What's the rush, worth the rush...
This week saw the launch of a cool new website called
what's the RUSH. Put together by the young people of Launceston College with the assistance of their Alcohol & Drug Counsellor, WTR is a well presented site that provides factual information about alcohol and drug issues in language that teenagers and their parents will understand.
Let's face reality. Some young people will use alcohol and other drugs whether we, as adults and parents, agree or not. That's why its important to talk openly and accurately to young people about the harms associated with alcohol and drug use, and for everyone to be aware of where they can go to get help with these issues.
WTR provides that reference source. As a parent I've bookmarked it and I'll use it. I'll also be letting my 13 year old know about it. I'd like to think she'd talk to me openly when she wants to know more about substance use and/or reality test the messages she's getting from her peers, but if she chooses not to I want her to at least know how to access reliable information such as that available at WTR.
Seeing is believing, so why not check it out for yourself?
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Do not despise the small work...
Here's a really good quote that came to me via my children's school newsletter this week (thanks Fay):
“If we just worry about the big picture, we are powerless.
So my secret is to start right away doing whatever little work I can do… If you and your friends do not despise the small work, a million people will remove a lot of suffering. That is the secret. Start right now.”
Sister Chan Khong, author and Buddhist nun.
What a perfect motto for both this Blog and the great grassroots work it hopes to highlight.
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New research sheds light on the eternal question: what's in it for me?
To round off a big week on a more positive note - recent research published by FACSIA indicates that Corporate Social Responsibility is starting to mature into a core business activity for the top 100 national companies. And the reason? (Unsurprisingly) it's because there
is a lot in it for them. Now if only more Tasmanian enterprises would follow suit we might really be able to change the world (or our part of it)!
To download the Corporate Community Investment in Australia Report: http://www.facsia.gov.au/partnerships/downloads/cci_report_07.pdf.
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What is happening or not happening in Suicide Prevention and/or have Tasmanians totally lost sight of the things that matter most?
Tasmanians, and seemingly Launcestonians, have become an incredibly argumentative lot. Whilst debate is healthy, community feeling lately on issues such as the Pulp Mill and forestry have in my view taken on unnecessarily hysterical, personal and divisive undertones that I think will ultimately be detrimental to us all.
But there are some things that deserve to generate real anger and our apathy to suicide prevention is one of them.
For a start I'm as mad as hell that I live in a society that apparently cares more about the inanimate than its human members. Do we really care more about trees than the fact that we have the second highest suicide rate in this country after the Northern Territory? Surely the prevalence of this epidemic and tragic loss of human potential should get people out into the streets, but much like poverty no one cares unless it affects them personally?
At this point I should say that it is something that has affected me personally through the loss of my brother, so I do care and care deeply. But my brother died in another State and a long time ago now in what is generally assumed to have been less sophisticated and well informed times. It is something that I've always preferred to keep private and deal with in my own way. But in the last few years I've been reawakened to its continued prevalence and the fact that help and education is apparently no better in Tasmania in 2007 than it was in Queensland in 1989.
That prompted me to post a submission to a Tasmanian Parliamentary enquiry into Suicide Prevention Strategies on this Blog in August 2005. Incredibly, despite a death toll well in excess of the road fatality rate, that Report has still not been completed and released.
I was prompted to post again in December 2006 when the State Government's Suicide Prevention Committee announced an independent and extensive community consultation into suicide and prevention measures. Again, I asked what was the point of the Parliamentary enquiry if we were again to enter another protracted round of consultations.
Now seven months on Assoc Professor Des Graham has announced a consultation schedule and online survey. To be honest they look fine, but when are we going to see action?
I'd really love to see more noise about this and less name calling over Gunns and the Pulp Mill. How about it Launceston? Whilst we argue about whether the sun will rise again if the Pulp Mill is built, for some of our neighbours the sun will genuinely never shine again.
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Legislative Council report into Ashley Youth Detention Centre backs need for supported accommodation
Like most weeks lately, it's been another huge week in Tasmanian politics.
Not to be overshadowed by the release of that other report into the Pulp Mill, the Legislative Council Select Committee report into the Ashley Youth Detention Centre was unveiled this week.
In brief I found it a mature, well informed paper which presented 32 well thought out recommendations.
The most relevant with regard to these pages is Recommendation 4:The Government should actively encourage and resource non government organisations to provide supported accommodation for young people on remand and for young people exiting any period of custodial detention;as it effectively endorses the Launceston City Mission's drive to establish Ashley House for those exiting detention.
Of course this recommendation goes further in that it proposes a supported accommodation model as a remand alternative to Ashley, but the reality is that that may be some way off even if the Recommendation is accepted in full. As of now though it is the Mission who have courageously stepped forward to meet the needs of at least some of the young people and they deserve this community's total support. Once again I urge Launcestonians to contribute generously to the Ashley House campaign.
The full LCSC Ashley, Youth Justice & Detention Report is available from http://www.parliament.tas.gov.au/ctee/ashley.htm
Post script - I read in The Examiner of 14 July that LCM have received a grant of $75,000 from the Tasmanian Community Fund for Ashley House. That's great news, but don't think your personal contribution isn't still needed or valed.
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EdZone Photographic Exhibition - Pilgrim Church Cloisters
EdZone is a Department of Education flexible education facility located in the Pilgrim Uniting Church complex in Patterson Street. The results of a recent photographic project featuring the 1942 works of DG Wherrett are currently on exhibition in the Church Cloisters and well worth a look.
The DG Wherrett series from 1942 features black and white images of Launceston streetscapes. EdZone students recently retook those photos from the same angles to provide a fascinating before and after study of the evolution of Launceston. The Queen Victoria Museum & Art Gallery have kindly lent the original photos for the exhibition and the current EdZone series will be donated to their collection at the end of the display.
Given the number of photos the exhibition will feature 3-4 sets of 20 photos, so keep coming back to see the different series.
The EdZone team would love to see the materials collated into a book and published, so if you're able to assist with sponsorship and/or publising expertise please contact EdZone Project Officer, Shaun Hall, on 0400 693 710.
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