12496497-CG22-21
May 16, 2025
FREE DIGITAL EDITION
SCAN the
SCAN the
QRQR CODE CODE
SIG N U P N O W!
geelongindy.com.au/subscribe geelongindy.com.au/subscribe
Walking safely to school
(Ivan Kemp) 478053_02
Fyans Park Primary School students are helping spread the word on the benefits of walking to school this National Walk Safely to School Day. Fyans Park Primary School students Harper, Charles, Iggy and Sebastian are pictured crossing the road safely with classroom teacher Emily Pietsch. “I like walking to school and it’s good when the sun’s shining... (It’s important to) cross the road when there are crossings (and to) stop, look and listen,” Charles said. “I like walking to school with mum (and) I hold mum’s hand to walk to school to keep myself safe,” Harper said. “I like walking with friends (and it’s a good idea to) look for lollipop men and ladies,” Sebastian said. “Walking to school is a good start to the morning (and I make sure) to look left and right before crossing the road,” Iggy said.
Religion or harmful cult? By Jena Carr A former member of a Geelong “doomsday cult” is showing his support for an inquiry into protecting people from behaviours and methods of control. Legislative Assembly Legal and Social Issues Committee recently opened a Victorian parliamentary inquiry into the recruitment methods and impacts of cults and organised fringe groups following the exposure of Geelong Revival Centre’s internal workings. Geelong’s Ryan Carey grew up in the Norlane Pentecostal (a form of Christianity)
church but started advocating for change as the head of Stop Religious Coercion Australia after he left the church six years ago. Mr Carey said Geelong Revival Centre operated like a “doomsday cult” during his time at the church under founder Noel Hollins, who died last year aged 93, which has greatly impacted his mental health. “I believed that the world was going to end and that it was bad. Growing up with that threat hanging over your head as a kid, causes all sorts of anxiety and mental health issues,” he said. “I had to ask permission to date, and I even had to ask permission to get married. We
were forbidden to have contact with people who had left the group. “There was also this fear that if we had contacted somebody who had left the group, we would be kicked out as well. A cult is never a great place to be. “We were told that people on the outside weren’t great. We were only encouraged to mix with people from the cult. So, when you step out of that world, it’s completely different life, and it’s a better life.” Mr Carey said the inquiry would help put structures and protections in place to protect people from coercive and controlling behaviours.
“It brings a spotlight to the damage and issues of what’s going on in these cults, high control religions and other groups that are similar,” he said. “People have a freedom of religion, and this inquiry is not inhibiting people’s freedom of religion or freedom of belief. It’s the abusive behaviour that we’re tackling. “We’re about making worship safe. People should be able to go to their church and be safe... We don’t want to shut down religion, we just want this behaviour that we know is harmful to stop.” Continued: Page 5.
12768627-JV19-25
Morning tea Freecall: 1800 777 898 armstronggreen.com.au
JOIN US 21 MAY 2025 SEE PAGE 7 TO FIND OUT MORE