War of words over planned youth facility

BITTER debate has erupted online among residents of a tight-knit Townsville suburb split over a Youth Care House coming to their neighbourhood.

The juvenile home at Bushland Beach, to be run by Integrated Family and Youth Service, has sparked controversy among residents whose petition for its relocation has garnered more than 450 signatures and received the backing of Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto.

But not all residents are against the idea, with many taking to online community groups to fire back at those who want it shut down.

Drawing on her personal experience in becoming a kinship carer for a homeless teen, Nola Suffield said not all young people needing help were hardened criminals and it wasn’t fair to judge accordingly.

“My son, Wade was 16 at the time when he came home with his mate Josh (who had) been staying on the streets and asked if he could stay,” Ms Suffield said.

“He arrived with a plastic bag with a few clothes and that was it. He was a pretty good kid and I felt a connection with him straight away.

“He’d been bounced around to different foster homes since he was six months old. There were a few stable ones but nothing stuck.”

That was 12 years ago. Ms Suffield said Josh, who became another son to her, recently moved to Rockhampton for his girlfriend to begin working as a midwife. The private rental home, which is not a bail house, would be among 22 of its kind across the state under the IFYS banner. Carers would live at the home with juveniles of varying ages.

Bushland Beach resident Tim Doyle said he was disgusted by the “judgment and bullying” that had been used by a small group of residents against the home.

“A lot of the comments I’ve seen on the Facebook group have been pretty nasty to these kids,” he said.

“We’re meant to be adults in what’s meant to be a friendly community but it’s bullying and this isn’t how we should be looking at our kids – some just want to have a normal life.

“I’m just a dad and want my kids to grow up living a normal life and I want these kids to grow up living a normal life.”

Mr Doyle said he was disappointed by his elected member’s support of the petition and said he didn’t represent the bulk of the community.