Most of these children have been removed by court order from their natural family’s home because of some serious form of neglect or abuse.

While doing battle in other countries to free the downtrodden and to try to give them democracy, we, as a so-called rich and sophisticated country, haven’t the ability or maybe the will to professionally see to the protection or, failing that, to repair the damaged emotional development needs of our community’s abused children.

These shattered, broken children, especially those who have been violated by sexual assault, have had their childhood and innocence stolen from them.

Cassie’s Place in Moruya is working on a pittance of a government grant, in a converted garage, so I think it is timely that while our political masters consider renewing Cassie’s Place’s grant they should increase the grant to a more just and realistic level.

The wages that the workers are paid in no way compensates them for their case load, the stress, the additional hours, effort and professional skills they apply to their client group.

Working from a renovated garage is just that!

An additional one-off grant is needed to extend and expand the facility to upgrade it to a proper self-contained professional centre for children and workers alike.

Peter Gorry, Retired District Manager, DOCS Batemans Bay