ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY REPORT:
Catholic Communications, Sydney Archdiocese,
20 Jul 2012
Violence at Kings Cross is not only fuelled by alcohol but has become vicious, mindless and random, says Dr Gordian Fulde, Director of the Emergency Department (ED) at St Vincent's Hospital, Darlinghurst.
"Where conflicts used to break out between two people, now we have groups attacking a single person for no reason at all and when that person goes down and is unconscious, they continue attacking him with multiple punches and kicks," he says and believes one of the most dangerous places for a young man and his girlfriend to be is at one of a fast food take-aways at the Cross at 2.am on a Friday or Saturday night.
"That's when groups of young louts are out on the streets bored, full of testosterone and alcohol, and looking for trouble," he says.
For 18-year-old Thomas Kelly whose funeral was held today at King's School, Parramatta, it was just 10 pm on Saturday, 7 July when out on a date with his girlfriend and on his first-ever visit to Kings Cross, he was king hit in an unprovoked, random and senseless attack. He was rushed to nearby St Vincent's Hospital but his injuries were so severe he never regained consciousness and two days later his parents had to make the agonising decision to turn off his life support.
Yesterday Kieran Loveridge, 18 was arrested in Belmore and charged with murder. He has also been charged with a further three unprovoked assaults at the Cross the same evening, two of which took place after he allegedly delivered the fatal blow to Thomas Kelly.
The unnecessary and tragic death of the young trainee accountant and former King's School student has horrified Sydneysiders and galvanised demands for the Cross to be cleaned up. Citizens across the city have called on officials, community leaders, public and club licensees, police, the Mayor and local, state and Federal politicians to join together to find solutions to alcohol-fuelled violence and to prevent such tragedies from happening again.
On Wednesday night this week, Federal Member for Wentworth Malcolm Turnbull, joined Clover Moore, Assistant Police Commissioner Mark Murdoch, NSW Hospitality Minister George Brandeis and CEO of Australian Hotels Association's NSW branch, Paul Nicolauo attended a public forum for a "Safer Sydney"at the Town Hall.
Assistant Police Commissioner Murdoch identified alcohol as the primary cause of the violence while others blamed the lack of transport out of the Cross after 1 am on a Friday or Saturday night and believed an increase in public transport could help to address the problem. Some residents wanted to see earlier closing with a 1 am lockout of licensed premises while the Mayor suggested a "cooling off period" of a 3.a.m lockout followed by 4 am closing as happens in New York - and even lollipops on the way out of bars and clubs for patrons.
But for Dr Fulde the solution is far more simple and direct.
"The whole attitude of society is off the rails and we have lost focus. People should be able to go out at weekends and have a couple of drinks and a pleasant night out with friends, and not be afraid they will be assaulted or hurt and not have to keep looking around in a bid to stay out of trouble," he says and places responsibility for much of the escalating and mindless violence with parents.
"The issue needs to be a community solution. It's time mums and dads and sisters and brothers acted as role models. It's not good enough to get drunk at a family barbecue and think this has no effect on their kids," he says. "Somewhere along the way young people have been programmed to think you have to be intoxicated before you can enjoy anything. Young people aged 16 and 17 seem to think getting drunk is a prerequisite for a good time."
One of the reasons he believes is the media coverage given to sports stars or tv stars who drunkenly misbehave and do something stupid.
"Young people think if they do something equally drunken and stupid they will became famous and they post their antics on Facebook. But it still all comes down to parents and families as role models and showing young people that drinking is not the answer and that you can have a good time with just one or two drinks - and no more."
Dr Fulde says the Cross has always been a hotspot and that alcohol is nothing new to the area. But what is new is the vicious mindless violence and a disregard for what used to be considered the "code of conflict."
"Once, when there was a difference between two guys one would tell the other to 'come outside.' They'd both go outside and resolve things with a bit of a 'set to'. But as soon as one was down or called it quits, they'd shake hands and it was all over and they often became firm friends. But it is not like that anymore."
Not only do police at the Cross have to deal with groups of teens and young people throwing punches and abuses but paramedics sent to collect victims of the area's weekend violence suffer the same sort of attacks.
While the Emergency Department at St Vincent's Hospital is safe and secure both for patients and staff what is new Dr Fulde says is the sectioned-off area of the emergency department with recliner chairs set aside each weekend for the young people who are brought in, drunk, vomiting and bleeding.
"They sit there slumped in the chairs, hooked up to IV fluids, miserable and in pain with cuts to their heads or lacerations and covered in vomit. Some are young women who obviously got all dressed up in their prettiest frocks but are now filthy and have thrown up all down the front of themselves," he says and describes this sight each weekend as "horrible, unnecessary and preventable."
Dr Fulde added he would like to see a mega-billboard place in the heart of Kings Cross with the Words "Drinking Makes You Ugly".
SHARED FROM ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY
Catholic Communications, Sydney Archdiocese,
20 Jul 2012
Thomas Kelly's funeral today
"Where conflicts used to break out between two people, now we have groups attacking a single person for no reason at all and when that person goes down and is unconscious, they continue attacking him with multiple punches and kicks," he says and believes one of the most dangerous places for a young man and his girlfriend to be is at one of a fast food take-aways at the Cross at 2.am on a Friday or Saturday night.
"That's when groups of young louts are out on the streets bored, full of testosterone and alcohol, and looking for trouble," he says.
Thomas Kelly - dead at 18
Yesterday Kieran Loveridge, 18 was arrested in Belmore and charged with murder. He has also been charged with a further three unprovoked assaults at the Cross the same evening, two of which took place after he allegedly delivered the fatal blow to Thomas Kelly.
The unnecessary and tragic death of the young trainee accountant and former King's School student has horrified Sydneysiders and galvanised demands for the Cross to be cleaned up. Citizens across the city have called on officials, community leaders, public and club licensees, police, the Mayor and local, state and Federal politicians to join together to find solutions to alcohol-fuelled violence and to prevent such tragedies from happening again.
Kings Cross ER takes tv viewers
inside the emergency department
of St Vincent's Hospital, Darlinghurst
inside the emergency department
of St Vincent's Hospital, Darlinghurst
Assistant Police Commissioner Murdoch identified alcohol as the primary cause of the violence while others blamed the lack of transport out of the Cross after 1 am on a Friday or Saturday night and believed an increase in public transport could help to address the problem. Some residents wanted to see earlier closing with a 1 am lockout of licensed premises while the Mayor suggested a "cooling off period" of a 3.a.m lockout followed by 4 am closing as happens in New York - and even lollipops on the way out of bars and clubs for patrons.
But for Dr Fulde the solution is far more simple and direct.
Dr Gordian Fulde Director of the Emergency
Department at St Vincent's Hospital Darlinghurst
Department at St Vincent's Hospital Darlinghurst
"The issue needs to be a community solution. It's time mums and dads and sisters and brothers acted as role models. It's not good enough to get drunk at a family barbecue and think this has no effect on their kids," he says. "Somewhere along the way young people have been programmed to think you have to be intoxicated before you can enjoy anything. Young people aged 16 and 17 seem to think getting drunk is a prerequisite for a good time."
One of the reasons he believes is the media coverage given to sports stars or tv stars who drunkenly misbehave and do something stupid.
Young people increasingly believe
drunkeness is a badge of honour
drunkeness is a badge of honour
Dr Fulde says the Cross has always been a hotspot and that alcohol is nothing new to the area. But what is new is the vicious mindless violence and a disregard for what used to be considered the "code of conflict."
"Once, when there was a difference between two guys one would tell the other to 'come outside.' They'd both go outside and resolve things with a bit of a 'set to'. But as soon as one was down or called it quits, they'd shake hands and it was all over and they often became firm friends. But it is not like that anymore."
Alcohol fuelled violence by groups of bored
testosterone filled young men has made
the Cross a dangerous place at weekends
testosterone filled young men has made
the Cross a dangerous place at weekends
While the Emergency Department at St Vincent's Hospital is safe and secure both for patients and staff what is new Dr Fulde says is the sectioned-off area of the emergency department with recliner chairs set aside each weekend for the young people who are brought in, drunk, vomiting and bleeding.
"They sit there slumped in the chairs, hooked up to IV fluids, miserable and in pain with cuts to their heads or lacerations and covered in vomit. Some are young women who obviously got all dressed up in their prettiest frocks but are now filthy and have thrown up all down the front of themselves," he says and describes this sight each weekend as "horrible, unnecessary and preventable."
Dr Fulde added he would like to see a mega-billboard place in the heart of Kings Cross with the Words "Drinking Makes You Ugly".
SHARED FROM ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY
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