COUNCILLORS DIVIDED OVER FESTIVAL
Opinions differed at Pine Rivers Shire Council this week over whether Joyner's Pagan festival was a dangerous aberration or an expression of free speech.
Mayo Yvonne Chapman lost a motion at Monday night's meeting calling on the festival to be condemned.
Councillor Chapman said she had received a tremendous number of calls from churches concerned about the event at the YMCA camp grounds.
"It is diametrically opposed to the YMCA," she said.
Deputy Mayor Brian Burke said he knew little about the event or its organisers, but added "some of my best friends are pagans".
Cr Graeme Ashworth (Div 5) said he was disappointed in Cr Chapman's intolerant attitude.
"Some of my friends are Buddhists," he said. "Are we ruling out any religious group other than Christian?"
Cr Mick Gillam (Div 7) said the council should not be "sticking its nose" into a commercial decision of the YMCA.
By Susan Schwartz
Northern Times
Friday, July 24, 1998