Man closes Sydney Harbour Bridge to get his message across – “Plz help my kids”
Author: Watts McCray Comments: 6
A Sydney father went to desperate measures this morning to protest against the rights of children and fathers when parents separate and divorce. The man – “Mick”, 38 – climbed to the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge at 5am this morning using ropes to climb the arch. Once at the top, he hung two banners, reading “Kids First” and “Plz Help My Kids”.
From the top of the bridge on his mobile phone, the man spoke to different members of the media.
He told the Nine Network: “If I have to stuff 4 million people around for one morning and that gets my kids and other kids help one day sooner [then] I have achieved my goal.
“If that draws attention to the fact DOCS is a failed department that’s letting our children down, then I have achieved my goal.
“This is a peaceful protest. It’s to give a voice to little people. Most fathers or mothers that are victims of this sort of stuff have not got anyone to turn to. At the end of the day I have got the ability to stage a peaceful demonstration and make people stand up and pay attention.”
He then told Triple M radio station that “there is a major failure in the fact that there’s no one looking after our kids when parents separate and divorce.”
While “Mick’s” circumstances are unknown, the protest highlights the emotional stress that divorce and separation can bring to not only children, but to parents as well. The protestor, who expressed his exasperation at ‘the system’, put a spotlight on the difficulties and intricacies of Family Law in Australia, and how the issues and problems that accompany splits in families have real and emotional consequences.
Mick also spoke of “parental alienation syndrome” which he described as the insulting and alienation of one parent by a child because of the actions and words of the other parent.
His concerns bring attention to the recent changes and debates regarding Australia’s Family Law Act, and the move from a focus on shared parenting to making the best interest of the child a priority.
Tracy L
May 13, 2011
Having worked in the system Mick protested against on the Harbour Bridge today I’ve seen first hand the suffering children experience as they get dragged through the disfunctional bureucracy. I don’t know his story but I know many others that wish they were up there with him. Hats off to you Mick. Yes I know those who sat in traffic were pissed off but we need to have an overhaul in favour of what CHILDREN need!!!
Nicole Foster
May 16, 2011
Having been through the system with my current husband yes there definitely needs to be changes to the current system.
His daughter started out at the age of nine telling the courts that she wanted them to decide and then by the time she was thirteen she told the court she was afraid of her father and didnt want to spend any time with him due to her mother influence.
At the final hearing the judge even told my husband that he could see there was clear alienation there but there was nothing he could do due to her age.
My husband as lost all parental responisiblty to his daughter and has not contact with her.
Natalee
May 16, 2011
IT TAKES ONE PERSON TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!
MICK > AUSTRALIA IS BEHIND YOU!
Unknown
May 17, 2011
Good on you mick , all the best hope you get your kids back , especially when new migrants are only after securing there financial benefits from australians , the people whom make there ex parents pay to see there own children are disgusting people whom probably have other agendas , people should not have to pay to see there own god given rite as a result of another persons spite , if you marry an australian and have a child stay in australia i say ! These people whom play out parent alienation should all be tested mentally , then be investigated
Family Law
May 27, 2011
I wonder if any of the other readers were able to see this incident first hand? Anyway, divorce brings a lot of suffering on the family, and I guess especially on the children. I believe some records show that children of divorced couples are more likely to start smoking at a young age, suffer depression, and engage in intercourse. Hopefully, Mick has opened the eyes and ears of everyone, especially those who give out rulings when it comes to family law-related matters.
Matthew.T
June 11, 2011
Ive been going through the same crap as You’ve been dealing with for 8yrs now!
For so long about your kids! and looking as to how the system treats good father who want n try to do the right thing by our kids due to divorce or separation!
its about time A Systemic over haul of a Failing system in this day n age and TREATED men n fathers as EQUALS!
Thanks! for something i couldn’t do myself!
Someone had to bring it to a HEAD!
Ur a LEGEND in my BOOKS!
Matt.T