
January 21, 2025
A Facebook group discussing a recent spike in juvenile crime in the Wondai area entered the real world on Saturday with residents gathering at the Wondai Diggers Club to air their feelings.
The organisers of the meeting – which attracted about 75 people – were “Wondai Crime Chats” group admin Lisa Cross and moderators Cill Lorne and Laura Freeman.
Laura, who chaired the gathering, said the aim was to share ideas on how to make the community safer.
The meeting followed a spate of break-ins at night, attempted break-ins and vehicle thefts in the local community.
Laura emphasised it was not an attack on local police – “who are doing the best that they can” – and it was not to form a vigilante group.
People were invited to share their stories, which quickly tumbled from the floor:
“Every little noise, you’re awake and you freeze …”
“My little boy doesn’t want to go to the toilet by himself …”
“The same places are being hit more than once …”
“CrimeStoppers and police are contacted but nothing has happened …”
“We’re all on edge …”
“I’m very concerned about protecting my property when I’m not there …”
“Why don’t we have more police here? “
“God betide them if they come into my house as they won’t be walking out …”
“We’re scared. Where are the parents of these kids?”
“(Because of the) snivelling libertarians and do-gooders, there’s no discipline at home, at school or on the street …”
Cill urged residents to report all suspicious incidents to police so they would be included in crime statistics.
“People are too scared to talk but everyone has to speak up, even if someone has just come to your door,” Cill said.
“We all want to change something but no one is speaking up.”
She also urged people to email the Police Commissioner and the Premier to get more police into Wondai.
Representatives from both the South Burnett Regional Council and the Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council were also in attendance.
Cherbourg councillor Gordon Wragge said it was important that people know how frustrated Cherbourg was, too.
The meeting was told there were no police rostered in Cherbourg from 4:00pm to 9:00am every day.
Deputy Mayor Carla Fisher said Cherbourg residents also felt anger, sadness and fear.
“These kids are bringing these (stolen) cars to Cherbourg and using our roads as racetracks,” she said.
Acting Cherbourg CEO Sean Nicholson said Cherbourg Council was suffering thousands of dollars worth of damage every week.
He urged people to speak to the government to get more police, especially over the Christmas and Easter breaks.
“Kids come in from Townsville, Maryborough and Brisbane and get dumped on their relatives and then go on a crime spree,” he said.
South Burnett councillor Heath Sander said he had asked about imposing a curfew but had been told it could not be done.
Cr Sander said he had also been told there were 12 serious repeat offenders in Queensland and nine of them were in Murgon.
He suggested these nine children be fitted with ankle bracelets so police would always know where they were.
Mayor Kathy Duff said she had heard some children actually wanted to be caught by police because being in detention was actually better than their home lives.
She said it had become a “revolving door” and suggested something like a “boot camp” could help the children to learn respect and get some pride back.
“We need to come up with a some solutions and lobby the government as a united front,” Mayor Duff said.
Mayor Duff also suggested a revival of the old-style BYTE Night where residents and businesses sponsored a weekly meal and activities for children.
This had been done before at the PCYC in Murgon, which Mayor Duff said had been successful in breaking a cycle of crime.
She suggested a similar program could be implemented in Wondai.
Also put forward was the suggestion for better street lighting in Wondai, which Mayor Duff said Council could raise with Ergon Energy.
Attendees also agreed more town meetings should be held, but no date was fixed.
UPDATE January 27: The next town meeting will be held at 2:00pm on Saturday, February 22, at the Wondai Diggers Club.
Related articles:
- Six More People Charged
- Elderly Couple Bashed
- ‘Flying Squad’ To Target Crime
- Residents To Hold Crime Meeting
- Two More Teenagers Charged
- Four Teenagers Charged
- Cars Torched In Kingaroy CBD
- Police Lift Visibility In Wondai
- Two More Stolen Cars
- Thieves Steal Four Vehicles
- Police Probe Car Thefts

