Money you can win
Money you can loss

But History you can’t erase.

Peace Embassy becomes official

January 1 2004, As I looked at the old Scouts Hall with broken glass everywhere, holes through the walls, I understood it was indeed a dangerous site. I remembered a story about a girl who had committed suicide under this abandoned building. I couldn’t believe the same council that looked after Hasting Street so well, could leave this building in such a state!

Council was still on holidays. I still had the keys they had given me. We even found the power was still connected. I decided to move in again and with my band of supporters, a steering committee was formed and together we removed the broken glass and slashed the grounds. A letter arrived from council soon after telling me not to squat again – a bit late we were already there some of the time.

A few weeks later – two very angry council staff, the same ones who had given me the keys to the hall, arrived and read me the riot act. When they saw we had fixed and painted some walls with donated paint, secured the site by boarding up the walk-through holes, slashed the waist-high grass,
I sensed a different emotion which had nothing to do with what I had done. It had more to do with what they had not done!

February 1 2004, I moved out, agreeing to submit a proposal for the site. In March, Council turned this down on grounds - we were not incorporated and they could not see from where we would access funds to fix the building. Even sillier - they accused me of changing the locks and having the power put on. This made me see red and on legal advise, I read them the riot act. I demanded an apology and did receive one by email from Mayor Bob Abbott.

May 18 2004 the same people who helped me secure the building. Adele Mc Clure, David Ashton, Darlye Cook, Col Jackson and Shaun Watson became my Peace Embassy committee along with Lew Wyvill QC (honorary legal advisor) and Philip Levy (honorary accountant).

I recently drove past the Scout’s Hall now with a high mesh fence around the site, Council has also put new locks on all the doors. Knowing that we had made this a very safe place for children was all worthwhile. I smiled and thought - they could have just asked me for their keys back!
(I still have them.)

...next.....International Board of Guardians