I think that it would be fair to say that there are very few organisations in the country, and maybe the world, which would allow a known predator into a leadership role.

If a person who had committed rape was nominated for a leadership position within a community group, say for example ATSIC, their criminal history would quickly come to light and affect not only their nomination, but their future career and public life as well.

Ron Maxwell Bibby is a life member of the RSL. He has been nominated as the new Secretary of the Darwin RSL. For those who are not aware the RSL or Returned Serviceman League, supports and represents Returned Servicemen and their families in the community and is run by (mostly) men from that section of the community.

Bibby was sentenced to one year’s jail with four months to serve in September 2005 after being convicted of 35 counts of possessing child pornography.

By contrast Geoff Clarke was never convicted of rape in a criminal court, but the case itself and the subsequent civil finding was enough to take him out of contention for any further involvement in the representation of his community long before the case even ended.

Ron Maxwell Bibby is in the running for a leadership role in an organisation run by our fathers, brothers, uncles and grandfathers. Men get a bad enough rap as it is without nominating (and hope it doesn’t happen) electing people like this into positions of influence and public standing. I find it offensive as a man that a group of older men, elders in our community would elect such a person to represent them.

Just remember, he had images on computer drives, compact discs and tapes, and had pornographic paperback books and magazines.

If nothing else we must remember that children were exploited and possibly suffered so that this material could be produced for the titilation of this upstanding member of society.

But wait, there’s more.

When challenged on the issue, Darwin RSL president, the obviously enlightened Geoff Carter defended Mr Bibby and his bid to become league secretary.

“What he does in his private time is nothing to do with the RSL,” he said.

“He’s done his time.

“If we were a child-minding organisation, it would be an issue.”

I really don’t need to comment on these responses.

The RSL has had enough trouble in recent years with tiny minded men like Bruce Ruxton running the show. I’m not a moralist nor am I an angel, but this simply makes me think of dirty old men. The old man down the street who would flash at kids on the way home from school, the wife beater next door, the man mum and grandma wouldn’t look at and who children would be shielded from in the street.

When I get older, I don’t want memories like these to dwell in the minds of those around me affecting how I am perceived in society. The best way to make the world better, safer and happier for everyone is to deny the priveleges of “men” like Bibby. Representing your community is a privelege and living as a respected citizen in your community is something a person must earn.