July 2 - 2000

Well, June is gone.. so is half the year! Tomorrow is my birthday.. I have nothing to celebrate!

I've had the worst week ever. I just want to curl up in a corner and die! Last Thursday morning I signed a Mortgage to the Protective Office so now they hold the deeds to our home.

I feel deflated, exhausted and miserable. I cannot believe what this vindictive mob of public pen pushers do to rob people of their lives, and get away with it! That's not the worst....

I signed the mortgage for a certain amount of money that they agreed to, which included:-

the outstanding balance owed to the Bank for the last 3 years, including $55,000 worth of interest because these morons wouldn't pay out the Bank 3 years ago (remember, this is our money they hold); plus over $41,000 that was paid out of our money to the Bank to buy time while they were pressuring me into this mortgage; plus around $20,000 of small debts from the business I had (which wouldn't have been this much if they had paid the bills in the beginning) plus a surplus amount which they had agreed on so that I can have by business finalised by an accountant for taxation purposes, pay monies owed for wages and holiday pay, and solicitors bills.

The mortgage is for an amount approximately $60,000 more than the value of our property.

Remember I am taking out a mortgage to obtain funds which already belong to me and my husband , who is suffering from dementia, in order to save us from being evicted from our home by the Bank.

So, I signed the mortgage in good faith, albeit against my will, fully expecting the Protective Office to live up to their part of the deal. Lord, I'm a fool! They're reneging on the surplus amount! They don't want to give it to me... they want me to send them the accounts as they are incurred for payment. So, not only have they taken every vestige of independence from me in the past, their aim is to continue. Of course if I did as they wished I'd have to pay them fees for writing the cheques. Well, I'm refusing to cooperate!

I'm sick of being treated like an imbecile. If the Protective Office is to be believed, the funds to clear the debt have been transferred to the Public Trustee in Brisbane. The signed mortgage is in the hands of the Public Trustee in Brisbane (because the bank owed is in Queensland) with a stipulation that it is not to be used for settlement purposes until he is notified.

The Protective Office are now offering another document for the Surplus amount be concocted and the Mortgage amount be reduced. You know what this means.... more solicitors fees for them and me (out of our funds... the Protective Office don't pay solicitor fees from their own funds) to alter the Mortgage and create an extra agreement. They are totally dishonest! They have people in control of client's funds who haven't the ability or qualifications to be financial consultants. They're ordinary every day clerks.

It took them nearly 2 years before they invested a large portion of our funds in order to obtain a better return and they only did that because I had happened to telephone to inquire as to how our funds were being invested. They had left our money sitting in an ordinary account receiving minimum interest!

I pray that this lady solicitor I found will be able to get me out of this hole. I had to apply to the Guardianship Tribunal of NSW to have the Order (for financial control) Revoked. I've since been notified by them that they are considering the matter. Once they refuse, I believe it's then open to us to apply through the Supreme Court. It's all channels and red tape but, if they get their 'just desserts' in the end I don't care.

The Legislative Assembly of NSW Inquiry into the Office of the Public Guardian and Protective Commissioner is to happen about mid August. They had so many enquiries they had to extend the time for receiving submissions. I believe there have been thousands. I pray this Inquiry isn't a farce and that all the Guardianshp Tribunal and Protective Commissioner receive as a result is a slap on the wrist, chastised and be told not to do it again.

On a lighter note, my grandson Jared, has gone to spend his school holidays with his Dad. They went camping last night on Woody Island.... brrrrrrrr... it was 4 degrees overnight! They can have that to themselves!! They threw out a line and caught a 6' bronze whaler shark! Now this is not far from our harbour!! Jared said he had fun though, enjoyed the campfire at night and just being alone with his Dad.

I don't remember it ever being so darned cold at this time of the year in the 17 years we've been in Hervey Bay. Even as I type this, my fingers are freezing.

My husband goes into respite for 2 weeks tomorrow, giving Mum and I a break. I just wish we could have gone away for a few days but with this Protective Office disaster going on at the moment it's just impossible.

To all my friends in the United States ... I hope you have wonderful celebrations on July 4.

God bless you all,

Catch you later :-)

Jamie

LINKS

Click here-->>> ALBUM

All about......... what's at stake..

OUR HOME
'WHAT'S BEHIND THE FENCE?'
ON TO 'POOL CONSTRUCTION'
WAITING FOR THINGS TO GROW
WHAT THE POOL AREA LOOKS LIKE TODAY
US DURING HAPPIER TIMES

MID JULY 2000 JOURNAL

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