Child gang rapists jailed on Childhood Hero Day
June 13, 2008
Remember the ten-year-old Aboriginal girl, gang raped in Aurukun? Judge Sarah Bradley (Cairns) let the rapists off.
QLD allows gang rape of 10 year olds if 10 year olds say yes.
Today, Childhood Hero Day, the men rapists have been sentenced to six years jail and the juvenile perpetrators involved, sentenced to three years jail each.
Just in from news.com.au:
Five Aurukun rapists jailed
THREE men and two youths who originally escaped jail for raping a 10-year-old girl at the remote community of Aurukun were today jailed by the Court of Appeal.
Three adults were each jailed for six years and two juveniles were jailed for three years, the Courier-Mail reported.
Four other juveniles were sentenced to three years’ probation.
Attorney-General Kerry Shine had ordered the appeal after non-custodial sentences were given to the nine accused by Cairns District Court - prompting a public outcry against Judge Sarah Bradley’s handling of the case.
The accused, who range in age between 13 and 25, raped the girl at the Aurukun community on various dates in 2005.
In all but one of the cases the girl did not resist - but under Queensland law any child under that age is regarded as not having the capacity to consent to sex.
Solicitor-General Walter Sofronoff QC argued precedent cases showed any adult or juvenile who raped a 10-year-old girl should go to jail unless there were exceptional circumstances - of which there were none in the current case.
Ken Fleming QC, for the nine men, argued the decay of the Aurukun community was an exceptional reason to keep the men out of jail or detention.
Thank goodness for a judicial review, appeal and re sentencing. While the little girl gets life, at least some legal justice has now been offered and the perpetrators punished. Appropriate sentencing for Childhood Hero Day.
What’s your thoughts on the sentences child rapists receive?
Donate today on Childhood Hero Day
June 13, 2008
It is Childhood Hero Day today. A day for all of us ordinary folk to become super natural and full of super powers.
What super power do you choose to buy from the hero shop? I choose bionic listening so that I can hear beyond the words and into the emotional intelligence of our kids. The reason we have two ears and only one mouth is because it is twice as hard to listen as it is to talk. The silence around child abuse is entrenched so my ears may just need that hero boost of super power to help kids that need help.
Over at Birdwing Therapies, Keran talks about the power of one: the power of one person and one dollar to make a difference in the life of a hurt Australian child. If we each shut our eyes, our ears and our hearts to the plight of abused children then we are allowing the abuse to continue and there will be no one to be a hero. Herohood is expensive and not well funded by governments: nor is it government’s job to fully fund. If we each open our eyes, our ears and our hearts and give just $1.00 then we prove we are a nation of heroes, a nation of doers and a nation that values our future.
I hear Keran’s sentiment of the power of one: I, for one, are willing to help make a difference in the life of an abused child. I was donating $25.00 and an additional $1.00 for each person who blogged about childhood hero day and linked back to my post. There’s only $5.00 so far. PLEASE, there’s still time. Blog about childhood hero day now and help Imaginif to increase our corporate donation - you have until 4pm. I will make my donation at 4.30pm. On top of this, I will add the power of $1.00 to each of my ears. I now bequeath $27.00 plus a dollar for each Childhood Hero Day blog post that links back to mine (current total for Imaginif to donate to the Australian Childhood Foundation for Childhood Hero Day is $32.00).
Be the change you want, hero day June 13
What will you do with the power of one today?
Donate to Childhood Hero Day
Every dollar is a super human hero intervention into the insidious cycle of child abuse in Australia.
If you prefer to see something for your donation: buy a hero cape or badge (only $5.00 or $3.00)
Thanks to these hero bloggers who care about abused kids:
Heroes Dig Australian Childhood Foundations (Birdwing Therapies)
Childhood Hero Day June 13 (Adelaide Green Porridge Cafe)
Childhood Hero Day June 13 (Jean Burman, Cairns artist)
Childhood Hero Day (Three Times Kewl)
Australian Hero
June 7, 2008
Next Friday, June 13 2008 is
Childhood Hero Day
Are you ready?
Buy a cape or badge here
Find out more about Childhood Hero Day here
Make your donation to Childhood Hero Day here
Find out more about the Australian Childhood Foundation here.
Sustainable Childhood Heroes
June 3, 2008
Buy a cape for Childhood Hero Day on June 13 and make it a donation that feeds threefold:
- A donation to the Australian Childhood Foundation,
- a cape to wear on Childhood Hero Day (June 13) and
- an apron for when you are finished. I know my boys think I am an ongoing hero in the kitchen so now I have the sustainable fashion to prove it (pictured)
Become the change you want,
hero day June 13
There’s still time to get your cape or badges and to be an everyday childhood hero.
PS: Check our Cairns artist Jean Burman’s post and cartoon: Childhood Hero Day June 13. Thanks Jean. You are a childhood hero.
Child search for a hero
May 29, 2008
We all need another hero. Are you that hero?
Are you ready to wear your hero cape and badge on June 13?
As a hero what will you change?
Be the change you want,
hero day June 13
Australian Childhood Foundation is encouraging us all to become childhood heroes on June 13. Funds raised from the sale of capes, badges and Christmas Cards go toward ensuring Australian children affected by child abuse have the best treatment and best outcomes we can give them. Damn but our kids need that.
Treating child abuse is expensive. Buying a cape for $5.00 or a badge for $3.00 is NOT expensive and IS something most of us can afford. Please help cut through the expense of professional help by buying a cape and becoming a hero.
Make your own donation to Childhood Hero Day here
Buy a cape or badge here
Find out more about Childhood Hero Day here
Find out more about the Australian Childhood Foundation here.
Thanks for being my hero
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