XPost: 24hoursupport.helpdesk, aus.politics, alt.politics.scorched-earth   
   XPost: uk.politics.misc, uk.legal, alt.politics.uk   
   From: nedlatham@woden.valhalla.oz   
      
   burfordTjustice wrote:   
   >   
   > Mother Expelled From "Multicultural Playgroup" Because She"s White   
   >   
   > A mother in Australia has been forced to leave a playground with her   
   > kids after the officials told her they can"t play in a "multicultural   
   > group" because she"s white.   
   >   
   > Tara Coverdale, a mother of two and currently living in Sydney,   
   > Australia, claims she was told to leave the playground because   
   > it was a multicultural playgroup and she's a white Australian,   
   > according to The Daily Telegraph Australia.   
   >   
   > The mother said went with her eight-month-old baby and her   
   > four-year-old son to Alexandria Park Community Centre located   
   > in the inner-city Sydney.   
   >   
   > Shortly after she arrived to the community centre for a playgroup,   
   > a staff member approached her asking whether this was her first   
   > time. Rather than being welcoming, the staff member announced that   
   > Coverdale isn't allowed to be there.   
   >   
   > "I'm sorry you can't come here. It's a multicultural playgroup,"   
   > staff member said and asked, "Can I ask what your cultural   
   > background is"?   
   >   
   > Coverdale, a blonde mother with freckles, replied saying she's   
   > Australian, prompting the staff to deny her entry into the   
   > playground. "I'm sorry, you can't come here. It's for multicultural   
   > families and people who speak languages other than English at home."   
   >   
   > The mother refused to leave the playground, claiming her son was   
   > having a good time with a friend in the playground, asking "Why   
   > should I leave"?   
   >   
   > She was then approached by Jo Fletcher, the centre's facilitator,   
   > who asked the same question as the staff member: "Can I just ask   
   > what your cultural background is"?   
   >   
   > "I'm sorry you can't come here. It's a multicultural playgroup,"   
   > Fletcher said after finding out Coverdale is a fourth-generation   
   > Australian.   
   >   
   > Fletcher didn't respond to the paper's requests for comment,   
   > only confirmed to the NSW Department of Education that such   
   > conversation had taken place.   
   >   
   > According to the Australian mother, the cener insisted that   
   > the playgroup was exclusively for "multicultural" mothers who   
   > "might be lonely and might want to build a network of people   
   > who speak the same language".   
   >   
   > The centre"s facilitator also didn"t help Coverdale to find   
   > a playgroup that she"s allowed to participate. "We don't have   
   > one here for you," she said. "You'll have to go up to Erskineville   
   > or Newtown," locations which don"t suit the mother as they are too   
   > far away.   
   >   
   > "We're in a pretty progressive area, it's very accepting of all   
   > people. But I feel like I'm excluded," Coverdale told the paper.   
   > "How does that help Australia, help people to integrate, speak   
   > English and build a life" I pay a lot of tax. I pay my rates.   
   > To think '"m actually not welcome is unfair."   
   >   
   > She added that other mothers thought the way the center dealt   
   > with her was "terrible" as they "think it's a great facility   
   > and appreciate it but they don't want to exclude people".   
   >   
   > While she was at the center, she claims other mothers were   
   > allowed to enter and "were made to feel very welcome. Because   
   > they didn't look white, they didn"t even get asked about   
   > their background."   
   >   
   > Following the controversy, Education Minister Rob Stokes had   
   > instructed the centre to allow all families to attend the   
   > playground.   
   >   
   > "I was disappointed to hear that a mum and her young child   
   > felt they were not welcome" This is not acceptable. Everyone,   
   > regardless of their background, should feel included in   
   > these wonderful community activities."   
   >   
   > The Department of Education also "counseled" center's   
   > facilitator Jo Fletcher on the requirements of the program   
   > to be "inclusive".   
      
   Okay. you Po;itikal Korrektness Kooks, just *who* are the   
   bigots in this country?   
      
   Med   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)