$100k to Geelong theatre troupe
all of the rehabilitation necessary. We are satisfied that reasonable arrangements have been made, as far as we are able to ascertain, with his family for accommodation,” Sir Ron advised.
“There is apparently also available a private psychologist who can help and support Mr Al Baiiaty.”
Ms McLean said the citizenship bungle and lack of support she’d received from the Kiwis contradicted their reputation as a compassionate country. “I just feel really unsupported by them,” she said.
The victim left New Zealand after recovering from her immediate injuries and established a new life in Geelong, but remains mentally and physically scarred by the life-changing ordeal.
Because she was not living in New Zealand the Kiwi authorities did not provide her with victim of crime support. But she was also ineligible for such help in her home country because the crime was not committed here. But Ms McLean said messages from the parole board showed her attacker had been looked after and educated while in jail the past 15 years, and was looking forward to a new life.
“He’s got a job (waiting for him), he’s getting married, he gets a free airfare, and he’s had free healthcare,” she said. “He gets everything, but they’ve never done anything for me.” A WORLD-FAMOUS Geelong theatre group championing the work of actors with intellectual disabilities has been handed $100,000 to transform its most successful production into a feature film.
Visiting Geelong yesterday, Premier Daniel Andrews announced the grant for Back to Back Theatre’s core writers and actors to develop a script for Ganesh Versus the Third Reich.
The production has won critical acclaim and been performed in 35 cities — including New York, Brazil, Paris, Berlin and London — and has won a host of domestic and international awards.
Geelong state Labor MP Christine Couzens said the theatre group was an incredibly deserving recipient of the grant.
“Back to Back Theatre is one of Victoria’s — and Australia’s — greatest exports with their all-abilities work wowing audiences around the globe,” Ms Couzens said.
“We’re proud to back them to take their acclaimed work to even more people.”
Back to Back Theatre executive producer Alice Nash welcomed the funding grant announcement and the ability to put the group on the big screen.
“Back to Back is deeply honoured to have received these vital funds from the Victorian Government to transform our critically acclaimed theatre production into a wild, new, big-screen project,” Ms Nash said.
The ensemble of actors will not only star in the feature film, they will also co-author the script.
Filming of Ganesh Versus the Third Reich is also planned to take place in Geelong.
The Back to Back Theatre team is also working to expand its TV pilot Oddlands into a full television series, and its latest production, The Shadow Whose Prey the Hunter Becomes, will premiere in Sydney next month before heading back to Geelong and Melbourne.