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/

DAWN ROWAN IN WIKIPEDIA

A friend has written up a precis of Dawn Rowan's story for Wikipedia. Check it out! It's a good summary of what happened...

Also - there's one there on Dr John Cornwall (interesting!)

We're waiting for the 'three wise men' ('advisors') to help Minister Lindsay Tanner make a decision about Dawn. Watch this space.

PS. Here's an interesting article on legal/judicial aspects of the awarding of costs against a litigant. (If the link doesn't work, Google The Age's article titled Money should be no barrier to pursuing a worthy cause.)

NEXT MINI-VIGIL POSTPONED

Thanks to all who helped with last Saturday's mini-vigil at the Bourke Street Mall. The large banner was terrific - thanks Michelle and others who made it.

There were many signatures on the petitions: these will be submitted to the Federal Senate within the next few weeks. Anyone want another petition? Email me and I'll send one.

===>>> Dawn has decided to defer the next mini-vigil. There are now - hopefully fruitful - discussions between her lawyer and Lindsay Tanner's officers about resolving this injustice. We'll let you know if/when we resume.

Shalom/Salaam/Pax! Rowland Croucher

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

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

STOP PRESS

It's the middle of May - one year after Jenny Macklin's recommendation to waive the debt Dawn owes the Commonwealth of Australia - and Lindsay Tanner has finally done something.

What, you ask?

Wait for it (you'll be surprised...)

He's appointed three people to advise him re this matter.

Well, that's better than the continuing silence and inactivity.

We'd love to know who these three people are, and whether they'd be prepared to meet with Dawn and her lawyer personally, rather than engage in a protracted exchange of letters and emails.

===>>> Anyone who can be at the Bourke Street Melbourne GPO steps this Saturday (23rd May) anytime between 12 noon and 4 pm, would be most welcome. And it would be a good opportunity to meet Dawn personally.

===>>> And keep those signed petitions coming in (email me for a copy if you don't have one).

Thanks for your support everyone!

Shalom!

Rowland Croucher

MAY 9 2009 UPDATE

(For any who need to know the details of perhaps the greatest contemporary travesty of justice by the politico-legal system against an Australian citizen see the Channel 7 TDT video on the frontpage of http://jmm.aaa.net.au - and chase the links near it).

1. Thanks again to all who supported the 26-hour Easter vigil. We gained over 1200 petition-signatures. Barney Zwartz wrote that excellent article in The Age. It got a mention on a couple of radio talk-back shows (we need to work harder in that arena) and a lot of people became aware of Dawn's plight. (The Diamond Valley Leader has also done a frontpage article on Dawn's story this week).

2. Keep hammering away at Lindsay Tanner's email inbox (Lindsay.Tanner.MP@aph.gov.au): politely, and firmly asking why it's taken so long to make a decision about waiving Dawn's debt to the Commonwealth. Mr. Tanner is obviously preoccupied these weeks with The Budget and we respect his excellent work on our behalf in terms of his Finance portfolio. But 22 years of Dawn's suffering is too long, and a whole year since Jenny Macklin's recommendation that the claim be waived is long enough, surely. Who was that guy in WA who was imprisoned unjustly and last week received a $3.5 million payment in compensation? Dawn's also innocent, and has been imprisoned longer!!!

3. Dawn and I had a useful 45 minutes with my local Federal Labor member, Mike Symon and his PA Pauline a couple of days ago. Dawn did a brilliant job - as usual - in summarizing her case. Mike has agreed to process the petitions in the House of Representatives when it meets again next week.

4. A group of Dawn's key supporters met last Saturday to plan the next phase of our protest, and we agreed to hold regular rolling 'mini-vigils' in very public places - like the GPO steps in Bourke Street - most Saturdays (to start with) 12 noon to 4 pm. I'll be asking a leader to take charge of the process each time to organize things.

===>>> Who's available Saturday May 23rd to join Dawn there between 12 noon and 4 pm? Just turn up: look for the banner and placards. Email me to confirm you'll be there, so we have an idea of numbers...

5. Dawn is receiving invitations to talk to churches and groups about her story. Email her (dawn.rowan@optusnet.com.au) if you'd like her to do that. Philip Island Baptist Church, Sunday May 17th is the next: with my wife (Rev.) Jan Croucher preaching there as well. Thanks Craig Semple and your people for all your support!

6. Please keep the petitions coming: they can be lodged progressively as we accumulate them. Make sure there's a *name* and *signature* on each line. Addresses aren't required these days. Post them back to me when you've got all you can. I'll send a Word document for you to print off if you email me (rccroucher@optusnet.com.au)

Finally a quote from our Australian Prime Minister's favourite theologian:

"Christianity stands or falls with its revolutionary protest against violence, arbitrariness, and pride of power, and with its plea for the weak. Christians are doing too little to make these points clear ... Christendom adjusts itself far too easily to the worship of power. Christians should give more offense, shock the world far more, than they are doing now." Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Shalom/Salaam/Pax! Rowland Croucher

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

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