Event Reports

Following the tragic events of 2008, when the Brumby Government declared war on Victoria's unborn children, this past 12 months has been a period of preparation for the battle ahead: the battle to overturn the evil legislation which allows for babies to be killed at any time - and for any reason - until they are fully born.

As Chairman of the March for the Babies Organising Committee, I have had the very great pleasure of speaking to many prolifers throughout the Melbourne metropolitan area, regional Victoria and even from interstate and overseas about the how we will overcome the challenges ahead.

The year's highlight was undoubtedly the very first Pink and Blue Ribbon Day when thousands gathered in the streets of Melbourne to march for the babies on October 10 - the first anniversary of the Victorian Parliament passing the Brumby death bill.

We will return in greater numbers on October 10, 2010 to mourn the babies killed by abortionists, reach out to their often wounded mothers and declare to the Parliament and the general community that we are not going away until full legal protection is achieved for the youngest and most vulnerable members of our society. Please accept this as your personal invitation to join us then.

As we enter a new year, we should accept that it is not enough to be prolife - we must ACT to defend the babies and support their mums.

If we all act as if every abortion kills a baby - and we should because it does! - then 2010 will be a momentous year for the greatest civil rights battle in the world today.

Bernie Finn MP
Member for Western Metropolitan Region
Parliament of Victoria
Chairman, March for the Babies Committee

Peter Kavanagh has been a determined and strong advocate for the unborn, their mothers and families during and since the debate in Victorian Parliament (2008) to decriminalise abortion. Read Peter's message below:
 
Hello,
 
It has been a big year.

In May I attended and addressed the inaugural meeting of Life Network Australia in Deniliquin, NSW.
 
 I also addressed NSW Right to Life with suggestions on how to oppose legislative moves in NSW similar to Victoria's.
 
Then there was the March for the Babies rally in October wherein I and others addressed a massive crowd outside the Parliament.

Throughout the year I have also in Parliament been making reference (albeit subtle) where possible to matters that draw members attention to what they have allowed to happen. For example at the end of my speech that I gave on the Sentencing Bill (24 November) wherein when discussing the relationship between violence and legal protection I stated "in my view, a fundamental legal principle is that removing legal protection for some people will inevitably weaken legal protection for all people".   And Members understood what I was saying.

Best Wishes
Peter Kavanagh MLC
Member for Western Victoria
DLP (Democratic Labor Party)

The Benenson Society was launched today in Melbourne.  Still in its infancy, the Benenson Society was founded by Chris Middleton SJ late in 2007 after Amnesty International widened its focus and adopted a pro abortion policy. The society was launched in Melbourne by Fr Tony Kerin, Episcopal Vicar for Justice in the Archdiocese of Melbourne.

Named after Peter Benenson, the Catholic lawyer who founded Amnesty International, the society’s aim is to provide its members, especially students, with the opportunity to be involved in the promotion of human rights by lobbying governments on behalf of prisoners of conscience, for the end of torture and the death penalty; and asserting the rights of all to basic freedoms.

Those attending the launch were honoured to hear an address by the Hon Clovis Alidor Mwamba, a member of parliament of the Democratic Republic of Congo (in exile). 

Mr Mwamba gave an inspirational address, describing his fight for human rights and the Rule of Law in the DRC, his imprisonment, death threats, his torture at the hands of government soldiers, offers of inducements and bribes to stop his fight for democratic rule, his escape and recent resettlement in Australia. 

Fr Tony Kerin said, “The opportunity for students to advocate for human rights is a vital learning experience. They will quickly become aware of the influence and value of letter writing campaigns both for the encouragement it gives to political prisoners knowing that someone cares about them; and for the positive influence a number of letters can have on even the most ruthless of governments.”

Congratulations to Cherish Life Queensland for the amazing work they have done in 2009. On an unpopular and challenging issue like abortion, they are certainly doing great things to defend and protect life. See below.
 
 CHERISH LIFE has:
 
-  Held a "Rally For Life" jointly with a number of other groups in Brisbane with 1100 attending to raise awareness of the implications of the laws being passed in Victoria so that everyone will do more to prevent a similar legislative move here in Queensland.
 
-  Strongly supported any politician or candidate who stood for pro-life values in the March state elections.  Our members particularly helped with support prior to polling day by letterboxing and on the day, manning polling booths for pro-life sitting members and candidates
 
-  Petitioned against any negative impact to the value of human life that arose in parliament.
 
-  Encouraged letter-writing campaigns amongst our members
 
-  Had a stand at the "Pregnancy, Babies, Children Expo" held in Brisbane over 3 days
 
-  Continued attending 2 local Chamber of Commerce groups monthly functions and also a local Business group to raise awareness of the abortion issue amongst local businesses
 
-  Participated in InterAgency meetings in our area.  These meetings involve many community groups across a broad range of areas of service.
 
-  Presented to 400 second year medical students at the University of Queensland on the topic of euthanasia
 
-  Addressed the "Dying with Dignity" group in Brisbane (can you believe it?) upon their invitation on the topic of euthanasia
 
-  Did numerous interviews with university students and high school students for their assignments covering stem cells, euthanasia and abortion
 
-  Spoke in churches prior to the election to help congregations realise how church and state do, must and can mix - noone goes in to parliament with no values.  If those values are not formed and supported by their faith, what are they formed by? 
 
-  Travelled to a number of our branches to discuss the recent legislative changes to Section 282 of the Criminal Code
 
-  Billboards up around Queensland due to our hardworking branches
 
-  Submitted a submission against surrogacy
 
-  Wrote to all politicians urging them to vote against surrogacy
 
-  Participated in numerous interviews for radio (including Cairns, Caboolture, Brisbane and Sydney radio stations), TV (including 7.30 Report on the ABC, Ch 9 and Ch 10 news) and the pressboth online and hardcopy on a range of pro-life issues.
 
-  Issued many press releases and wrote many letters to the editor of the major papers
 
-  Had a number of opinion pieces printed in The Courier-Mail
 
-  Debated Jim Soorley of Voluntary Euthanasia on Caboolture Radio
 
-  Spoke at both the DLP and Family First conferences over the past 16 months
 
-  Started 2 new Cherish Life branches, reactivated another one established contact people in a number of areas
 
-  Numerous speaking engagements presenting to both high and primary schools to give them information about their worth and value as it is only if they understand their worth and value that they will appreciate the worth and value of an unborn baby including education about the reality of life in the womb and the real destructive fallout of abortion on both women and men.
 
-  Held a movie night for our members screening "22 Weeks" - a true story of a young women who had an abortion at 22 weeks
 
-  Held our Cherish Life Conference at Parliament House with numerous speakers including Kevin Rosengren - 2008 Father of the Year, Anne Webster - winner of the
award for Best Presentation of a Research Proposal: ‘Options for resolution of unplanned pregnancy and fetal personhood’ and Dr Janet Gross - doctor from the Dandenongs Victoria who refuses to refer for abortion against great pressure to do so.

-  Hosted Angel Soto, the writer, producer, director and editor of "22 Weeks" to come to Australia from Puerto Rico to speak about the how the movie came about and why he felt compelled to make it.

-  Organised for Angel Soto to be interviewed on 2 radio stations

-  Attended and organised numerous meetings in Queensland with other prolife pro-family groups to strategise against a state move towards legalised abortion

-  Attended interstate meetings with pro-life pro-family groups to strategise to prevent a federal move to liberalise abortion

-  Constantly sent out emails with updates and action requirements to keep people motivated and informed

-  Held our Annual Cherish Life Fundraising Dinner to raise money and awareness for the pro-life cause in general and Cherish Life in particular.

-  Currently planning our "Rally For Life" for March 2010

Life Network Australia co-founder and President, Sonja Couroupis, was one of a small number speakers to address a rally against abortion on the steps of the Victorian Parliament last weekend.

             
The rally was organised to mark the first anniversary of the passing of legislation that made many changes to abortion legislation, including access to abortion until birth.
 
Others speakers including leader of the National Party, Peter Ryan and the event's organiser, Bernie Finn, Liberal MP.
 
Each of the speakers criticised the changes and emplored the need for coordinated and unrelenting pressure to improve protection for society's most vulnerable.
 
The invitation extended to Sonja Couroupis by the event's organising committee is recognition of both the positive contribution Life Network Australia has made to informing people of the many issues related to abortion and the prospects of similar legislation being put forward in NSW.
 
The event was supported by over 2,000 people, who marched through the city centre, then gathered on the steps of Parliament to voice their united opposition to the new abortion laws.
 
Mrs Couroupis of Deniliquin highlighted the negative impact abortion has on babies, mothers, fathers and families and that they all deserve better support and options to keep their children.
 
Facebookers can view footage of Sonja at the rally here.