| The Release Heather Osland
Group is comprised of women who came together after Heather was
found guilty of murder and sentenced to fourteen and a half years
imprisonment.
The primary aim of the group is to work towards Heather's release. Heather is part of the group therefore, the group works with Heather not for her. The group always works in full consultation with Heather. Heather is her own person. She makes choices based on her experience. Heather also consults with a range of people, including members of the group. These members have knowledge, expertise, training and life experiences relevant to Heather's situation. The group supports Heather. It does this by: provision of information; discussing with her her options; advocating on her behalf; visiting her in prison; writing to her; informing her of relevant events, publications and materials; fundraising to contribute to costs; liaising with relevant people; spreading the word; and increasing the community awareness of the injustice of Heather's situation. The group also undertakes tasks as requested by Heather. The group does not provide Heather with formal legal advice. Individual members of the group have different motivations and have come to the group from many 'walks of life'. We work together in a collaborative way, using community development principles. We are all learning as we go. We are all volunteers, although our paid work informs, and is informed by, our involvement in this long and difficult, but worthwhile, campaign. We meet as a group every fortnight. Each member is also in a working group; community education and lobbying; administration and information systems support; and legal issues and pardon procedures. These working groups meet on the alternate fortnight and involve others who actively support the specific work of the campaign. Whilst members of the group call ourselves feminists, not all Heather's supporters are feminists. However, the group, and the hundreds of supporters who have contacted the group, are concerned about the gender bias of the law; the lack of support, by the systems in society, for women in situations of domestic violence; and the appalling injustice of the High Court decision. The group, and Heather's many supporters, believe that law reform is required to better reflect the plight of women in violent domestic situations. Other group aims include: making a contribution towards law reform and working to educate those in the legal system, police, community groups and medical practitioners to better understand domestic violence and its affect on women and children. Heather also supports and contributes to this aim. For 13 years Heather was a victim of an abusive husband. She saved her life by acting in the only way left to her. She is now part of a campaign to get justice for herself. In this process she and other women will, hopefully benefit. The Release Heather Osland Group is part of this campaign. You can contact us at Release Heather Osland Campaign Phone: (03) 9642 0422 |
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