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Bail Out week (24-28th May 2010)

Youth Justice Forum

100 guests attended the inaugural Youth Justice Forum hosted by NAB on Monday to kick start Whitelion Bail Out week.

There was much debate and varied opinion around issues such as 'locking up' troubled youth versus 'rehabilitation and integration' back into society.

The common theme from panelists was the need for more resources in identifying at-risk youth through early intervention programs and the responsibility of the community to support our youth through employment and mentoring.

Thank you to our panel consisting of:

• Darryl Gardiner - international youth issues speaker
• Brian Barrow - Magistrate
• Arthur Bolkas - Criminologist & ex-offender
• Robyn Miller - Department of Human Services
• Bernie Geary - Child Safety Commissioner
• Luke Mitchell - Whitelion
• Trent McCarthy - Facilitator

The audience was also very engaged in some of the topics and we look forward to making this an annual event

Lock Up My Teacher!

On Tuesday, Bail Out week activities continued with a group of Year 10 students from Keysborough College participating in a unique School Bail Out experience. The students were arrested and locked up in the former city watch house before participating in a courtroom drama. The young people involved explored the issue of knife possession and crime using improvised drama techniques created through a range of group problem solving workshops. Whitelion's Glenn Broome also spoke with the group regarding the consequences of actions and realities of certain anti social behaviour. Thanks to the National Trust and Keysborough College for their involvement.

Bail Out 2010

Whitelion's fifth annual award winning Whitelion Bail Out was held at the Old Melbourne Gaol Crime and Justice Precinct on Friday 28th May, 2010.

The Bail Out event, which raised approximately $235,000, concluded a week of activities including the inaugural Youth Justice Forum 'Bail them Out or Lock them Up' and School's Bail Out challenge.

The highlight of the week is undoubtedly the 130 inmates submitting themselves to an evening of incarnation in which a minimum of $1,000 must be raised before their release to the official Parole Party.

Some of this year's highlights included:

• A record number of inmate registrations and online fundraisers;
• Court room drama featuring radio broadcaster and lawyer Jon Faine;
• Over 30 actors role playing police, prison guards and rogue inmates;
• Live Music from Cam McGlinchey & Co.;
• Special guest appearance by Natalie Bassingthwaighte;
• Silent Disco!
• Swing dancers, tap dancers, burlesque performances, fire dancers, belly dancers, acrobats; and
• Attractions such as blackjack competitions, cartoonist, Temp tatoos, tarot card reading and more!

New to 2010, fundraising inmates had the option of joining gangs (teams of four) or squads (groups of 10+) in order to reach Bail and we had terrific representation from companies such as KFC, Bovis Lendlease, NAB, Waivestar, AAR, City West Water, Alex Karr, Minter Ellison, ATO, bwired plus more.

Upon arrival, inmates were fingerprinted and photographed before being fed tasty prison gruel (soup), bread rolls and water.

The notorious Glenn 'Dog' Manton and Marney 'Chief Warden' McQueen were on the look-out for any inmate stepping out of line and punishment was severe.

After splitting into groups the inmates went on an interactive experience of the justice system featuring interrogations, parole hearings and even an interesting take on prison aerobics.

Inmates then faced a formidable judiciary with Chief Magistrate Ian Gray and Chief County Court Judge Michael Rozenes taking part along with radio broadcaster and lawyer, Jon Faine.

After spending some cell time in which some final pledges and donations were sought the record amount of inmates were released to over 250 guests next door at the official Parole Party.

Meanwhile, Parole Party guests were enjoying an electric array of live music, roving entertainment and podium performers throughout the night. The night concluded with the official announcement of monies raised - $235,000 - before guests danced the night away.

We depend heavily on the goodwill of everyone to ensure Bail Out is the success it is every year. Whitelion wishes to acknowledge and thank key event partners Metlink, National Trust of Australia (VIC), Audio Visual Dynamics, Marekai, Harts, ckaos, bwired, Fosters, Yarrawood, Waivestar, KFC, Direct Mail Solutions, Trent McCarthy & Associates and the Sunday Herald Sun.

We are also grateful for the contribution of so many staff, volunteers and supporters with a special thanks to; Brian Barrows, Kiri Pedersen, Cam McGlinchey, Glenn Manton, Marney McQueen, Sean DeCourcy, Simon Dalton, Alex Messina, John Stock, Megan Ryan, Daryl Johnson, Katchya Ilnyckyi, Campbell Wilson, Alex Nestorovski, Paul Dobson, Kirsten Egan, Stephen Campbell, Michael Klim, Bianca Chatfield, Stuart Appleby, George McEncroe, Matt Thompson, Mark Holden and the many many more than played a role.