Australia Samantha Murphy, 51, last seen leaving her property to go for a run in the Canadian State Forest, Ballarat, 4 Feb 2024 *Arrest* #9

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Australia - Samantha Murphy, 51, last seen leaving her property to go for a run in the Canadian State Forest, Ballarat, 4 Feb 2024 *Arrest* #9

desperate search continues for a mother-of-three who vanished without a trace after heading off on a 20km run during a heatwave. Samantha Murphy, 51, was last seen leaving her home on Eureka Street in Ballarat East, about 100km northwest of Melbourne, at 7am on Sunday. It's understood she was...
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10. Sub judice contempt: restricting the publication of prejudicial information - Victorian Law Reform Commission

Overview • The law protects a person’s right to a fair hearing by preventing people from publishing information that may improperly influence a jury or witness. This is known as sub judice contempt. • It is increasingly difficult to protect jurors from information in an online age. There should...
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Last edited:
Whatson said:
They used to call it the lucky country, but if you ask me, there's something just not right in Australia these days...

7news.com.au

Woman bashed and left unconscious at popular walking trail

The 45-year-old woman was found more than four hours after the beating.
7news.com.au 7news.com.au

www.9news.com.au

Man charged with stabbing woman outside gym breached AVO twice before alleged attack

The 45-year-old was arrested at a police station this morning after an alleged domestic violence attack.
www.9news.com.au www.9news.com.au
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It makes my blood boil when I read about all these offenders who were out on bail and/or continuing to break the rules of their probation. We need to crack down on offenders and make the punishment a true reflection of the crime, as well as being a major deterrent.

On a side note, it's Mother's Day today here in Australia. My thoughts go out to the Murphy family, facing another milestone without Samantha. I'm also thinking of Whitney Stephenson, who's life has changed drastically in the last few months.
 
HoneyBunOne said:
It makes my blood boil when I read about all these offenders who were out on bail and/or continuing to break the rules of their probation. We need to crack down on offenders and make the punishment a true reflection of the crime, as well as being a major deterrent.

On a side note, it's Mother's Day today here in Australia. My thoughts go out to the Murphy family, facing another milestone without Samantha. I'm also thinking of Whitney Stephenson, who's life has changed drastically in the last few months.
Click to expand...
I second that motion, HB.. for WS.. a terrible upheaval, and no end in sight, either..
 
BGirl88 said:
Just thinking… SM was a Richmond FC supporter. PS’s Dad played for Richmond FC. If she was a Richmond supporter; it’s likely she knew who the Dad was. And if she volunteered at the school that PS went to when he was in primary school, I’d imagine there’d be a good possibility she knew the family attended the school, and therefore know PS.
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I wouldn’t count on that. My husband is a massive Richmond supporter and didn’t know who he was. He only played a handful of games.
 
pavlovsdaughter said:
I wouldn’t count on that. My husband is a massive Richmond supporter and didn’t know who he was. He only played a handful of games.
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IMO it's entirely possible that Samantha knew some members of the Stephenson family. This view is based on my having been born and raised in a major regional city, where most people know who most people are, even if they don't know the others' name.

Samantha's daughter and PS are the same age, and both attended private colleges, (where the colleges usually "pair-up" for important events.) Police have stated that there's no "connection" to the alleged killer. I guess it depends how police define "connection" in this instance.
JMO
 
jjleroche said:
IMO it's entirely possible that Samantha knew some members of the Stephenson family. This view is based on my having been born and raised in a major regional city, where most people know who most people are, even if they don't know the others' name.

Samantha's daughter and PS are the same age, and both attended private colleges, (where the colleges usually "pair-up" for important events.) Police have stated that there's no "connection" to the alleged killer. I guess it depends how police define "connection" in this instance.
JMO
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Respectfully - Ballarat is a city of 100,000. It is not physically possible for everyone to know one another, even if sometimes it feels that way. I think back to my school days - my parents certainly did not know the parents of every single student. Just seems like LE have been pretty emphatic about there being no connection, and if there was, I think we would have heard by now (e.g. local gossip).
 
Whatson said:

Kind of relevant to the dire situation of violence against women in Australia at present
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OT, but women can use spray deodorant to spray if close enough. Think of timing though. I have a screamer that hangs on the outside of my purse. Quick, accessible and easy to use. It at least startles them.
 
pavlovsdaughter said:
Respectfully - Ballarat is a city of 100,000. It is not physically possible for everyone to know one another, even if sometimes it feels that way. I think back to my school days - my parents certainly did not know the parents of every single student. Just seems like LE have been pretty emphatic about there being no connection, and if there was, I think we would have heard by now (e.g. local gossip).
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Respectfully, I am well aware of Ballarat's population. I stated "IMO it's entirely possible that Samantha knew some members of the Stephenson family".

The social circles in which one moves in a regional city often inform knowledge of names/faces - hence my mention of the children in respective families attending private colleges where they are often paired-up for organised events. Additionally both families are/were business-owners in the community, where numerous networks/organisations exist.

IIRC there was a "local knowledge" post early regarding the two families, which I am unable to find. It may have breached TOS, causing removal. Regardless, I stand by my statement that "it's entirely possible that Samantha knew some members of the Stephenson family.

JMO
 
Whatson said:
Off topic, but relevant.

What is going on Australia?!?!

www.9news.com.au

Police hunt for man after woman attacked on Brisbane walking track

A manhunt is under way after a woman escaped an attack on a Brisbane walking trail at Mount Coot-tha
www.9news.com.au www.9news.com.au
Click to expand...
I don't think it's just Australia, it's worldwide.

At the risk of sounding old, I think society is changing and we've lost some of the values we had, like respect for our elders or those in authority. In a bid to raise our children to have self esteem and believe in themselves, we've gone too far the other way. We've raised children to believe they are so special that the rules don't apply, that they are entitled to do, say and be anything they want. Schools and teachers don't seem to have the power to stop horrible behaviour and kids are running riot, even in primary school. Young people are seeing that even when their peers are brought to police attention, or before the courts, that nothing much happens. They just get notoriety which they seem to crave. The internet and social media seems to feed their egos, and it's now seen as cool to film horrendous things and upload them for likes. The internet has a lot to answer for IMO.

The cost of living does not help either. Not that I'm all for traditional roles, but back when it was possible to have a good family life on one wage, there was time. Time for the stay at home parent to do all the chores and raise the kids, while the working parent did a 9-5 day, leaving the weekends free for fun and down time. We are all so time poor now. Both parents working, either through choice or necessity, and often long hours, means "everything else" needs to be crammed into after work or weekends. This can lead to stress, pressure and feeling like you're on a hamster wheel. Not enough time to be totally present with your kids. Not enough time to de-stress. Not enough balance in your life, leading to violence and poor coping mechanisms in some people.

How do we fix this? I wish I knew, but I feel it needs to start young and more power given to those who need it. Teach kids from a young age there are ALWAYS appropriate consequences for their actions. ALWAYS. Even if they get away with murder (no pun intended) at home, let society teach them otherwise. Learning that X ALWAYS leads to Y, regardless of who you are, how much money you have, etc is required. It won't be a quick fix, but we need to do something.
 
HoneyBunOne said:
I don't think it's just Australia, it's worldwide.

At the risk of sounding old, I think society is changing and we've lost some of the values we had, like respect for our elders or those in authority. In a bid to raise our children to have self esteem and believe in themselves, we've gone too far the other way. We've raised children to believe they are so special that the rules don't apply, that they are entitled to do, say and be anything they want. Schools and teachers don't seem to have the power to stop horrible behaviour and kids are running riot, even in primary school. Young people are seeing that even when their peers are brought to police attention, or before the courts, that nothing much happens. They just get notoriety which they seem to crave. The internet and social media seems to feed their egos, and it's now seen as cool to film horrendous things and upload them for likes. The internet has a lot to answer for IMO.

The cost of living does not help either. Not that I'm all for traditional roles, but back when it was possible to have a good family life on one wage, there was time. Time for the stay at home parent to do all the chores and raise the kids, while the working parent did a 9-5 day, leaving the weekends free for fun and down time. We are all so time poor now. Both parents working, either through choice or necessity, and often long hours, means "everything else" needs to be crammed into after work or weekends. This can lead to stress, pressure and feeling like you're on a hamster wheel. Not enough time to be totally present with your kids. Not enough time to de-stress. Not enough balance in your life, leading to violence and poor coping mechanisms in some people.

How do we fix this? I wish I knew, but I feel it needs to start young and more power given to those who need it. Teach kids from a young age there are ALWAYS appropriate consequences for their actions. ALWAYS. Even if they get away with murder (no pun intended) at home, let society teach them otherwise. Learning that X ALWAYS leads to Y, regardless of who you are, how much money you have, etc is required. It won't be a quick fix, but we need to do something.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the answer. It clears up alot of my wondering.

I live in a country where multi-generational households are the norm, so even with busy parents, the grandparents and sometimes great grandparents or a helpful aunt or uncle, older sibling, are always home and I guess it takes off alot of the pressures.
 
HoneyBunOne said:
I don't think it's just Australia, it's worldwide.

At the risk of sounding old, I think society is changing and we've lost some of the values we had, like respect for our elders or those in authority. In a bid to raise our children to have self esteem and believe in themselves, we've gone too far the other way. We've raised children to believe they are so special that the rules don't apply, that they are entitled to do, say and be anything they want. Schools and teachers don't seem to have the power to stop horrible behaviour and kids are running riot, even in primary school. Young people are seeing that even when their peers are brought to police attention, or before the courts, that nothing much happens. They just get notoriety which they seem to crave. The internet and social media seems to feed their egos, and it's now seen as cool to film horrendous things and upload them for likes. The internet has a lot to answer for IMO.

The cost of living does not help either. Not that I'm all for traditional roles, but back when it was possible to have a good family life on one wage, there was time. Time for the stay at home parent to do all the chores and raise the kids, while the working parent did a 9-5 day, leaving the weekends free for fun and down time. We are all so time poor now. Both parents working, either through choice or necessity, and often long hours, means "everything else" needs to be crammed into after work or weekends. This can lead to stress, pressure and feeling like you're on a hamster wheel. Not enough time to be totally present with your kids. Not enough time to de-stress. Not enough balance in your life, leading to violence and poor coping mechanisms in some people.

How do we fix this? I wish I knew, but I feel it needs to start young and more power given to those who need it. Teach kids from a young age there are ALWAYS appropriate consequences for their actions. ALWAYS. Even if they get away with murder (no pun intended) at home, let society teach them otherwise. Learning that X ALWAYS leads to Y, regardless of who you are, how much money you have, etc is required. It won't be a quick fix, but we need to do something.
Click to expand...
And no real help for mental health in last night's budget.
 
BreakingNews said:
And no real help for mental health in last night's budget.
Click to expand...
Yes!! Mental health is a real and growing problem, and those brave enough to reach out for help are often left hanging, without they help they need. Far too many people are taking their own lives and leaving so many people shattered by their actions. It all plays into the way society is changing, and not for the better.
 
HoneyBunOne said:
Yes!! Mental health is a real and growing problem, and those brave enough to reach out for help are often left hanging, without they help they need. Far too many people are taking their own lives and leaving so many people shattered by their actions. It all plays into the way society is changing, and not for the better.
Click to expand...
Couldn’t agree more.
Escalating crime, family violence etc are a reflection of a society that doesn’t prioritise mental health sufficiently. There is a need for a radical recognition of the central role that mental health plays in everyone’s lives. Prisons are failing to protect our community, and so many innocent community members are having their lives ravaged by crime, drugs and violence, as it would appear has occurred in this case, tragically.
Click to expand...
:(
 
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