Youth fight back - Werribee's something to be proud of

Words by Rachel Watkins

For many years Werribee was synonymous with sewage, every comedian to set foot on the cultural centre stage opened or closed with a joke about the sewerage farm. Today, Werribee is more commonly known for the infamous Werribee DVD.

A gang of 12 unnamed Werribee youths arranged to meet, and waited for a young girl at Werribee station before taking her to a nearby river bank. While filming their actions the boys humiliated, degraded and intimidated the girl by sexually and physically assaulting her while laughing as they repeatedly lit her hair on fire with aid of an aerosol can.

Lori McLean, founder of the Wyndham Action Planners Group is outraged believing, “these low life are not fit to be called animals.”

Their behaviour was featured on a home made DVD along with footage of the group vandalising taxies and dropping firecrackers on a sleeping homeless man. For a mere $5 the DVD could be purchased within local schools and on the internet.

Recently the boys pleaded guilty, and will walk free for their crimes, their only punishment, to attend a rehabilitation centre. Lori is in disbelief believing the justice system is a joke. “Here we have a gang of young men go free of the most horrendous crime and they do no time.”

The Werribee name has unavoidably been tainted by the actions of 12 members of the community. The DVD the most recent in a string of negative press for the area.

A minority of youths are campaigning to increase community pride within the Wyndham region. In particular the “I love Werribee” myspace page, www.myspace.com/wezzastation, established by 19 year-old local resident Keith Nallawalla.

The myspace page which had more than100 friend requests a day when it was first started in October 2006, is intended to connect people within the community, promote local bands and events, and in recent months to sell the I (heart) Werribee/ Hoppers/ Tarneit/ The Vale t-shirts.

Based on old “I love Werribee” badges from the 80’s, the t-shirts are sold at local youth events and via the “I love Werribee” myspace page. Believing people should make attempts to like and get involved with their community, Keith finds it rewarding when he sees someone wearing an I love Werribee or Hoppers t-shirt.

When asked about the infamous Werribee DVD gang Keith told us, “as a film student I find it annoying how much press those guys got over their DVD when I find it hard to just get a few hundred views on my youtube account.”

He is reluctant for people believe he lives in a ‘bogan’ town. “I want the place to look and reflect the way I feel about it and feel about myself,” he said.

Werribee has a lot more to offer than a bad reputation with top notch facilities including the open range zoo, the Werribee plaza shopping centre, two swimming pools, a movie theatre, the youth centre, scores of restaurants and the beach.

Despite this Keith believes “a place isn’t just what it looks like, it’s also the people,” Werribee is filled with a multitude of unique and talented people. Its youth in particular are full of potential, with undiscovered bands, artists, sportspeople, fashion designers, writers and filmmakers among them.

The actions of a few should not define a town, it’s initiatives like the 'I love werribee myspace' which can and are bringing together the community, generating pride and making a difference.