Traveller felt like a ‘criminal’ in stinky van
GEELONG’S council has kicked in more than $500,000 to help the region’s arts, entertainment, cultural and heritage sectors, which have been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.
The city has committed $510,000 through its two recent COVID-19 support packages, to be split into a trio of programs aimed at addressing the needs of the city’s creative community.
Most of the funding will be spent on employment opportunities for the region’s arts industries, with $330,000 to be used to create commissioning opportunities of up to $20,000. A further $150,000 will be put towards “COVID-19 Arts, Culture and Heritage Recovery Grants”, with grants of up to $5000 available for projects that will aid recovery through support for the creation of art.
Skills and training opportunities will then receive the remaining $30,000.
“Our local creative industries have been hit unbelievably hard by the pandemic through the closure of cultural facilities, the cancellation of arts and culture events, and the overall economic downturn,” acting mayor Kylie Grzybek said.
“This has led to artists and creatives suffering severe financial hardship and reduced wellbeing. The council wanted to show that we value what this sector brings to our region by making a positive commitment towards its recovery.”
A WOMAN who flew home to Queensland after visiting her daughter in Geelong was taken to mandatory hotel quarantine in a paddy wagon with an “overwhelming” urine stench upon return.
Lee Develyn claimed she felt like a criminal when police escorted her from a flight to mandatory quarantine at a Townsville hotel in the back of a foul-smelling paddy wagon.
The 53-year-old visited Geelong last week after her daughter was taken to hospital, and returned to Townsville earlier than planned on Tuesday as outbreaks increased in Victoria and a state lockdown loomed.
Ms Develyn landed about 5.40pm and was handed a quarantine notice charging her $2800 for her stay at a hotel.
She was one of six people taken to mandatory quarantine on Tuesday.
“When he locked it and I heard the click of the key and the chain … I had no seatbelt in there, nothing to hold on to,” she said. “The stench was overwhelming of urine and the stains on the walls, it wasn’t cleaned out because there was gravel from someone else’s shoes on the floor.”
Senior Townsville police officers apologised to the group of people transported in the wagon.
Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll assured the community that it wouldn’t happen again.
Commissioner Carroll said her police thought it was the right thing to do.
“I understand that lady is obviously upset because she was escorted in our van to the hotel, but that was the first time we’d used that process in Townsville,” she said.
“My senior officers have sought out those people to explain why it happened and apologise on that occasion, but once again I go back to the community safety issue here, there was no malice in that it was done in good faith to protect our community.”
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced Victorians will be locked out of the state from midday Friday.