No Tolerance in Casey Australia
By Matt Cunningham (Cranbourne News)
JUNCTION Village naturopath and witchcraft practitioner Olivia Watts has spoken of the torment recent allegations of satanic cult activity in Casey have caused her and her family.
Casey councillor Rob Wilson raised concerns more than two months ago that a cult was trying to take over in the City of Casey.
Last Friday, Cr Wilson read a statement on 3SER Casey community radio saying the fact Ms Watts had declared she was a witch was "a matter of concern for all Casey residents".
Ms Watts has made a complaint against Cr Wilson to the Equal Opportunity Commission of Victoria.
The matter has since been passed onto the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).
Ms Watts, who runs a home-based naturopathy clinic and practises the pagan religion Wicca, said the controversy had affected her health, her business and her family.
"I’d been so upset by this I’d been taking anti-depression medication," she said.
However, Ms Watts said she was not looking for sympathy.
"I’m just looking for people in authority to realise the personal effect these allegations have," she said.
"These are real people’s lives that they’re playing God with."
Ms Watts also expressed her disappointment in Casey mayor Cr Brian Oates for supporting Cr Wilson.
"I’m extremely disappointed that the mayor chose to support one specific religious view," she said.
"I think he should support all religions in the City of Casey."
Ms Watts said that despite the personal suffering she had endured, the controversy had brought pagans in Casey closer together.
She said she had received support from a number of groups including the Pagan Awareness Network (PAN).
"Before all this began I wasn’t a part of it," she said.
"Now I’ve been forced into relying on the support of these groups. I can’t fight the City of Casey with all its millions of dollars on my own."
She said the help of these groups had been particularly important when "it all got too much" for her.
PAN president David Garland sent a letter to Victorian Premier Steve Bracks in June voicing the network’s complaints about Cr Wilson’s comments.
Ms Watts said the issue was dividing the community and she would be glad when the whole affair was over.
"Whether you are siding with the Christian faith or with the pagans you are being asked to take sides," she said.
"All religions are a beautiful thing and Wicca teaches you that."
Cr Oates said he explained his reasons for not supporting all religions in Casey in a response to Mr Bracks.
"If people want me to represent paedophiles or Satanists or drug dealers, I’m sorry, but I want to represent the best interests of the whole community," he said.