gardens.
Ten years ago I was helping set up a stall at the Cave Gardens prior to the Christmas Pageant, when a largish bow fell from the tree nearest the new Library, and landed right where someone was setting up their small ride-on train; if that bow had fallen an hour after the pageant rather than before, dozens of people would have been hit.
I formally urge Council to review those trees that I note are literally being held together by ropes and/or cables tied from one branch to another; I will write to Council today.
It is not disingenuous or irresponsible to suggest that Council has a very specific 'Duty of Care' with those trees and the people of Mt Gambier, because of the Rail Lands Retail Agenda (previous posts).
Instead of events being held at an open Rail Lands Parkland with appropriate permanent cover and suitable native shade trees, an amphitheatre, etc, Council's clearly definable attempts to 'force' the Main Corner onto people (and a lack of alternative) means Council is specifically directing people to be under those dangerous trees.
Has Council had those trees "assessed" by their professionals? Surely they must have, particularly after the limb-fall as above.
Are those trees still standing purely because of where they are?
Is Council knowingly putting people at risk? That is the 'Duty of Care'.
On 19/03/13 Council also approved a new $42,000 car for (Grant Humphries or Daryl Sexton...not sure)
instead of the $30,000 option...but that's just fine according to CEO Mark McShane because the cheaper car somehow 'de-values' twice as much as the expensive one...he's "researched it"...so thorough.
On a much more positive note Council unanimously passed/agreed on a 'Social Inclusion Charter' that should be available on their website or at their offices.
Whilst I genuinely and fully support any such initiative, I haved earned the right through my personal experience of Council, to suggest that Council needs to do more about issues like "Respect" and "Equity" than write it on a page.
Beyond that, I genuinely believe that there are those on Council who are beyond help, beyond ever really having "Respect", or treating the community with "Equity".
I do not believe that the Old Hospital, Rail Lands, New Swimming Pool, or Bus Shelter issues were discussed at all, other than reference to external Committees...guess I'll have to start going to those meetings as well.....
This Arvo: TFTIM former MLC Nick Xenophon
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