Streets in the throes of violence

By Jade Lawton
THE tragic death of Pakenham teen Cameron Lowe this week caused many to question whether violence had become a problem on our streets.
Pakenham mum Leonie said the assault brought back memories of her own son’s attack last year.
Sean, then 20, was walking home from the pub when he was ‘necked’ with a piece of wire in an unprovoked attack on Eagle Drive.
“My son was walking home one evening, he walked past two young men and they exchanged pleasantries – hello, how are you. With that he walked past and one of the young men punched him in the head for no known reason.”
He saw a flash, the offenders took off and Sean realised he had a gash on his neck. The attackers were never found.
Leonie said she no longer let her children walk after sunset.
“If that was a piece of barbed wire, if they cut an artery, it could have been my boy (that died).
“We’ve lived in Pakenham for 20 years and it’s gotten worse in the last 18 months,” she said.
“Pakenham has gone from a safe little country town to a metropolitan gangland. That’s the way we are feeling right now.”
Others expressed similar sentiments on the Gazette’s facebook page.
“Pakenham is a disgrace,” wrote Fiona Purcell.
“It is becoming more and more like Dandy… I can’t stand going there. And I can tell that Pakenham is going to get worse and worse due to the fact that they continue to build, build, build. I honestly cannot stand Pakenham anymore,” said Louisa Maxwell.
Shayne O’Connor said Pakenham had been a ‘disgrace’ for the past five to 10 years.
“You get all these kids in groups thinking they are tough cause they’re in a group with mates, when they’re on their own, they are nothing but little boys. Police have to do something.”
Another local, Jay Wealands, said something needed to be done on a state level.
“There needs to be a comprehensive and co-ordinated solution to the problem of rising youth violence. The State Election is weeks away, and the only solution I have seen is to increase the number of police,” he said.
“I feel that a co-ordinated approach is needed between the state and local governments, the police, our schools and counselling groups, a true anti-violence campaign.”
Despite anecdotal evidence, Victoria Police statistics show that the number of assaults in the Cardinia Shire dropped almost 17 per cent in the last financial year, compared to the year before.