UPDATE: 14 JUNE 2010

An email I received from Dawn a couple of weeks ago: "The Australian Government Solicitor (AGS) froze my assets with one hours' notice in a court hearing in Adelaide in 2005. My solicitors notified me it had happened 4 hours later.

"This 'Mareva Injunction' was the legal tool used to take COMPLETE control over every aspect of my finances, house & possessions in an instant ambush, & maintain absolute control for as long as it suited them. This was effortlessly achieved in our Australian 'Democracy' against an INNOCENT person, by gross abuse of power from the unlimited power & tax-payers' money available to the Commonwealth Government.

"For 5 years I have not been allowed access to any more than $500 per week, regardless of major funds needed for defending the Bankruptcy proceedings the AGS then conducted against me over the next 3 years. I was also unable to pay any large expenses such as local council rates, house maintenance, superannuation contributions etc, with predictable results.

"However, when the bankruptcy was annulled in October 2009 through the decency and kindness of Federal Ministers Lindsay Tanner & Jenny Macklin, the AGS ignored their responsibility to REMOVE the injunction, & it took 6 MONTHS to finally get this cruelty cancelled (25th May, 2010)!!!

"1 hour to impose......6 months to remove!!!!!! Double standard?..... Deliberate abuse of power?..... Persecution by the AGS because I had the temerity to stand against their injustice?..."

***

Dawn has just submitted to the Australian Finance Minister, Lindsay Tanner, a submission for an 'Act of Grace Payment' - compensating her (a little) for the seven-figure sum of $A dollars she has spent fighting for justice in the courts, forfeited in lost earnings and superannuation, not to mention the personal/psychological trauma she has suffered for the past quarter of a century.

I'm writing a brief email to Federal Minister Lindsay Tanner, *and would encourage each of you to do the same*. Put it into your own words, but mine will go like this:

*****

To: Lindsay.Tanner.MP@aph.gov.au

Dear Mr Tanner: first, thank you for the outstanding act of compassion you have shown to Dawn Rowan in annulling the bankruptcy order against her, and waiving her 'debt' to the Commonwealth.

We, her large group of supporters, have deliberately withheld exerting any pressure on you during recent months, while the Mareva injunction saga was resolved (it happened just a couple of weeks ago).

However, we understand that she is now submitting an application for an 'Act of Grace payment'.

I would urge you to extend your compassion and generosity just this one last time, to compensate her for the horrific financial and personal toll this has taken on her life over the past near-quarter century.

Yours respectfully

(Rev. Dr.) Rowland Croucher.

*****

On behalf of Dawn and her many supporters, could I encourage you to send a similar *brief* email to Mr. Tanner (Lindsay.Tanner.MP@aph.gov.au). Bounce any replies to me. Thanks!

*****

PS. If my fellow-clergypersons/ preachers want to use this material for preaching, try anchoring it in these texts: Luke 18:1-2, 2 Chronicles 19:4-6, Amos 2:6-7, 5:10-13.

NOVEMBER 2009 UPDATE

Hi friends

Here's a little piece I've written for the Victorian Baptist Witness - December edition. So it's mainly about Baptists, but thanks to all others who've stood with Dawn over the past several years...

*****

In Harold Pinter's Play 'Party-time' people are drinking good wine and chatting with friends and smiling... but something is happening outside in the street, something terrible and oppressive and unjust. There's a moment of silence and discomfort but soon they forget it and go back to their wine and chatting and smiling...

In the Dawn Rowan Saga something terrible and unjust was happening, but fortunately some of us left the party, and were shocked at what we saw, and decided to do something. We were shocked at the corruption-in-high-places, and the desire of people with power to destroy someone who simply wanted to help battered women.

For example, how can five government departments lose the same cohort of documents and no one gets agitated and starts an investigation? How is it that a court can award some of the costs of a guilty party (the South Australian government) against the person declared at all points in the long legal process to be utterly innocent? Many lawyers have told us this sort of thing doesn't happen in Australia! Why would any politician - however malicious their motives - have the audacity to shut down a women's refuge on the basis of lies and 'unsubstantiated allegations'? (Check Wikipedia's article on Dr. John Cornwall - his only claim to fame according to whoever wrote that is what he did to Dawn Rowan!).

I've seen firsthand Dawn's expertise in the area of counselling victims of domestic violence - especially her brilliant therapy with adult survivors of childhood sexual and other abuse. If a government department or anyone wants all this stopped, you've got to ask legitimate questions about conspiracies. 'If you don't have a conspiracy theory about this you're being irresponsible' is a common Dawn Rowan quote.

Thanks to all of you - Alan Marr, and pastors and people and churches - and others - who've helped with your emails, attendance at the Vigils, financial support etc. Dawn has won the first battle: her bankruptcy has been annulled. Lindsay Tanner has verbally agreed to waive the 'debt' to the Commonwealth - though we have yet to see that in writing. The third battle which hopefully will 'win the war' has to do with the sensitive matter of compensation. Don't write to anyone about that, but you can email Lindsay Tanner and simply thank him for the positive attention he's giving to Dawn Rowan's situation (that's all, thanks).

On Sunday November 8th, Dawn's friends at East Doncaster Baptist Church rejoiced with her, and prayed for her. To Dawn, they said, we offer you our love and support and admiration for your courage in this long fight for justice.

(If anyone's been on another planet - or enjoying their party - and hasn't heard about all this, simply Google Dawn Rowan: it's all there).

Rowland Croucher

DAWN'S BANKRUPTCY IS NOW OFFICIALLY ANNULLED!

From Dawn yesterday (2nd October 2009):

"I have in my hand a 'Certificate of Annulment', dated 12 Aug 09, (letter dated 25th Sept 09).

I understand this means that the bankruptcy is 'dead in the water'.

We've also had a verbal commitment from the Minister that the debt to the Commonwealth of Australia is waived although this is yet to be confirmed in writing."

We'll keep you up to date with developments.

After a quarter of a century we're hopefully coming to the end of this saga: thanks everyone for your support, emails, petition signatures, attendance at vigils etc.

===>>> If you'd like to help 'bless' Dawn (who's still broke and in debt) with a decent month-long holiday, please send gifts (tax-deductible for Australians) to Well-Being Australia (BSB: 063 191 Account 1012 2484): email me (rccroucher@optusnet.com.au) a copy of the transaction, and I'll send a receipt for your tax file. Or you can post a cheque to WBA: email me for the address.

Thanks again!

Rowland Croucher

THE PETITIONS HAVE WORKED

1. Mr. Tanner, Australian Minister for Finance and Deregulation, has publicly indicated his desire to resolve the Dawn Rowan 'case'. We are hopefully very close to a settlement.

Click on the links here: http://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/petitions/finance.htm

Thanks for all your letters, emails, helping at the Vigils, and collecting signatures for the two sets of petitions to the House of Representatives.

For the time being I'm holding the petitions to the Senate you've sent as they address the 'waiver' issue: thanks to all who collected those signatures.

2. Dawn desperately needs a month of Respite. How about we find $10,000 to give her a decent holiday (eg. a month's cruise which she'd love)? You can send gifts to our tax deductible entity, Well-Being Australia (BSB: 063 191 Account 1012 2484): email me (rccroucher@optusnet.com.au) a copy of the transaction, and I'll send a receipt for your tax file.

Thanks everyone! We'll keep you posted as developments occur.

Shalom!

Rowland Croucher (for Dawn Rowan).

GOOD NEWS - SEPTEMBER 1, 2009

Thanks everyone for your support for Dawn. The good news is that Oz Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner has initiated a process of 'discussing' a possible settlement. Dawn and her lawyer met with officers representing the Minister yesterday (August 31). You can still send me the signed Senate Petitions, but let's not bother Mr. Tanner at this sensitive time. Watch this Blog for updates

EXAMPLE OF LETTER TO LINDSAY TANNER

Please, everyone, keep up the pressure on Lindsay Tanner
(Lindsay.Tanner.MP@aph.gov.au)

Hon. Lindsay Tanner
Minister for Finance

20th July 2009

Dear Mr Tanner

You will have noticed Jimmy Carter's recent article on equality/justice for women. In the light of his comments, I refer yet again to the plight of a true Australian, whose desire has only been to help people in need.

Dawn Rowan's compassion for victims of domestic abuse led to her being falsely accused.

Since the courts declared her innocent, the Federal Government has bankrupted her!

Why?

Dawn is an intelligent, once-energetic Australian who wanted to make a difference.

Jenny Macklin apparently understood that when she recommended to you a waiver of Dawn's 'alleged' debt to the Commonwealth.

Almost fifteen months later we are still awaiting your decision. Dawn is barely existing while trying to eke out an existence occasionally lecturing at a TAFE on domestic violence.

Please! Do I have to alert those World Elders of this case? Her story is attracting critical attention around the world. Comments from non- Australians about 'How can this happen in a modern democracy?' etc. are embarrassing.

I anxiously await your response.

Sincerely

(Rev.) Janice R Croucher
(a once-proud Australian).

PS 1. Are there any women on the panel you have appointed to advise you you on this matter?

2. Do they/you intend to act with integrity by personally interviewing Dawn and her legal advisor?

Dawn Rowan Update Q&A June 24, 2009

1. What's happening? We don't know. Lindsay Tanner's 'three wise men' are presumably poring over the same documents examined over and over by bureaucrats before them (your taxes at work!).

===>>> 2. What has to happen to smarten things up a bit? Lindsay Tanner has to hear from us again - *en masse*. That means each of us writing a strong, courteous email to Lindsay Tanner (Lindsay.Tanner.MP@aph.gov.au) simply asking 'What's happening? This has gone on too long!' And encourage your friends/networks to do the same: also email your local Federal Member and ask her/him to intercede for Dawn.

3. What happened to the 1000+ signatures on the petitions? They were successfully submitted to the House of Representatives on May 25. We're now collecting more. Feel free to email me for an attachment you can get your friends to sign.

4. Is the Wikipedia article up? Yes, and is attracting some positive attention. Our thanks to the editors who have helped.

5. And the Vigils? More to come, when Dawn is up to it. It's been a hard time for her.

Thanks everyone for your support!

Shalom/Salaam/Pax! Rowland Croucher

http://jmm.aaa.net.au/

Justice for Dawn Rowan - http://dawnrowansaga.blogspot.com/