By REBECCA BILLS
OUR 2013 Issue of the Year is…. The Tecoma 8 and McDonalds Debate.
The reason> it’s made headlines weekly in our paper, nationally and internationally.
The “award” as Issue of the Year looks at all of the stories we covered and which were the most well read articles and popular issues we covered. The Tecoma McDonalds issue was hands down the biggest and most controversial issue we covered in 2013.
IN A two-year battle, local identities the Tecoma 8 have held strong to their beliefs and taken on McDonald’s Australia.
Shane, Marcia, Karl, Ava, Janine, Mark, Martha and Jude, known as the Tecoma 8, have all donated their time and energy into the picketing efforts at the Tecoma McDonald’s site in the hope of protecting their town against the organisation.
While the Mail remains unbiased towards controversial issues such as the Tecoma McDonald’s, the Tecoma 8’s sheer passion and love for the area won them their title.
Last year the Mail also awarded local identity David Jewell, another strong anti-Tecoma McDonald’s advocate, the award.
The Tecoma 8’s notorious antics and actions drew widespread media attention from not only around the country but the world.
The group faced a large court case earlier in the year after their input into the Tecoma protests throughout 2013 which continued to push the boundaries.
On 1 July, McDonald’s attempted to demolish the old Hazelvale Dairy building where members of the Tecoma 8 established themselves on the roof of the dairy delaying the demolition process.
High profile campaigner Janine, a Belgrave local, gained extensive attention after allegedly participating in the rooftop occupation of the dairy building.
The protestor faced a civil suit relating to an incident during the rooftop stake out where it is alleged she was pulled off the roof of the dairy building by McDonald’s security personnel on her 50th birthday.
On Tuesday 16 July, 2013, McDonald’s served papers on the Tecoma 8 that summoned them to appear in the Supreme Court on 18 July, 2013.
Martha stated on the Tecoma 8 website that she had been silenced by the Supreme Court with her right to free speech.
“I have the system’s hand over my mouth and threatening me if I break free and talk – I could be financially damaged or incarcerated for allowing a multinational corporation,” she said.
“To have this over members of a small community as punishment for protesting, I am disgusted.
“I have been silenced and I will not stand for it.”
Tecoma 8 member Ava said that she had never done anything like it before, but she would do anything to stop the development as it was so inappropriate in Tecoma – so did Karl stating in his 57 years, he never dreamt of breaking the law.
The legal case between the protestors and the fast-food outlet McDonald’s was later resolved following a court-ordered mediation held in Melbourne on 29 October 2013.
In a joint statement from Maurice Blackburn, McDonald’s Australia said it has agreed to discontinue the proceeding and is not seeking any legal costs from the defendants.
“In exchange, the defendants have agreed personally and on behalf of those they represent not to undertake activities which may constitute trespass or nuisance until 30 June 2014.”
Head of Maurice Blackburn’s social justice practice Elizabeth O’Shea said the agreement is a significant relief for the Tecoma 8 who found the case to be extremely stressful.
Despite the year’s events, the Tecoma 8 say they still remain dedicated and passionate to the No McDonald’s in Tecoma cause.
