21/10/2003

It is so strange how things unfold sometimes, I never know from week to week what will inspirer me to write the newsletter, what you get is what comes to mind, each week when I sit down in front to the computer. It is only then I know what has touched my heart during the week - or what may have got up my nose.

I sit here now and when I went to write this one, I thought so many things have happened, yet I wrote Open letters for the title.

Last weeks newsletter was one I really enjoyed doing and letting you see. Tuesday being the day the internet had real big problems, some of you may not have seen it. http://www.onemindonevoice.org/ow/wasteoftime.html

It's an email to a eleven year old girl in Taiwan, who impressed me with her reciting of my poem, so much so that I have made her the First Ambassador for the Global Children's Alliance, she will be one of our advisors.

I decided to write the letter publicly instead of privately as I felt it was that important and historical.

In between lots of fruitful meeting, catching a bus to the beach with Caitlin, then making more cookies this time with sprinkles and cherries I also went to the speedway with another son and my other two amazing grandchild, slept on the lounge room floor with Maddie in between lots of giggles, seven year olds have the best giggles. I also booking my tickets to Puerto Rico- I find to my delight I will be staying over for a night in San Francisco, caught up with an old friend who used to be a local councillor, who has promised me his computer when he up grades soon. I heard from someone who is planning to build a foot bridge over the Jordan next year, part of a peace project we are now combining together.

Something had been weighing on my mind.

In Queensland we have this inquiry going on, into foster care and the Department of Family Service. A place I know so well, I have been into the bowels of this place and I can tell you first hand it is not a very nice place.

Every day some new and more awful revelations come out at the inquiry. It never shocks me, it disturbs me that nothing has changed or will change until the Minister wakes up.

I called on indigenous people to make submissions to the inquiry- yet I did not make one.

Nor for the past two weeks have I answered the last email I received from the Premier's Department giving me details and contacts for the enquiry.

Yesterday morning I found as I sat down at the computer I needed to write another open letter, this time to the Minister Judy Spence - who now finds herself at the centre of this inquiry.

As it was not newsletter day I decided to send it to people I felt should read it, like Judy Spence and all Queensland politicians.

My reason for the open letter is that anything I say in it, I am happy to say publicly.

One response I received came from the Works and Housing Ministers Department, unsigned so I don't know if it is from the Minister or from someone in his department.

Why is it people are afraid to put their names to what they write? But as I sent my email to the Minister it must be from him you would think?

In huge big letters ( in case I miss the point) he or she informs me of the many virtues of Minister. Judy Spence. she could use it for a reference for her next job :-)

Not once in the email do they mention the children, just the Minister and how amazing she is. I feel that maybe he or she is thinking that the fall out from this enquiry could affect all their jobs if the government changes? he or she is right there.

Going by the way the inquiry is unfolding they have opened a tin of worms.

The funny part is, I do think the Minister has done the best job she could do. I feel really sorry for her, as I know she is a nice person trying to do a good job.

My whole argument in all this is.

The department doesn't work for the Minister or for the children or us, the Minister works for these department people who have been running things for so many years - they think they own it- they feed the Ministers loads of crap the Ministers stand up in Parliament and read out as gospel.

What is the answer??

Widen the inquiry to a Royal Commission like the One into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody was, so the commissioner can go around the state visiting people who are the recipients of the Department of Family Service.

They are people who have things to say - but are not the sort of people who will write a submission - yet they will hold the evidence and the solutions. Yet will go unheard because the enquiry is being held in very governmental unfamiliar surrounding.

That's the reason I have not written a submission to this enquiry - it is my protest on behalf of indigenous people who are the main recipients of the mistreatment of this department, yet they will go unheard again.

All because they don't know what a submission even is. Or they can't write well enough to write one - or they are so busy just surviving to take the time to think about doing one.

It is easy for people who are being paid to write them. again taking the time they should be spending on serving the people.

I wonder how many people in the department have written one, defending themselves yet again. or making all kind of excuses.

The inquiry as it is - is bullshit and crap and while I hold nothing against Judy Spence, I am sorry but how can you all be so blind. The people you should listen to are not in your department. You work for them - not them work for you.

I needed to write an open letter to Minister Judy Spence, unlike the person who sent me the email from the Minister for Works and Housing - I am happy to sign my name to what I write. I also know as it will get to the people I feel should know how I feel, indigenous people who I know will not be writing submission, they are to busy surviving or dying. http://www.onemindonevoice.org/ow/openlettertojudy.html

Have a nice day, I will as I also brought the most amazing book at the op shop the other day, titled Passionate Love Letter. A beautiful book with copies of some very famous love letters tucked in envelopes on some pages. I am sure these where not meant to be read by me. Why is it we like to read other peoples letters?

I best get going have an ABC radio interview this morning at 9.15, perfect timing as it is National Children's Week. Now will I talk about the Global Children's Alliance or will I talk about the inquiry hummmmmmmmmm.

Kerry Bowden
Global Children's Alliance
One Mind One Voice.
A Famility of Humanity
PS: Caitlin say