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7:17AM Monday 08 September, 2008 Sunshine Coast weather Mostly sunny min 11° - max 23°

Noosa Longweekend staff cop abuse

12:00a.m. 18th July 2008

| By Nicola Kerkenezov

Noosa Longweekend staff cop abuse

Gail Hewton and Karen Mitchell attend the Noosa Longweekend launch at the Regional Gallery. Photo: Che Chapman / n20230e

The Noosa Longweekend Festival celebrations came to a close on a sour note this week when two staff members were verbally assaulted by residents upset by premier Anna Bligh’s invitation to attend the event’s launch.

Festival president Karen Mitchell yesterday said the incidents were reported to police.

She said a female Major Minors workshop co-ordinator was abused in front of children on Saturday at Gympie Terrace, Noosaville, while general manager Gail Hewton was bailed up at the festival office at Noosa Junction on Tuesday morning by an angry letter writer.

“To all those critical of The Noosa Longweekend, inviting the premier of Queensland as the top sponsor to open the 2008 festival, on behalf of the management committee, we only ask please do not directly approach the general manager, festival staff or volunteers with your concerns,” she said in a letter to the Noosa News.

“We are quite distressed to report two members of the festival team (both female) have now been verbally assaulted by a member of the public (male). The latter incident, at the festival office, has been necessarily reported to the police.

“These cowardly acts of bullying are deplorable.

“When we truly should be celebrating such a special festival over the last 10 days in Noosa, we are concerned for the wellbeing of those who have worked exhaustively to present The Noosa Longweekend.”

Ms Mitchell said no one was injured during the incidents but staff members were left shaken.

> More information on the Noosa Longweekend

To request a program visit www.noosalongweekend.com/ email mailto:info@noosalongweekend.com or phone 07 5474 9941.

For bookings please call The J box office on 07 5455 4455, or visit at 60 Noosa Drive, Noosa Junction or check out www.noosalongweekend.com/ from 28 April.

Recent Comments

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Posted by newsblog from Coolum
on 18 July, 2008 at 12:21 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
well maybe these things should be thought about before the most despised woman in queensland's living history is invited into an area where she is most despised...

Makes sense doesnt it/
Posted by colbond from Tewantin
on 18 July, 2008 at 7:54 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
There is no excuse for this sort of behaviour.

On the other hand the organising committee pulled the BOOBOO of the year when they invited this most detestable woman to open the event.

Anna Bligh and her Labor Party cohorts make it appear that THEY, personally made the largest donation to the organising committee, this is not the case, WE, Queensland tax payers made this donation.

Anna Bligh, always looking for publicity, will no doubt take the undeserved credit
Posted by kulangoor_res from kulangoor
on 18 July, 2008 at 8:04 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
no, newsblog, it doesn't
Posted by Excalibur from Doonan
on 18 July, 2008 at 8:39 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
The staff did a good job of organising a successful Festival, which was quite a major undertaking for them.

However, there is tremendous contoversy about the one issue of inviting Anna Bligh to open it and the even more surprising eventuality that she accepted the invitation.

The festival's organisers and supporters are defending the decision and saying that the reaction of the many local people is unreasonable. While probably close to half Noosa's population feel insulted and let down by the decision and are swearing never to support the Festival again.

Looking at it as objectively as possible, it seems to me that the strong reaction from many local people and the suspicion that it could make it even more difficult to stage the Festival next year, suggests that this was not a well thought out decision by the Festival organisers under the circumstances...unless they always had a plan to spend the next 12 months justifying themselves and quelling the local anger.

Perhaps it was a carefully thought out publicity stunt!? That is the only justification which I could see for saying that it was a well thought out decision.
Posted by nobutts from Cmundi
on 18 July, 2008 at 9:08 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Whether you vote Labour, Liberal, National, One Nation, Green, Independent or whatever, if you do not have the decency to respect the Elected official who holds the position, you lose your argument.

The Premier is the Premier and if the elitists in Noosa can’t show respect they do not deserve one cent from the Council, or the State or the Federal Government.

This Festival will be remembered for ALL the wrong reasons.
It has done more harm than good for not only Noosa but the whole of the Sunshine Coast.
Posted by doctor49 from Battery Hill
on 18 July, 2008 at 9:08 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Righteous indignation is fine but doesn't change much. Behaviour such as that described above is ignorant and counter productive. It gives opponents a free kick in front of goal.

If you don't understand and use the political process, as seems to be the case from comments above, you've no real chance of achieving better outcomes.

The Premier has no reason to listen to the Sunshine Coast temper tantrums, she has no seats to lose and no likelihood of winning any here. So the Sunshine Coast leverage is what? And the value the invisible members are adding is what?
Posted by sav77 from Currumundi
on 18 July, 2008 at 9:09 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
A general manager couldn't handle the abuse, why was she the general manger than, isn't it part of the job, having to deal with disgruntle customers.
Posted by Jewel from Maroochydore
on 18 July, 2008 at 9:16 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Hear Hear nobutts. This sort of behavior is disgusting, it shows a plain lack of respect. Whether you like or loathe Anna she is still our Premier!
Get over it Noosa!
Posted by Wellos from Tinbeerwah
on 18 July, 2008 at 9:18 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Most interesting was that the news of Bligh's visit wasn't made public until around 48 hours prior to her appearance. Was this because she didn't confirm earlier? Or was it an orchestrated tactic by the Long Weekend to ensure that no protests or rallies could be organised in time?

Sounds to me like the Longweekend staff are being rather precious and trying to paint themselves as victims. It is not suggested in the report that any violence was either perpetrated nor threatened. I've no idea what transpired, but surely the staff can cope with verbal criticism without running off to the police?
Posted by shatton from Great_Height
on 18 July, 2008 at 9:24 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Doctor49. You seem to believe that everyone needs to show the Premier a level of respect which she has not shown us so far during her short reign. Can I say first that respect can only be earned. It cannot be demanded, nor does it automatically flow to anyone as soon as they are handed a position of trust and power.

Nor is it seemly for rational, free people to grovel in acceptance of anything which a State Government might inflict on them because they are frightened that they don't have any political leverage.
Posted by bugalugs from Buderim
on 18 July, 2008 at 9:43 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
There is no excuse for abuse whether it be physical or verbal. If people cannot express their dissatisfaction in a calm and considered manner, go and yell at a wall. People aren't there, and it doesn't matter whether you are a general mangager or a volunteer, to be verbal punching bags for people with anger management problems. As to the Premiers visit, i am no fan of Anna Bligh but i agree with other correspondents, you respect the position not the person. Noosa is now part of the SCRC for better or worse and enough of the dummy spits; work with what you have got, the rest of the coast has too.
Posted by shatton from Great_Height
on 18 July, 2008 at 10:39 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
bugalugs. Who brought up the SCRC in this? Are you speaking on behalf of the the Sunshine Coast or the Labour Party?

How do you and the rest of the SCRC area feel about some of the Premier's actions towards the Suncoast area south of Noosa?

How do you feel about the tens of thousands of extra people around Buderim without adequate additional infrastructure?

How do you feel about Brisbane building a one way pipeline to siphon your water to Brisbane?

How do you like the 10% Rates hike?

Tell you what. We in Noosa will gladly stop helping you fight your battles if you feel that we are not worthy members of your Region.
Posted by doctor49 from Battery Hill
on 18 July, 2008 at 11:29 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Shatton,

I agree. Pious, Feel Good statements aside, what do you propose?
Posted by shatton from Great_Height
on 18 July, 2008 at 1:09 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I don't know exactly doctor49. But I suspect that blind acceptance of everything which we get from the Government is not going to do us any more good than ranting about it. Except that the ranting does at least make us feel better.

I would say that we will get no joy from the State Government until maybe three months before next year's State elections. I have said it before, but there are several State seats between Gympie and the Pine River. I would lay you odds that come the next State elections, the Government will become more keen to win at least one or two of them.

In the meantime all that we can probably do is keep ranting to let them know that we are NOT HAPPY.
Posted by LJ_Turner from Marcoola
on 18 July, 2008 at 1:53 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I agree with newsblog, use your brains first and the consequences would not have happened. The committee is responsible for the adverse reactions and if you think not, then please stand aside.

I agree that all staff should not cop the abuse which should be directed toward those on the organising committee who agreed to the invite. Why not release the minutes of the mtg were it was decided to invite the Premier so hopefully the public knows who voted for and against?

Stop treating the symptoms and fix the source. Apologise to the people and say you will never agree to invite Captain Bligh again.

'Not happy Jan'

And finally, I am starting to feel sympathy for the Premier because she has inherited the legacy of Pirate Pete and still has most of his old advisors and the Labor party in place pushing and pulling the same old strings.

The challenge for the Premier might be to reevaluate the legacies, stop trusting Pirate Petes old advisors, meet and listen to the people and then stand firm what she needs to unwind.

This will be the only way the Premier will regain respect. It wouldn't hurt to stop Walford, Lucas and Fraser from dropping clangers in public.
Posted by Excalibur from Doonan
on 18 July, 2008 at 2:42 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
This all makes great reading. Great stuff.

LJ Turner, it is all well and good to tell the Premier to dump some of Beattie's former advisors, but isn't she married to one of them? Wasn't he the head of the Premier's Dept until Anna was given the position of Premier, and they had to hurriedly transfer him to another department.

Honestly, I think that Anna Bligh was given the job as Premier because she was such a staunch Beattie supporter herself. Hardly reason to feel sorry for her I would have thought.
Posted by shatton from Great_Height
on 18 July, 2008 at 2:52 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I don't quite understand the distinction being drawn between the Committee and the Staff. As far as I am aware there were only two staff members. The rest were on the Committee.

Of the two ladies pictured above, one is the President and the other is the General Manager. Who better to direct your comments to? But, it is not reasonable to be abusive in those comments.
Posted by bugalugs from Buderim
on 18 July, 2008 at 5:12 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Gee shatton, it doesn't take a genius to realise that the abuser is angry at the government in part because of forced amalgamation. I too didn't want to see the amalgamation happen, because i have already been through it in Victoria where it bought no discernable benefits to the region i lived in, only greater debt; which i can see is already happening here.

You need to calm down and stop thinking there are reds under every bed. This government is not perfect by any stretch and i am certainly in agreement in relation to some of your points, but the opposition desperately need to get there house in order, to put real pressure and greater accountability on this government.

Then maybe we will see the government treat this area with greater respect than they are doing at present. I am not and never have been a member of any political party and express my views as i see it, as i am sure do you.
Posted by newsblog from Coolum
on 18 July, 2008 at 5:37 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
kulangoor_ res I'd have thought it does make sense not to invite the least liked person in the cooking class to your party ..

Why would you want to invite someone who's going to make the fuss this has made?
Why did she make such a fuss?
Because she's despised.

Someone spoke of respecting the woman - and, like shatton, I too believe that to have respect it must be earned, it cant be just demanded.

Even in Queensland the OFFICE of "Premier" (as opposed to the person who fills that office) is hard to find respect for -- ever since the last brown paper bag marched thorugh the door to that office back in the days of sir bjp. it will take a lot to recover that respect and the plunder and pillage approach adopted by Captain Bligh and her crew is doing nothing to assist .
Posted by shatton from Great_Height
on 18 July, 2008 at 6:24 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Look. I'm sorry bugalugs but I think that there is much more behind Noosa's attitude than just the amalgamation.

I think that it all started with the Traveston Dam, then the grab for our water, then the amalgamation, the Legislation to take planning away from Councils, the undermining of the new "stronger councils", the Iconic Legislation, the rate rises, Warren Pitt's bully boy tactics, reducing the infrastructure funding allocation in this year's Budget, the "pull yer fingers out" on accelerated population growth. Do you want me to go on?

Some of us just accept it all, couldn't care less, some of us just get angry about it.
Posted by atapro from Noosaville
on 18 July, 2008 at 7:05 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
You know, I think that the State Government would be far more worried if no-one said anything at all. The silence would be so deafening that they would turn themselves inside out doing opinion polls to find out what's going on.

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