Projects

CRIMINAL INJURIES COMPENSATION

PUBLIC INFORMATION FORUM

HELD AT

Level 13, Conference Room, International House, 26 St Georges Terrace, Perth

ON THE FOLLOWING DATES AT 2PM

PLEASE ARRIVE 10 MINUTES EARLY FOR A PROMPT START

Please note : No children are permitted and there are no child-minding facilities.

25th November 2006 - 10th December 2006
Download the timetable of events

18 May 2006
The second Sycamore Tree Project® has been completed at Acacia Prison near Perth, Western Australia. During one session there was a powerful encounter between victims of crime and offenders. The following extract is from an article sent in by STP facilitator Michael Cockram captures the interaction ……………….

Two tables were moved together and then covered with a white cloth. Some beautiful roses were put in a vase and placed on the table. Other rose heads and petals were placed in a beautiful bowl filled with water which was also placed on the table. Some large candles were placed and lit and a number of small unlit candles were similarly placed together with some photographs, poems and other papers. A CD player commenced to play “Sounds of Silence” by Simon and Garfunkel.

This was the last formal session of Session 6 of STP 2 in WA, a session supposed to be focused on ”planning Restitution” to the victims of the prisoners’ crimes. However this was a very special day - in fact the birthday of the murdered teenaged child of one of the victim volunteers. She commenced to speak gently of her beautiful child, of her pregnancy, of the tussles and joys of motherhood leading to the incomprehensible moment when she learned of the murder. A facilitator then read from an eloquent victim impact statement prepared by a family member. A candle was lit and we listened to Puff Daddy sing a favourite song of the child.

There was a long silence. A young prisoner serving a sentence for crimes of violence stood and said. “May I light a candle for your child?”. On receiving permission he proceeded to do so. He also prayed that his deceased grandfather (who he had earlier shared with us had been the major influence for good in his life) would “look up” the deceased child and take the child under his wing.<

Shortly after this another prisoner rose and also asked permission to light a candle for the child. He also indicated that he was lighting a candle for the child (a different child) he had killed (he provided the name). The pain in his face was palpable.

A victim volunteer who had come prepared to light a candle for her murdered husband instead lit a candle for “my offender”.

Again, we see the powerful exchange between victims of crime and offenders through taking part in the Sycamore Tree Project®. There are few programmes running in prisons that have this effect on both offenders and victims at the same time.

For full information on STP go to Sycamore Tree Project

Lent Talks: Cherie Booth

Any victim of crime interested in participating in sycamore tree program can contact angelhands and we will direct you to the appropriate people.