Jeff Kennett-Is he for real? | PUNT ROAD END | Richmond Tigers Forum
  • IMPORTANT // Please look after your loved ones, yourself and be kind to others. If you are feeling that the world is too hard to handle there is always help - I implore you not to hesitate in contacting one of these wonderful organisations Lifeline and Beyond Blue ... and I'm sure reaching out to our PRE community we will find a way to help. T.

Jeff Kennett-Is he for real?

Rosy

Rosy

Tiger Legend
Mar 27, 2003
54,348
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Has anyone heard Kennett speak on this matter? I'm just wondering if he's been taken out of context or if this is a true reflection of his feelings on the matter. I'm gobsmacked such a high profile person, who is a front man for suicide awareness, could hold such an archaic view. Must ask my friend on the Bonnie Doon committee what his opinion on the matter is...nah I can probably guess. Unreal.


Jeff kennett gay storm
James Campbell

July 27, 2008 12:00am
EXCLUSIVE: FORMER state premier Jeff Kennett has provoked a gay rights storm by backing a football club that sacked a trainer for being gay.

The Hawthorn president and potential Melbourne lord mayor sparked calls for his sacking after saying Bonnie Doon Football Club was within its rights to sack veteran trainer Ken Campagnolo after it found out he was gay.

"The club felt that once this had been pointed out and you had this gentleman there who was obviously close to young men - massaging young men - it ran an unnecessary risk and that's why it decided it was best that he not perform those duties again. So the club was trying to do the right thing," Mr Kennett said.

"When you are in charge of a group of young boys, as this club was as I understand it, it's got to make sure."

Mr Kennett said it was as if the club had a pedophile trainer.

"It's the same if you have a pedophile there as a masseur, right?"

"And you might say the pedophile would do no damage, but once it was pointed out to you, you have a duty of care to those underage children not to put them in a situation of risk."

He could not guarantee a gay trainer would be welcome at Hawthorn, adding: "I don't know if we've got any.

"I'm just saying at the moment we have a duty of care to our players and staff and you have to make judgments on that. If you don't do it you end up with potential legal liability."

Mr Campagnolo is fighting the Bonnie Doon Football Club, the AFL and Benalla and District Football League in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal over his 2007 sacking.

On Friday, the AFL failed in a bid to have his complaint against it struck out, with the tribunal ruling the matter must go to mediation.

Mr Campagnolo said he was appalled by Mr Kennett's remarks.

"I am not a pedophile. Does that mean every straight male doctor cannot treat any female patient?" he said.

Rodney Croome, of the Australian Coalition for Equality, said: "Jeff Kennett should immediately step aside from his role in Beyond Blue."
 
As a Christian my thoughts on homosexuality have been well documented, i.e. I believe it is not what God intended for us. Having said that, I don't believe that a gay person should be sacked by their footy club for 'coming out'. I understand that some boys may feel uncomfortable with getting 'rubs' from this person from now on but as long as there is an alternative for those boys it should not mean he has to leave. At the footy clubs I have played at, including at SANFL League level, we have had female trainers who are giving rubs, in the rooms with the guys who are getting changed etc. Whilst your first experience with this might be a little uncomfortable, you very quickly forget about it and move on. They become part of the furniture, so to speak.

For Jeff Kennett to compare it to a pedophile being a trainer is ridiculous. A pedophile would clearly pose a rel danger to the kids, a homosexual would make a few kids (and more likely parents) feel uncomfortable at worst, I would think.
 
A person's sexuality has nothing to do with their capacity and capablity to work in any occupation. kennett's comments and the action of the footy club are disgraceful.
 
Unfortunately you are missing the point - to associate gay men with paedophilia is disgraceful. It's not about whether a homosexual can be a trainer it is the association between homosexuality and paedophilia that is abhorrent.

Cannot believe there has not been a bigger outcry against this
 
They are both valid, and abhorant points to me BCL.

There is a third that concerns me too and that is Kennett being spokesperson for Beyond Blue who shows such little disregard for another's feelings by casting such aspertions publicly.

I don't know Ken Campagnolo but have met some of his family. He lives in an area devastated by drought and where suicide isn't uncommon.

I'll post an article from yesterday's H/S. Jeff was a friend, in the way that everyone is small footy clubs are friends, and he coached our kids in their junior years. Very sad he couldn't cope with things.

R.I.P. Jeff Fehrring. :'(

Some might question why I link these articles but involvement in a local sporting club can be a lifeline in times of crisis, such as a crippling drought. Have a good look at yourself Jeff Kennett and your role at Beyond Blue Mr Kennett. >:(


Drought a factor in ex-VFL player's suicide, says family

July 30, 2008 01:34pm
THE impact of the drought contributed to the suicide of former Geelong and St Kilda player Jeff Fehring, his family says.

Fehring, who played 36 games for Geelong and St Kilda in the 1970s and 80s, died last week. He was 53.

He had been living on a farm near the NSW Riverina town of Hay, a Geelong spokesman said.

"On behalf of Jeff Fehring's family, we sadly announce that Jeff tragically took his own life on 25th July 2008 as a culmination of drought and depression,'' Geelong said in a statement today.

"His family would like to sincerely thank their extended family, friends and the football community who have been so much a part of Jeff's life, for their heartfelt sympathy and messages of support.''

A giant ruckman, Fehring played 19 games for Geelong from 1977 to 1979 before transferring to St Kilda, for whom he played 17 games over two seasons.

He is remembered for kicking a goal for St Kilda in 1981 that flew around 86 metres from the centre circle, and which is regarded as one of the longest in the game's history.

Readers seeking information on dealing with depression or anxiety can visit www.beyondblue.org.au, call the beyondblue info line on 1300 22 4636 (local call), Lifeline on 131 114; Victorian Statewide Suicide Helpline on 1300 651 251; or Mensline Australia on 1300 789 978.
 
I've temporarily moved this thread here from the RRP board because I intend to e-mail a link to Jeff Kennett and wanted to give others a chance to contribute if they wanted to comment.

I'll remind him being  a trainer/massuer at a football club isn't a sexual act and to link sexual preference with pedophilia would be offensive to many human beings. Considering his role with Beyond Blue Jeff should consider a clarification/retraction and a public apology for his comments.
 
Yes, both stories are very very sad.

I, too, am part of our local cricket club and I see many to whom our club has been their life, their centre of social activity.

I've seen kids begin at the club from 5, 6, 7 yo of age, now playing senior cricket. I've seen characters & personalities be formed & shaped by relationships at our club.
As a club administrator it is extremely important to understand where each individual at the club stands, what affects them, and who to keep them enfranchised in a positive manner. Discipline is used, when appropriate, and nearly always in a positive way.

All members of the club are respected as individuals and encouraged to work positively for it's benefit.

As for Jeff, some of us who knew him in the late 70s & early 80s knew he was a strange cat.
Sometimes, by nature of circumstances, strange men are delivered into awkward situations.
Jeff was one of those.

Probably, if the Cain / Kirner government had made a more decent fist of things for Victoria, Jeff would have been passed over for Victorian Liberal Party leadership, on psychological grounds.
But our State was in such terrible condition sometimes you have to find a particular man to do a particular job.

Fortunately, as Victoria recovered, the need for Jeff passed too. That was unfortunate for Jeff.
Since then he has struggled to find his place, hence his depression.
He's still a very strange cat.

You are right Rosy, his comments regarding Ken Campagnolo are most certainly in conflict with his scope at Beyond Blue.
But I'm sure Jeff mentally wrestles with that conlict, and his own demons, every day.
 
Big Cat Lover said:
Unfortunately you are missing the point - to associate gay men with paedophilia is disgraceful. It's not about whether a homosexual can be a trainer it is the association between homosexuality and paedophilia that is abhorrent.

Cannot believe there has not been a bigger outcry against this
Click to expand...

I agree with you completely. This assertion by Kennett is outrageous.
 
Kennett is best disregarded,despite his promise to keep quiet he blurts out nonsense most of the time.
 
Big Cat Lover said:
Unfortunately you are missing the point - to associate gay men with paedophilia is disgraceful. It's not about whether a homosexual can be a trainer it is the association between homosexuality and paedophilia that is abhorrent.

Cannot believe there has not been a bigger outcry against this
Click to expand...

BCL you are spot on.
 
If you apply the community averages to the people working and playing in the AFL, i'm sure you would find a significant number of people who count themselves as homosexual. Its a pity they can't come out and admit it because of narrow minded attitudes like Jeff Kennetts'. gay=paedophille=absurdity
 
one of the problems with issues like this is that a lot of people won't come out and take a position either way but a lot agree with kennett so they dont say anything cos he is putting it out there for them and the people who disagree dont feel strongly enough about it or they are afraid they will cop a bagging.

its like hanson. she was preaching to an ignorant interest group. she gave them a voice. kennnet with his homophobic and obscene blatherings is much the same.

i'd like the good people of pre and the wider community to stand up and be counted.

we all know what happens when good people do nothing......
 
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