Elation and worries in the Mary Valley, and the depths of despair of children sold to Cambodian brothels were the two stories of the 16 December 09 edition of What’s Going on?
Diet began the Mary Valley report by saying he couldn’t remember the last time he felt such good vibes at a public event as he did on that Saturday 12 December (view photos below) at the Kandanga oval where the Mary Valley people celebrated the stopping of the Traveston dam proposal. “You felt an incredible connectedness and bonding with the 500 people there. But many are worried about what lies ahead, distrustful of the intentions of Anna Bligh’s government.” Mark and Diet moved through the crowd collecting opinions:
(Running time: 4 mins 11 secs)
“Post traumatic shock”
“The after-effects will be with us for years.” Hundreds of metres of knitted scarf symbolising the connectedness of the community. “Overwhelmed with joy.”
Hundreds of metres of knitted scarf to symbolise the valley people’s connectedness.
“
“A lot of uncertainty ahead”
Glenda Pickersgill, president of the Save the Mary Coordinating Group, sees “a lot of uncertainty ahead”. But the creative, skilled and resilient Valley people would cope.
Glenda Pickergill: “A lot of uncertainty ahead”
Gubbi Gubbi Elder, Professor Eve Fesl, said she was proud her people had refused a “three-million-dollar bribe” she claimed was offered by the state government for the tribe to sign away its rights in the valley. She felt great that “Dala” (the lungfish, sacred to her tribe) had been saved for the time being. She fears the state government will do bad things with the land it bought for the dam, “that’s why we need to stick together”.
Victor Hill, sign writing activist, wants to see a promised lungfish research centre established. “We think we should be doing something for the river and species that gave us the win.”
Unnamed man: Playing Peter Garrett’s records again instead of burning them.
Another man: “The Queensland government is going to hatch a plan that we’re not going to like. This is not over yet.”
Kids, including one off a farm, happy to keep the river to swim in.
Tiny tot: “He made the right decision.”
People who moved out of the valley decades ago would have “chained ourselves to trees if that’s what it took”.
Save the Mary merchandise becoming must-have collectibles. Available from http://www.savethemaryriver.com/shop/.
(Running time: 11 mins 04 secs)
“Valley in a very recessed state”
Woman: “Anna Bligh doesn’t listen to anything.”
Warren Truss: “Anna Bligh must make peace with the valley people.”
Warren Truss (federal MP): “She needs to make peace with the people of the Mary Valley….People’s lives have been destroyed and interrupted.”
David Gibson (state MP for Gympie): “Peter Beattie and the ALP government had no idea what fight they were getting into when they announced the dam.”
Local councillor, Lew Brennan: As much work ahead on the land issue as there was about the dam. “The valley is in a very recessed state.”
(Running time: 9mins 28 secs)
“There’s a lot of fighting left to do”
Bob Irwin: “Not much hope in Bligh for the environment.”
Scientist Tanzi Smith campaigns for the Mary at the world heritage estuary end. She sees water resource planning, i.e. legislation on water extraction, as the main issue ahead. At the moment there is no guarantee of water flowing down to the estuary, which needs it for its eco system. She now has time to finish her PhD and work on the farm and in the garden.
David White of the Brisbane Mary River Group, said they letterboxed and lobbied candidates for the last state election. They found Brisbane people generally not understanding the issues.
Ian Mackay, writer of flawless campaign media releases, is apprehensive about the future. He argues that the way to stop Southeast Queensland becoming overpopulated is to release less land for settlement. “There’s a lot of fighting left to do.”
Bob Irwin, wildlife and conservation crusader, said, “I don’t hold a lot of hope in Anna Bligh for our environment. She’s made a mess of our koalas and she’s also eating our kangaroos.”
(Running time: 11 mins 10 secs)
A lot more went on at the Mary River victory party than would fit into our hour, so we’re doing a special at 8 pm on the 29th of December.
Cambodian children in living hell
Children from as young as five years are going through living hell in Cambodian brothels. Coast woman Nicky Mih read the gut-wrenching details in a book she borrowed from her local library. It spurred her to action. She’s fact-finding in Cambodia now and hopes to start a support group here when she’s back.
(Running time: 6 mins 18 secs)
All photos with thanks to Brigitte Simon-Enderl
No Comments so far ↓
There are no comments yet...Kick things off by filling out the form below.