Here is a message I received tonight from someone I have not heard from for awhile.

Dear Michael,
Everything happens for a reason. No matter how confusing, misunderstood, upsetting or frustrating. It's not what happens, its how we deal with it. There's a star out there that shines brighter than them all. U cant miss it. It shines over YOU the most. Childhoods end, is a new beginning...
Mick, u really are the most talented artist I have ever known. Express yourself forever. I'm in Townsville painting high rises, Do your run/walk, always knew you would. I'd like to donate bugt dont have ebay.I'll put in your account. I sent your sister in-law Lee a pic of Luke and she cried.

I have never sold my art. I don't expect to complete my trip being funded by donations. I can't use Luke to get money for me. I have to fund the campaign for my son, not use my son's memory to get money.
I will start selling my art as well as playing gigs on the way. I have all the equipment I need. please let me know if you are interested, regards Luke's Dad.

I only just realised tonight Lukey, on our last visit as I put you in the car, I tried to pretend everything was good and normal so you would not get upset.
I remember the look in your eyes, you were doing a better job than me at hiding your fear. I am sorry Lukey, I wanted to protect you. There was nothing I could do. I am so sorry my little boy.
I miss you and love you forever. I can't wait to be in heaven with you Luke.

The department of child safety should be a two edged sword:-

Firstly, they should be helping struggling, disadvantaged and impoverished parents and their children. Every family has problems. They offer minumum services and act out a role as the divine gurus on childrens upbringings. Their vast knowledge is gained predominantly from books used as references by universities. Many do not even have children. They come with the attitude "Their decision is always the best course of action to take." Nobody is infallable.

Secondly,

Luke died while in foster care arranged by the department of child safety.

grave, stone, luke, died, foster, care, two years, DoCS, department of child safety

This is my idea. A rock against DoCS at each demonstration, starting with one that I am hoping to have in the Cairns City Mall which is about 5 metres away from the department of child safety office in Cairns. Of course the first attempt will not be the best, but with protests planned for Cairns, Townsville, Brisbane and Sydney things can only get better. The more input and envolvement will mean more ideas and results.

A Critical Look At The Foster Care System:
How Widespread a Problem?

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HOW WIDESPREAD A PROBLEM?
One of the most comprehensive surveys of abuse in foster care was conducted in conjunction with a Baltimore lawsuit. Trudy Festinger, head of the Department of Research at the New York University School of Social Work, determined that over 28 per cent of the children in state care had been abused while in the system.

National Coalition for Child Protection Reform / 53 Skyhill Road (Suite 202) / Alexandria, Va., 22314 / info@nccpr.org / www.nccpr.org
FOSTER CARE VS. FAMILY PRESERVATION: THE TRACK RECORD ON SAFETY AND WELL-BEING

At the heart of the criticism of family preservation is one overriding assumption: If you remove a child from the home, the child will be safe. If you leave a child at home the child is at risk. In fact, there is risk in either direction, but real family preservation programs have a better record for safety than foster care.

This pencil drawing was done on paper by Lukes Dad. It represents a baby child all alone in foster care. Helpless with no one to help in a nightmare world.

baby, child, foster, care, pencil, drawing, paper, lukes, dad

This is a dragon I did on a friends fridge