THE PEOPLE'S INQUIRY

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE PEOPLE’S INQUIRY – EXTRACTS FROM THE PRESIDENT’S REPORT  May 2007 

Although all the hard work of putting on, and running, the Inquiry was over, 2006 -2007 has turned out to be an unexpectedly busy year behind the scenes.

Our hope last year that the Report would indeed be ready for publication in July was – as it turned out – a long shot - and in the circumstances totally unrealistic.  Just getting all the written submissions sorted and evidence presented at the Inquiry written up and sent to the Commissioners, turned out to take far longer than we thought. 

One main task this year has centred on getting all this information to the Commissioners so that the Report could be progressed.  This has involved copying the recordings of the oral testimony onto DVDs and CDs and sending to the Commissioners, tracking down and copying documents and reports that they required, going through submissions and verifying quotes, viewing the DVDs and doing transcriptions of sections, compiling summaries of spray days and health effects etc.  When the first drafts of the Report came in by early March there was proof-reading and following up on queries, quotes and evidence – which is still ongoing today.

Having seen these first drafts of the Report, I can only say that our Commissioners have done a huge and thorough job, and goodness knows where they found the time in between their university work.  We will not be getting a short summary but a hugely comprehensive, well thought out, documented and argued Report.  They have done the community proud and I am truly grateful for all this hard work and dedication. 

The second main task was to get back to everyone who had given evidence to the Inquiry, whether written or oral testimony, and obtain their consent to publish.  This task is also ongoing, with people still to be followed up who have not replied, and with the re-writes and amendments to the submissions to accommodate their wishes and concerns.  All these submissions together with the draft reports went to the lawyer this month for his comments and legal opinion.

There was still the task of keeping in touch with everyone.  It is easy to forget when busy and working on things that everyone out there does not know any of this, and has no idea what is going on.  Newsletter 6 was published and sent out in October, together with the consent forms and letters.  Follow up contact has often involved updates from people on their health and ongoing problems from the spraying.  In some cases, as with the sad death of Jennie Manning-Voyce, the outcomes of the Inquiry will not give satisfaction or relief.

We are getting there.  The Report will be published.  I know last AGM we said it would be published in July – but did we say which year?!  It will mean more hard work in the future just trying to get the recommendations implemented, but I know we can do it.  A community has been forged out of the hardship, and a strong community has bonds that will allow it to prevail and prosper.   

Hana Blackmore

President