Grandmother never lost on military base: 7 Protesters emerge from Shoalwater Bay

Press Release

23 June 

Seven activists that spent four days inside the Shoalwater Bay military training base were never at risk and have labelled media reports claiming people were missing gravely exaggerated and misleading.

The group are astounded at claims that June Norman, 66, was lost, maintaining that they were fully equipped and had mobile phone coverage at all times.

“I was warm and safe at all times, with three others” said June Norman. “If there were grave concerns about my safety why aren’t they concerned about the victims of Iraq? If they are prepared to bomb them, then they need to be prepared to bomb me”.

The seven assert that the media coverage that has followed in regard to Ms Norman was exaggerated and deliberately misleading.

“We were determined to avoid detection to stop the exercises. The risks to our personal safety were negligible compared to environmental destruction of the base, and the illegal wars waged by the US Government.

On the 19^th of July seven peace activists in two groups entered the Shoalwater Training Base, in protest of the war games. Despite reports of military searches, the two groups remained undetected, despite moving through the base and crossing roads.

The seven included June Norman, Wayne Reid, Rod Castle and Neils Jack of Queensland, and Jessica Morrison, Kerry Priest, and Kristy Henderson of Melbourne.

All seven were interviewed about intentions of their action and had provisions to ensure they were warm, dry and safe. Major General Ash Power of the ADF denied the presence of activists, even after seeing footage of them entering the base.

Yesterday, both groups declared themselves to military, one group appearing on an airstrip, and a second on a main road.

“If they can’t find a few peace activists running around a training base then they’ve got no hope in finding Bin Laden” said Ms Norman.

Photos and footage of the groups entering the base, and of their time inside are available on request.

For further comment:

Jessica Morrison 0431 519 577