Sahail AshrafWhat’s happening when a girl is sexually assaulted in a caravan park?
January 10th 2007 02:37
There was an extremely disturbing report in the news late last week. A 7 year old girl was sexually assaulted by a man between the age of 16 and 22 in a Torquay caravan park. The girl was inside a caravan annex, sleeping beside her two brothers, when the assault occurred.
I was sickened by the news to put it mildly. It really makes me wonder what’s going on in society when a family can’t go camping without something like this happening.
When we were kids we camped every year over the summer holidays. We were given a lot of freedom to go to the beach, walk to activities and hang out with other kids in the caravan park. Twenty years doesn’t seem that long ago, but have things changed so much that I won’t be able to allow my children the same opportunities I enjoyed?
Or worse, are our children not even safe in their beds at night? I’m still shocked by this news. My hubby and I love to go camping but could I sleep at ease with my daughter after hearing this report? We camped at Torquay when my daughter was only a baby. It was most likely at the very same caravan park where this assault occurred.
Are things getting to the point where we can’t allow our children the opportunity to explore their environment, to enjoy riding their bikes, to walk to the local park? Already my own mother notices the changes from her childhood to mine. There was no question about being able to walk to school alone, go to the nearby milk bar and play with other kids in the neighbourhood. Doors were left unlocked. People could be trusted. It is so sad that our children are made more fragile, more enclosed, in today’s world.
I was sickened by the news to put it mildly. It really makes me wonder what’s going on in society when a family can’t go camping without something like this happening.
When we were kids we camped every year over the summer holidays. We were given a lot of freedom to go to the beach, walk to activities and hang out with other kids in the caravan park. Twenty years doesn’t seem that long ago, but have things changed so much that I won’t be able to allow my children the same opportunities I enjoyed?
Or worse, are our children not even safe in their beds at night? I’m still shocked by this news. My hubby and I love to go camping but could I sleep at ease with my daughter after hearing this report? We camped at Torquay when my daughter was only a baby. It was most likely at the very same caravan park where this assault occurred.
Are things getting to the point where we can’t allow our children the opportunity to explore their environment, to enjoy riding their bikes, to walk to the local park? Already my own mother notices the changes from her childhood to mine. There was no question about being able to walk to school alone, go to the nearby milk bar and play with other kids in the neighbourhood. Doors were left unlocked. People could be trusted. It is so sad that our children are made more fragile, more enclosed, in today’s world.
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Comment by Andrea
V8 Supercar Pitstop
As mothers (and fathers, of course) we're designed to worry about our children, sometimes a bit too much. But being put in the position where we are forced to worry about things like this ... it makes you wonder what the world is coming to, doesn't it.
Scary. Vary scary.
A.H.
Comment by Candice
Yes, this is the type of thing we shouldn't have to worry about as parents. It's even scarier when something like this happens so close to home!
Comment by Mrs M
Mum's Word
That's appalling. I've just come back from a week in a caravan park and I was just thinking to myself how they don't get this much freedom to walk the streets at home but at least they can do it at the caravan park. Obviously no more.
Love & stuff
Mrs M
Comment by Candice
And shouldn't your children have the right to such freedoms? It makes me so angry that this type of thing is happening.
I hope you enjoyed the break, it's nice to get away hey??