By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Victims of crime – so often said to be the forgotten voices in criminal justice – are set to be honoured at a forum hosted by City of Casey.
Its organiser Janine Greening, of Cranbourne, is a victim – but also a leader.
It still galls her that the two boys who bashed and strangled her mother to death in Rosebud 17 years ago may never be identified.
They were never added to the sex offenders’ register, though they sexually assaulted 75-year-old Marie Greening Zidan and killed her in front of her disabled son.
They phoned Ms Greening from a juvenile detention centre to taunt her about her mother’s death.
Now, those killers would be in their thirties.
They cannot be legally identified due to a court suppression order.
Three trial judges said the then-teenagers were beyond rehabilitation, she says.
“Rehabilitation doesn’t start until you are sorry for what you’ve done.
“If they were sorry that’s fine. I don’t have a hatred for them – it’s a waste of energy.”
Ms Greening’s forum will honour victims of crime and police officers in October.
It will host speakers from Crime Stoppers, Adult Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse as well as speakers on the One Punch Can Kill campaign.
There will also be talks on domestic violence, community safety and missing persons.
Her forums have toured across Melbourne.
“It’s all about education and awareness, and informing the public,” she says.
“There’s all these people talking about crime but they’re not educated.
“How are you going to know what it’s like to have a loved one murdered if you haven’t gone through it?”
Ms Greening also founded the volunteer charity Forget Me Not Foundation for victims of crime, and has pushed for a National Victims of Crime Awareness Week.
She receives no government funding.
Since 2000, she feels there’s been little headway on victims’ rights, particularly with suppression orders.
She takes issue with the recent Children’s Court Victoria warning for media not to identify victims, so as not stigmatise or embarrass juvenile offenders .
It’s a move to further silence victims, Ms Greening says.
“You can’t even say you were bashed by this 14 or 15-year-old who lives in Casey. Look at my bruises.
“The laws have crept even a step further.
“It’s all about the perpetrator and nothing about the victim.”
Victoria was “Suppression City”, handing out two blanket orders a day, she says.
“They have got suppression orders on sex offenders and murderers in the community.
“If they’re in the community near kids and vulnerable places like schools and disability homes, the places should know where the offenders are.
“They should at least start with that.”
Cr Amanda Stapledon said the forum reprised a successful event staged at Casey three years ago.
The aim was to bring people together, to ensure their experiences were validated and understood.
It was also a chance to raise “how we can do things better”, and to acknowledge their ongoing advocacy and support of other victims.
Cr Stapledon said it was also important to acknowledge the work of police.
“They get to see (confronting) things every day and this must have a big impact on their lives and mental health.”
The public event will welcome all comers, including victims, Victoria Police and interested community members.
It will be hosted at Casey Civic Centre in October.
