What a slap in the face to the Chifley Local Area Command that exposed Bathurst’s hideous institutional cover-ups in our churches, schools and orphanage.

I hope Bathurst was watching the coverage of the events in Canberra, Sydney, Newcastle, Geelong and other places of great shame.

Wouldn’t it have been amazing to have had a tree in Machattie Park where supporters of victims and survivors could hang a commemorative ribbon?

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Call for council to lead the way in acknowledging the abuse of the past

Letter | Bathurst needs to acknowledge the shame of its past

In parliamentary question time this afternoon (Tuesday), Member for Calare Andrew Gee stood and asked, knowing as he did, but asking for the benefit of everyone in his electorate: “What was the significance of the apology?”

His question was answered by Prime Minister Scott Morrison, supported by the Opposition Leader Bill Shorten and briefly by Deputy Opposition Leader Tanya Plibersek.

The question, and more so the answer, is important because Calare MP Andrew Gee, MP and state minister Paul Toole, mayor Graeme Hanger and Bathurst Regional Council were, with due respects, asked three months ago to be participants in a Bathurst response.

But I believe only Andrew Gee has shown leadership.  

If it were not possible for local media to have any Bathurst story from the national apology on Monday, there is surely an opportunity now that Mr Gee has received an assurance from the PM Morrison and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten that “there will be action”, there will be “no future cover-ups”, in fact there will be a museum to tell of the abuses and stories of survivors.

It is on national record. Mr Morrison told Mr Gee the significance of having a national apology was that it meant there had and would be “action, not words”.

I suggested during St Stanislaus’ 150th anniversary (2017) they have an apology and establish a Bathurst Museum in the Marble Hall at the college. 

I believe Stannies’ apology was self-serving. The suggested record of history in a museum with the report of the Royal Commission was not supported. 

I’ve asked Mr Gee to obtain a Commission Final Report for Charles Sturt University since the Human Rights Commission reports about offending in universities of 2015-2016.  

There must be a Bathurst Christian Community Response, inviting Chifley Local Area Command chaplain, retired Bishop Richard Hurford, to play a leading role, encouraging Bishops Michael McKenna and Ian Palmer and Police Minister Troy Grant to participate, and with victims of St Stanislaus’, All Saints’, Scots and St Joseph’s Orphanage to take part.

A quotation from the national apology in Canberra was one that must make many Bathurst residents feel very uneasy, especially those in positions of responsibility and accountability, leading our community, churches and our schools.

Scott Morrison said: “Today, Australia confronts a trauma - an abomination - hiding in plain sight for far too long.”