It just beggars belief that a member of parliament can campaign on the dangers of kitesurfing then skillfully And legally avoid the consequences of not insuring their own boat.
I know, listening to her being interviewed on abc yesterday made me want to sh!t in her letterbox everyday for the rest of my life..
What a terrible human being...
Let's play the issue, not the person(s).....
Some observations:
1) that press release was dated October 2009
2) As a MP, she's doing (or did) what some of her constituents wanted her to do.
3) Perhaps kiters who live in her electorate could meet with her to express their concerns/desire to keep the spot open?????
4) WE ALL KNOW the problems associated with/at Melville beach. WE are the solution to those problems.
5) In my former capacity, I met with Ms Woollard last year to discuss Melville beach issues.
6) City of Melville recognises kite surfing @ Melville beach as a legitimate recreational activity - they would be the appropriate starting point IMO.
Juddy
Unbelievable hypocrisy, but also grossly exaggerated.
Her husband is a leading surgeon, they must be quite wealthy. Can't believe they would rather let their son go bankrupt than help him out paying a court awarded damages assessment from a crash in their uninsured boat.
**** happens, but if you can, you should take responsibility.
On Melville safety - I wonder if anyone has suggested bulldozing a laneway across the back of the beachfront blocks and turning the road into grassed park? Surely owners of these properties would agree if it makes it a safer kiting location...
The Woollard Saga is fairly distasteful and hopefully her constituents sack her next election.
What about a kiting fund raiser in aid of Kate Cambell - does anyone on the forum know her?
haha red thumbed for posting that article . Typical sea breeze style .
Don't forget that her son crashed the boat in 2007 , way before that article was posted .
So she is still a hypocrite in my eyes
I am sure the the wooltards spent close to the ~230K in legal fees
Wow, a rich person using lawyers to avoid moral obligation.
What next, silvertails using family trusts to avoid tax obligation 
Must suck for the Woollard family, knowing that everyone your going to meet from now on will think your a SCUMBAG. Should of just paid the cash. It'll probably cost them alot more in lost reputation and employment in the long run.
Saw the recent interview last night.
If I could paraphrase the message as a quote....
"None of this is my fault. We offered her $100,000. She chose not to accept it in the full knowledge that our threat was clear. Accept the amount we choose or get nothing"
At the very least here we see one politician who is true to her word. Nothing it is!
BUT
A son declaring bankruptcy???
The innocent victim of his drunken frolic; and his parents negligence in not insuring their boat; left to pay her own medical bills & live with the consequences.
WTF right does she have to determine the amount of compo thats appropriate.
And WTF is a callous, heavy handed threat of take $150,000 less than the law deems appropriate or get nothing.
A law maker who defies the courts & the laws she is there to uphold - at the cost of her sons reputation for life.
Is this the sort of person we want running our country.
This has to rank as one of the most rank acts ever.
Too low for even the lowliest - but from a publicly funded elected 'pillar' of our society !!!!
Staggering.
No regard for her own laws.
No compassion for the victim.
And I wonder at her sons reflection on this miserly act when the shame & consequences of his bankruptcy record comes back to haunt him over & over again long after the only ones who remember the saga will be him & his victim.
Now its time for me to go and find out what party she represents. Wanted to have my say regardless of which party isnt sacking her. Shame on whoever that is.
Surely to God no-one will ever consider a vote for her ever again.
Yep - found that last night.
Independent Liberal.
That would explain why no-one has sacked her over this disgusting display of inhumanity.
ruh roh woollards in more trouble
www.perthnow.com.au/news/wa/woollard-faces-ban-as-doctor-ng-8e2bffe78ae041f7875484a744a623fc
There have been a number of attacks on my mother over her support for aiming to make Kite Surfing safer in Applecross. People are entitled to such views, but they are justifing these attacks on the basis of my involvement in a serious boating accident in 2007. I know that accident had a profound effect on my mother and undoubtedly has influenced her drive towards steps which will reduce the likelihood of other people suffering serious injuries such as those sustained by Kate Campbell in my accident.
I am immensely proud of my mother and what she does, and hope one day that I might be able to make a positive contribution to the community.
Whilst some people have called for Kite Surfing to be banned in Applecross, my mother has only ever called for it to be made safer. She has been involved in this issue since 2007.
Unfortunately there are a number of misconceptions about the tragic accident which I have accepted full responsibility for. As a result I have put up some information at < http://lukewoollardboatcrash.info >.
Luke Woollard
Would the insurance pay out, considering Luke in charge was drunk ?
or would they have sued Luke first ?
Woolards i presume they did, should not have bankrolled his defence if they were not prepared pay out the damages, when clearly he did the wrong thing, should have been made to deal with the cost/consequence on his own financially.
I hope folks take note, one crazy moment, one stupid mistake messes up multiple lives forever
Good luck all involved,the campell's, her family and Luke
Thanks Dusta
Worth posting though.....quote......
"AUSTRALIA'S medical regulator is seeking to strip Perth cardiologist Keith Woollard of his right to practise medicine.
The Medical Board of Australia has taken action following a complaint to its assessment committee. .....
.... The action is another blow for the embattled Woollard family. The Applecross physician and his wife, independent MP Janet Woollard, have endured heavy criticism for their stance on their son's legal battle stemming from a boat crash in which a young woman was badly injured.
Luke Woollard pleaded guilty to crashing his father's boat while drunk and was then ordered to pay injured Kate Campbell almost $230,000 following a civil trial earlier this year.
But he says he is unable to pay.
The Woollards have come under fire for refusing to help him pay, despite being under no legal obligation to do so."
@ Luke
No one here is relating your mothers deplorable stance on this issue to actions either for or against kiting at Applecross. We are simply expressing our own personal views - which echo the views of any member of society, kiter or otherwise - who feels any compassion at all.
I too have been involved in the 'Melville Kiters' issues even before it hit your mothers radar. I have done so as a part of WAKSA which provides; & encourages kiters to have; public liability insurance to avoid the possibility of kiters creating the devastating hardship your parents have inflicted on an innocent victim by not having the WAKSA styled insurance they (in their lack of wisdom) chose not to pay for.
How they can sit back and allow this poor girl to suffer because they are "under no legal obligation" beggars the imagination. Esp when it was THEIR boat which caused the problem. Public liability insurance through WAKSA costs just $125. Im sure similar insurance for power boat owners would be a similarly inconsequential cost.
I have personally expressed my adamant belief that it is totally irresponsible for any kiter to practice their passion without paying this measly sum. Not just to protect themselves against claims such as the one you are choosing evade but to protect the rights of any innocent victim who may be on the unfortunate of side of any unfortunate 'incident'.
For a standing member of parliament - an elected 'pillar of society' - to choose to not protect those who pay her way by not taking 3rd party PL on her boat "because she is under no legal obligation to do so" is, in my mind, totally irresponsible. It is also totally hypocritical in principle. But then to force her son into bankruptcy to avoid her undoubtable humanitarian responsibility to compensate the innocent victim of her failure to buy insurance is simply beyond the comprehension of myself and every other person out there who has an ounce of compassion in their soul.
This has NOTHING to do with your mothers involvement in kiting. The only reason I am expressing these opinions on a 'kiters' forum is because -
1) I really feel the need to vent my gut wrenching reaction to this unbelievable slur on society you & your family are running and this happens to be the place I normally come to make comments.
2) BUT more importantly I hope that the predicament the Woollard family now faces points out the extent of liability any one of us could face at any moment and take the responsible action I have long promoted to get themselves the protection that WAKSA/AKSA membership provides.
I see the news of the unrelated professional body reaction to your families total disregard of personal responsibility as a screaming victory for the basic core of humanity. Anyone with any power to condemn your families actions in this case would be complicit if they didnt act.
I am sure that somewhere there in that age old 'hypocratic oath' your fathers running away from the patient in this case fails - BIG TIME.
Failure - as doctor who swears responsibility to assist ALL the sick & injured.
Failure - as a member of society who should acts responsibly to protect others.
Failure - as a parent who should take responsibility for his childrens actions.
Failure - as a human who should respond humanly.
Failure - as a person who should have & uphold personal values which are not reflected in these actions.
KITERs pls take note - its not worth saving less than 35c a day to risk liability to this type of compensation pay-out. And how could you live with yourself if you were to leave an innocent victim without compensation even if you dont have assets to protect.
WAKSA is the Way-To-Go for ALL kiters.
Been meaning to sign up to WAKSA since Chrissie. This kicked my ass into gear to actually do something about it. So am now signed up and insured and it feels good!
Cheers
i'm curious luke. Do you hold a skippers ticket and are you aware there is a 10 knot speed limit from dusk till dawn, which if you were abiding by you would have had plenty of time to avoid the channel marker .
back again ...... sorry but I feel the need to.
@Luke
I read your blog Luke. I can see nothing there which explains, exonerates or provides you with any defense for your decision to fail in your responsibility to the victim here.
The bankruptcy laws are provided; in sentiment; to allow those who would otherwise be unable to create a future for themselves an option when all else fails to cover their misadventure.
Unfortunately the bankruptcy laws are probably the most abused laws there are.
In your case there is no way in hell that payment of $230000 is going to prevent you from pursuing a successful future. You say you are taking full responsibility but clearly you are not. You and your family are abusing the system; which you have every legal right to do; but are squealing at others abhorrence of your abuse.
If you are "taking full responsibility" but "in my case I have limited resources and the only possible outcome is my bankruptcy"
Taking that option is totally irresponsibe.
Saying its the only possible outcome is totally dishonest.
You are in a position personally where Im sure any main stream lender would fund your liability against the assured income of a graduate.
Failing that a (cost free) guarantee from either of your parents would make a formal loan an absolute certainty.
You are not taking responsibility you are shirking it.
Your parents condoning (if not driving) this 'choice' you are making eats into the heart of all things parents should be. Role models, advisors and carers of their children. Not to mention the often unspoken value of taking, at least some, responsibility for their actions.
BUT they were the ones who lent you the uninsured boat for the night when, clearly, all would be anticipating a night of celebratory indulgence.
I, and I believe most others, see them at least as responsible for the victims misfortune as you as the driver were. They too are shirking responsibility by hiding behind 'you' - as a scapegoat for their own irresponsibilty - & behind the "law" which in this case was not meant for them.
The bankruptcy laws you are hiding behind are societies way of showing some compassion for the destitute. They are not there to protect the assets of the wealthy.
Whats at issue here are social values and conscience and compassion. You and your family are displaying an unbelievable lack on all fronts.
Dont then be surprised at the affront others are expressing. That is simply a display of the healthy side of our society.
@ Luke
Given all of the above ....... why dont you get a job and agree to pay the $200,000 + owed to the young lady you injured in installments even $10,000 a year for the next 20years....TAKE SOME RESPONSIBILITY
You can do the right thing......then ask your parents for help if you need.
People,
This is a public forum that has obviously attracted the attention of the Woollard family.
Regardless of the incident & issues being discussed, is it in our interests to be slagging the family concerned when there is every likelihood kiters may need to lobby/advocate to Mrs Woollard a case if/when issues emerge at Melville beach in the future?
Think smart people....
