PRISONERS PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO STRANDED HORSE OWNERS
Published Tuesday, 28 August, 2007 at 05:15 PM
Minister for Police and Corrective Services
The Honourable Judy Spence
A team of low risk female prisoners from the Warwick Work Camp are providing valuable assistance to horse owners affected by the Equine Flu quarantine at the Warwick Horse Trials.
Corrective Services Minister Judy Spence said women from the work camp have taken on a range of jobs to help with the management of the quarantined area, since the flu outbreak occurred on the weekend.
“Prisoners have been preparing food for the Crisis Support team, cleaning facilities, building fencing, marshalling horses, conducting grounds maintenance and setting up the canteen,” Ms Spence said.
“Staff members from the work camp have also been providing shopping and transport assistance for those people directly affected by the quarantine, and have also been collecting donations.”
Ms Spence said prisoners from the work camp had already helping with the Horse Trials when the flu outbreak occurred.
“The Warwick work camp has strong ties with the Morgan Park Equestrian Centre and prisoners had been working hard preparing the grounds for the event as part of their existing work agreement,” Ms Spence said.
“Prisoners provided gardening and mowing assistance, as well as painting, decorating and setting up the jumping apparatus.
“On the weekend of the trials, prisoners were to perform cleaning duties, assist in the canteen and prepare food, before their roles were reassessed when the quarantine was put in place.
“Work Camp organisers are to be commended for organising the assistance, which I know is greatly appreciated by all the people affected by the Equine Flu outbreak at Warwick.”
Ms Spence said the work being done at Warwick is a prime example of how work camps around the state provide excellent assistance to their local communities in times of need.
“This type of assistance has been running for more than 15 years, when prisoner labour was used in the clean up after the Charleville flood,” Ms Spence said.
“The use of prisoner labour by prison work camps contributes around $1 million per year in labour costs to rural and regional towns, and also helps prisoners achieve rehabilitation.
“This kind of work provides low-risk inmates with important opportunities to make reparation to the community and to develop skills and work ethic.
“Prisoners are assessed for their suitability to work in the community before being allowed to participate, and any prisoners with violent or sexual offending backgrounds are not eligible to participate in the program.”
More Information: Nicola Hazell – 3239 6172/ 0408 732 491
Corrective Services Minister Judy Spence said women from the work camp have taken on a range of jobs to help with the management of the quarantined area, since the flu outbreak occurred on the weekend.
“Prisoners have been preparing food for the Crisis Support team, cleaning facilities, building fencing, marshalling horses, conducting grounds maintenance and setting up the canteen,” Ms Spence said.
“Staff members from the work camp have also been providing shopping and transport assistance for those people directly affected by the quarantine, and have also been collecting donations.”
Ms Spence said prisoners from the work camp had already helping with the Horse Trials when the flu outbreak occurred.
“The Warwick work camp has strong ties with the Morgan Park Equestrian Centre and prisoners had been working hard preparing the grounds for the event as part of their existing work agreement,” Ms Spence said.
“Prisoners provided gardening and mowing assistance, as well as painting, decorating and setting up the jumping apparatus.
“On the weekend of the trials, prisoners were to perform cleaning duties, assist in the canteen and prepare food, before their roles were reassessed when the quarantine was put in place.
“Work Camp organisers are to be commended for organising the assistance, which I know is greatly appreciated by all the people affected by the Equine Flu outbreak at Warwick.”
Ms Spence said the work being done at Warwick is a prime example of how work camps around the state provide excellent assistance to their local communities in times of need.
“This type of assistance has been running for more than 15 years, when prisoner labour was used in the clean up after the Charleville flood,” Ms Spence said.
“The use of prisoner labour by prison work camps contributes around $1 million per year in labour costs to rural and regional towns, and also helps prisoners achieve rehabilitation.
“This kind of work provides low-risk inmates with important opportunities to make reparation to the community and to develop skills and work ethic.
“Prisoners are assessed for their suitability to work in the community before being allowed to participate, and any prisoners with violent or sexual offending backgrounds are not eligible to participate in the program.”
More Information: Nicola Hazell – 3239 6172/ 0408 732 491