Editorial
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Exactly a week ago, the Illawarra Mercury launched the aptly titled campaign The Silent Treatment.
The campaign called for an improvement on the provision of Illawarra-based treatment for those dealing with eating disorders.
Our campaign editorial read:
The brave women who’ve repeatedly told their stories to the Mercury over the past 10 years are still struggling.
They’re still back and forth to Sydney, in and out of treatment.
One young woman has given hope altogether.
So what will it take for us as a community to stand together and fight for the people in the grips of an eating disorder.
When will we stop giving them the silent treatment?
Over the past decade those dealing with eating disorders have struggled to have their voice heard on this issue and we can understand why.
What was the response from the NSW Government and our elected representative, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Illawarra Gareth Ward?
Well, we got the silent treatment.
We understand how those people fighting for better access to local services and those giving up hope in our region feel.
Instead Mr Ward was basking in the national media glory by calling on the Federal Government to ban a radical Islamist group.
Really Gareth? That’s your priority?
There must be some sort of election in the wind.
Instead of running around grandstanding on issues which, in your local area and your local electorate of Kiama in particular, have stuff-all relevance how about doing something to genuinely make a difference to your community.
Or are you going to continue to give us The Silent Treatment on this issue while the people suffering give up hope?
We will not rest on this issue.
Unlike the NSW Government seemingly, we will continue to listen to the people and tell their stories until someone steps forward to right these wrongs.
We will not be staying silent.
Read more: CAMPAIGN EDITORIAL, The Silent Treatment