Now Homeless - here's why

Ken rang me Friday to tell me that the mortgage company have foreclosed on him and changed the locks on his family home. He is now homeless and jobless, and forced to rely on his military survival skills.

He says he has made up his swag and a ration pack, and is OK for now, but he's obviously very shaken by the experience of being thrown out of the home he's lived in since he was born. He says - with his usual gallows humour - he's now Australia's newest street kid.

To recap for those who don't understand how this could happen:-

Ken went public with his story after enduring years of taunting and discrimination because of his sexuality.

As a result of Kens sexuality being made known in the press (it was already known privately to most people locally, including footy club officials and members), Bonnie Doon football club removed him as a trainer.

They said they did so because parents would be worried having Ken around underage boys, and this might affect recruitment. This led to Ken being called a paedophile and spat at in the streets of Mansfield (see previous posts).

Mud sticks, unfortunately, and although the club accepts there is no suggestion Ken is or was ever a paedophile, nor have here ever been any complaints against him, the damage has been done. BDFC have so far refused to make a public apology or retraction.

Ken was replaced as trainer at Bonnie Doon by one of the senior managers from the local DSE, who he alleges was responsible for much of the taunting he has endured, and for blocking his attempts to gain paid employment with them. The same local DSE recently made a sizeable cash gift to the club.

Al this meant Ken could no longer get work. He used to earn a living, not as a fireman, but as a forest contractor for DSE and other local forestry employers (and employed people himself). The DSE will no longer do business with him now that he has gone public with his story.

People who used to work alongside him fear to associate with him and have been warned not speak to the media about the situation. Other potential employers will not touch him, because places like Mansfield are tight-knit communities and people are unwilling to offend the DSE and in particular the local DSE management. It is, after all, a high fire-risk area.

As regards the tribunal, the process is playing out with regards to both the DSE and Bonnie Doon football club. The DSE have repeatedly refused to do anything other than request the case be thrown out as groundless. They have employed every possible blocking and delaying tactic, hoping to wear Ken down.

Local politicians, including Tony Lupton, David Davis, Gavin Jennings (the Minister responsible) and others have been approached by the RJM Trust on Kens behalf but have declined to meet with us or to assist, saying that the matter is being handled and please let us know how the
tribunal turns out. This is of no help to Ken, of course.

Ken had been reduced to ekeing out a living selling firewood, but the last time he came down to Melbourne for a tribunal hearing, he returned to Mansfield to find his entire stockpile had been set alight in his absence.

As the old saying goes, "there's no proof, but I've lost sixpence and you're eating lollies."

Today Tonight sniffed around the story a while back but lost interest. Maybe A Current Affair will pick it up.

Ken is homeless at the onset of winter. It's going to be a long cold wait for him till the tribunal grinds out a conclusion - see previous posts for a timeline.

Thanks for any practical help any of you can offer - it will be much appreciated. Please feel free to ask if there is any more information you would like or if you can help Ken in any way.

The RJM Trust, for which I work, is providing Ken with legal representation in all his cases against both BDFC and DSE.

Doug