Greater Dandenong Council Mayor Angela Long said (reported Herald Sun, 24 August) police tape had proved ‘futile’ in stopping children going to playgrounds. She will support removing the swings - literally out of the ground - and asking for increased police patrols.
Dandenong is a migrant suburb with poor housing stock and a high percentage of units, flats and apartments with no play areas. Play-starved children craving recreation have no other options.
Mayor Long said, ‘I’m supportive of taking swings down if it’s to save children’s lives.’
Next day, Dr Seamus Jones of East Geelong wrote (Herald Sun, 25 August), ‘Damaging the younger generations to protect ourselves is ... immoral. ... heartless and selfish. ... one day (we can) look back at this time ... as the only nation that hid behind its children.’
Herald Sun front page headline, 28 August: Teen Toll: Top Doc Reveals Devastating Health Scars on our Young.
I would think all the evidence out there about how being outside lowers the threat of Covid infection between people considerably would mean something. What do I know-I live in the southern US, where kids are being used as cannon fodder in the anti-mask war.
ReplyDeleteThere is plenty of evidence of the open-air solution from experts - but governments pick and choose their post-rationalisations.
ReplyDeleteThis is just unbelievable. I am saddened by the news I've read of the strict lockdowns. It's one thing to discourage massive crowds at concerts, etc. but closing playgrounds is not going to help anyone.
ReplyDeleteThey ‘reopened’ them following outrage but mandated conditions including only one patent in attendance, QR entry compulsory, no one over 12 on equipment and no coffee or food consumption. The country is completely insane.
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