I thought that I should write a blog to report on how the Child Abuse candle lighting ceremony went for those of you who weren't there..

ITS WENT BRILLIANTLY.. although it was a bit disappointing to see that the majority of the audience were all over 70ish.. We really need to try and get younger people at these things because they are the future generation of parents and they are the ones that can make a difference! Also I think that we need to not have this service at a church because I feel that it alienates people that want to come who aren't religious.

I for one am not religious and when I was first asked to participate this and heard that it would be a church service I immediately grimaced and thought. "aren't i a bit of a hypocrit not believing in god but here I am going to preach to a bunch of people about what I think in the house of god pretty much?" - So thats what I think needs to change to get more people coming along.

The candle lighting itself was alright. I walked down with Kera O'regan and her little brother along with another lil dude to light the first candle to be put on the cross. I couldn't light the taper and was getting frustrated.. It didn't help that Maori Televisions camera was right in my face while I was doing it haha. thats the last thing I needed.. Them putting that on their news.. "girl can't light candle at candle lighting ceremony." AWESOME!

The speakers that they had at the ceremony were brilliant. A former survivor of domestic violence and child abuse spoke about what she believes needs to be done about this issue. Good on ya Jude Simpson. We also had Anton Blank talking about the Anti Smacking bill issues and he did very well. Cheryl Love did the ending comendation and HUUUGE thank you to her because she is the one who organised this whole event and made it possible.

There were plenty of social workers and Family Youth advocates in the audience and the managers of the group have asked me and Kera to join on board with them and go around talking to schools in Taurunga. I should be hearing from them soon

All in all it was a great night! I got lots of orders for the t shirts as well which was brilliant!
On the down side however..

The same people that hassled me last year about my views on stopping child abuse were at the service again this year.. Basically all they do is come to this thing not to remember the children who have lost there lives to abuse and violence but instead to argue with anyone that has a different opinion other the there own. The two people that frequent this service are Dr. Ian Hassles and whoever his little old pitbull lady is that follows them around. The old lady recognised me from last year and made a straight bee line for my mother.. Me & Kera saw here coming and seeing as I probably would have wanted to slap her then and there if she tried having a go at me again for no reason, and we gapped it down to the toilets to avoid her..

She rudely just went straight up to my mother and demanded to know whether or not she had voted.. mum said "Yes I have voted on the upcoming referendum already" and then she had the bloody gall to say "How did you vote" EXCUSE ME BUT THAT IS PRIVATE INFORMATION AND HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH REMEMBERING THE CHILDREN. Mum changed the subject and mentioned something about Christine Rankin just as me & Kera came back I heard her say "Oh i don't think anything of that Christine Rankin, Shes useless" and me and my smart ass atitude said "Yeah and i'm sure she thinks the same about you, now if you don't mind we are busy trying to remember the children that had died in the past from abuse and we have no time talking to bitter old women who have nothing better to do then start arguments with people who can think freely. GOODBYE" then i dragged my Mother away.

Didn't see her or Ian Hassles for awhile after that
Until...

We were leaving to go get into the car and Her and her little Gang of "do gooders" were congregated ou

Well the Child Abuse memorial service is right around the corner this Sunday.
Can't wait to have my say.

Still haven't written my speech yet though. Crap. lol
Guess I better get onto that tonight!

I'm going to be talking about the fact that because children are brought up in such abusive homes they don't know that getting the shit kicked out of them isn't normal in other healthy family relationships.
I'm going to say that i think children in primary school need to be educated about this sort of thing in primary school.
I remember getting educated on how to approach a strange dog carefully without scaring it and getting bitten, I also remember getting educated on stranger danger.. But what about the education when it comes to the person not being a stranger who is harming you?

We need to give children the courage to stand up at a young age before it gets to them and turns them into an abusive parent when they are older like their own parents.. We need to break the cycle and starting with the young children is the way to do it.

We need to let them know that they way they are being treated at home is NOT OKAY and that it IS OKAY to say something about it.

Stranger danger is good. But so is family danger. They need to know this as well.

xx

Ok if you live in Auckland (or you don't mind driving up here for something to do with Child Abuse) then this is for you!!!

There is going to be a Memorial for Child Abuse victims in Auckland city this year in August.

This is an anual event & for the past two years I have been part of it as a guest speaker to let people know what i'm doing to try and prevent Child Abuse.
A lot of high profile people have attended this event over the years and most of them are still visitors each single year to show their support to victims families.

People like:
Annie Whittle (played babara on shorty street and was in Worlds Fastest Indian along side Anthony Hopkins)
Robyn Malcolm (plays cheryl on outrageous fortune)

Also Tv 3 have said that they will do a PROPER coverage of it this year.
(last year it got bumped because Brad & Angelina had adopted yet another child from a random country - great news priorities ae? child abuse victims in our own country or hearing about BRANGELINA)

SO PPPLLLEEEAAAASSSEEE come.
We need bums on seats!

I will be there so come & say hi if you see me as well.

Date:9th August 2009
Time: Be there by 1pm - thats when it starts.
Address: 187 Federal Street
If you need a map, its on the website link below
http://www.stmatthews.org.nz/nav.php...

At the moment I am contacting Christine Rankin (via text) Because she's to busy to talk to on the phone but texts are better (hehe a politician that can text the little people.. amazing!)
& Hopefully if she is not busy i'm sure she will be more then happy to attend also!

As she is the Family Commissioner now.

So please comment this blog if you plan on coming so I can let the Organiser Cheryl Love know how many people we can expect!

Also the t shirts will be avaliable to purchase there and order.

xx

thank you so much guys