Living in fear

Townsville needs change, and it needs it soon

It has been a wild few days on Townsville roads. On Friday, a mother and her 14-month-old daughter were the target of a hit-andrun, and later that day, an elderly woman was hit in the face after two stolen vehicles crashed on Dalrymple Rd.

The fear that people must experience when these horrific things happen to them is unthinkable.

For mum Candice Weston, the stark reality was that if the fourwheel-drive that hit them was going any faster, her daughter could have died.

“My mind was racing. I was afraid they might get out and try to steal my car, so I was desperately trying to think about how I would get my daughter out of there,” she told the Bulletin.

In the incident involving two stolen cars, police have described some of the acts perpetrated by the children as “disgusting”.

When some of the teens were fleeing, they entered the home of an elderly couple and demanded the keys. At first, they got nowhere, and left, but one boy later returned and punched an 81-year-old woman in the face.

“I have no words to describe that type of behaviour,” District Duty Officer Scot Warrick said.

This is unfortunately everyday life for people in Townsville.

It is a beautiful city, with plenty of positive elements.

But there has to be a solution to stop this kind of abhorrent behaviour.

This city cannot survive on its beautiful beaches, moderately priced land and slower lifestyle. The community needs more. They need to feel safe in their homes.

Townsville cannot continue to live life on the edge of the seat, waiting for the next horrible crash or tragic death.

So, when is it going to change? What law needs to be adjusted so another elderly woman isn’t punched in the face?

Who needs to be held accountable for the acts of children, who are in some cases too young to fully comprehend the serious damage they are causing.

If Queensland cannot get a grip on the absolute chaos that is youth crime, there won’t be much of a state left to call home.