Many of these coming from local business people as well as the general community. 

It seems that I am the sole person to be blamed for everything that is bad about Wellington! 

I am the only person apparently responsible for the Current Affair Report and that I alone, am viewed as having been responsible for irreparable damage to the Wellington Community. 

I've tried as best I can for someone that was basically "coerced" into the position as spokesperson because no one else wanted it at first. 

And no, I'm not blaming anyone for that as I accepted to be involved so that is on me squarely and fairly. 

I really just thought I could in some small way, make a difference for the town I have lived in all my life. 

The town we raised all of our children in and buried my mother and father here. 

Sadly, I was wrong The vilification of my family has been unrelenting with people once regarded as friends approaching my wife and to vent their hatred and posting the most damning of personal insults on-line and via personal messages. 

Yet as I pass these same people in the street, not a word is ushered. Even my old mate Robbie (he of the many letters), who attended my 50th Birthday party, who only a week or so invited myself and my wife to come and get some lemons off his tree, who would sit for hours and tell me about the "Druggo's he had living next door! 

Add to this, is this very Paper who published an article about the negative response to the ACA report. 

All well within the rights of the paper to do so. But not one person associated with the paper gave those of us involved with the ACA report us a fair go by approaching any of us for our view on the report. 

The bias is obvious. So much for responsible journalism. 

Then comments are made that "no one is afraid to go out night or day" ? again by this paper's editor. 

Well the many elderly who have talked to me about being harassed when shopping through no fault of their own would indicate otherwise. 

Forget that the critics and yes the media are messing with real people's lives here both on national and sadly, local level. 

Never let a good story get in the way of morality and human decency. 

Especially when you look back at some of the damaging headlines such as "Teen's out of Control" and "Community Outrage" "Shame, Shame, Shame - Police and community unite to fight shocking behavior" to name but a few. 

I wish to correct a totally incorrect quote attributed to myself by the reporter Steve Marshall who incorrectly stated in the ACA Report that I said I was "training people to defend themselves in lockdown of a night"! 

This same mistaken and untrue quote was also mentioned in this Paper's own report as well as that of the Daily Liberal. 

Neither of which made any attempt to contact me for my view on same. 

The cold hard fact is I did not say that I was training people to defend themselves when they go into lockdown at night! 

That was the reporter's words, not mine. Yet ever in the spirit of fairness and responsible journalism was I approached by our local press to ask if in fact that was the case? 

No. My statement to the reporter from ACA is that I hope to train people to be better people within the Wellington community and that I did not teach "self-defence" but Life-Protection which encompasses human decency, respect, and personal growth. 

Because I am involved in the Martial Arts I, and those who join me in classes, have been personally insulted because of this involvement ?.. all because we have a passion for a particular life pursuit that is no different to those who follow football, cricket, soccer, boxing or any other pursuit. 

Yet we are the subject of childish ridicule for being involved in something that has very real, very positive life impact on those who choose to train and dedicate themselves to. 

Crazy! I am now contemplating if to cease teaching others the martial arts as a means of personal self-esteem, character building and respect for the self and others. 

The wider community obviously sees no need for these values otherwise the attacks of the nature my family and I have been receiving for this would not be occurring. 

I have been attacked as an "Attention Seeker" and had bile spewed in my direction because of my dedication to the Martial Arts as if that was some means to be used as a personal attack? 

Who in their right mind would wish this type of "attention" on themselves? Really people, uncalled for. 

The Mayor Rod Buhr correctly stated on ACA that "It's a Ticking Time Bomb"; quite an emotive comment but nevertheless true of Wellington's issues with the Ice Disease and Crime within our community. 

The amount and type of insulting, highly personal attacks that several who appeared on the ACA report have been copping not only on Social Media such as Facebook but in "Personal Messages", emails, phone calls and in person makes me cringe in disgust. 

This is the "Best of Wellington?" This from people who say and imply that "Only They" (as one services worker strongly implied all over social media) had a right to speak on behalf of the Wellington Community. 

This from people who really should know better and who cannot see just how sickening and divisive and personally-laced their comments are! 

I have been single handedly blamed for reducing the prices of houses for sale in Wellington and I believe there are quite a few, by at least 50k! 

Ridiculous. I'm not that important. I'm just a grey haired, slightly pudgy old guy of little skill and even less l knowledge with my own redeeming factor being my family who I love. 

One local agent for real estate told me that I was somehow "threatening" certain people!

All this despite the fact person whom I was supposed to be threatening stating that this was not the case at all and that perhaps agent had some issues of their own. Crazy, knee-jerk stuff! I have even been vilified as being a "Racist" despite the fact that Ice does not discriminate, crime does not discriminate, it effects all levels of our community and society. Is it worth trying to do something in Wellington when there are Knockers and negative people, totally divisive people everywhere hell bent on petty childish and petulant arguments and hurling their insults than actually standing up and doing something? Where were they when it was their chance to have a say ...... nowhere to be found!!! I am now left wondering if this town needs help and wants its whole community to be involved or does it walk the slow march to nowhere? And despite the best efforts of the services and community groups, Wellington will most likely be "hand tied" because it's always had a "us and them" division in every facet of its townspeople. I maintain one truth in all of this and that is unless the whole community is given a voice and is involved in this then no real solution and no real progress will take place within and for the Wellington Community as it is a community issue that needs the whole community to be involved. Not for its people to be spat at, called names, insulted and vilified ? that is a community divided and not working together as it should and what picture does this paint for the community and town when its own engage in such behavior? This is far worse than any media report because it's happening right now and by people within this community. Shame on you all. So is this is the Wellington I keep hearing of at its best? I think most of you reading this already know the answer. Ron Goninan