3 January 2006

Bizarre threats from the Queanbeyan Show

| johnboy
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I’ve just had a peculiar email:

From: Kim Holden
Subject: Show Girl
Date: 3 January 2006 1:00:26 PM
To: johnboy@the-riotact.com

1. The Prestigious Showgirl Competition is conducted throughout NSW at some 116 agricultural and Pastoral shows and is one of the many highlighted events conducted at the Sydney Royal Easter Show. The comments some postive [sic] are welcomed and appreciated, others are not. We request that the image and comments be removed from this site within 24hrs. Action Pending

President Mr Michael Harriden

Kim Holden
Publicity Officer
Showgirl Coordinator
Web Page Adminastrator [sic]
Send instant messages to your online friends http://au.messenger.yahoo.com

I suspect it’s related to this story from a few days ago which bears a similar comment.

I was referring to a story on the front page of the Queanbeyan Chronicle and, just so no-one gets confused I’ve reproduced the text of the story below.

Now, just what is going on here? I’m guessing that President Mr Michael Harriden is some relation of the lovely Leah Harriden. His relation to “Web Page Adminastrator” [sic] Kim Holden is unclear, as is her exact authority to pass on legal sounding threats on his behalf.

Regardless, I consider our use of the Queanbeyan Chronicle’s image to be fair as it was both attributed and the original was linked to. As that article refers to Ms Harriden’s family links to the show in the first and second paragraphs I am bewildered as to how my own comments can be thought to be unfair.

This new development does, however, make me wonder more about this paragraph from the article which appears to me to advance her family’s commercial interests, from my extremely limited understanding of the recent fracas over the Queanbeyan Showground:

‘‘It’s a great place to live and the recent controversy about the showground’s future shows how important it is to keep it in the heart of the city,’’

If anyone could please explain an error or inaccuracy in my comments I would be delighted to clear it up. I have offered Mr. Harriden, via Kim, a complete right of reply. But as it took her several days to sort out a legitimate logon and start commenting on the site I’m not holding my breathe.

Show success

By Kate Filor

THIS year’s Queanbeyan Showgirl put her family knowledge to good use — wearing flat shoes to the show and slipping into her heals for the official announcements.

Leah Harriden’s family has been involved with the show for generations and the one concern the 2005 showgirl had was that people would not think she won the honour fair and square.

She said the judges were impartial and that she won the competition on merit.

The registered nurse said she nominated as a show girl contestant because she wanted to have the opportunity to be an ambassador for the show society and for the city.

‘‘It’s a great place to live and the recent controversy about the showground’s future shows how important it is to keep it in the heart of the city,’’ Ms Harriden said.

This year’s show looked set to break last year’s visitor numbers, with about 6000 people estimated to have passed through the gates.

Show secretary Dawn Mayne said the increase in patronage could be due to the good weather and the renewed interest in the show ground and what it had to offer.

More Queanbeyan Show pictures page 8.

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Show me some entry criteria and I’ll let you know

If it involves living in Queanbeyan you can forget it…

Regardless of the criteria, I nominate you Kerces.

So maybe we should put up a RA entrant next year Mael.

Anyone know the entry criteria?

Thumper, ‘Salt and Pepper’ is from Cooma isn’t she ?

Or near enough, I’ve stopped listening to her, and haven’t been to work for the last two weeks but the word triggered a memory valve up there somewhere.

At least I’m with you in thinking that I’m quite happy that Cooma’s where it is, and no closer…

I think it’s a bit off that a relative of the president took the prize, even though it’s not the first time in history this kind of thing has happened.

There should have been a little more discretion involved, although I’m not to sure how much more discretion you could employ farther from standing down and letting the sole other contestant win by virtue of you being the only two people in it.

I think that there has been more interest generated in the competition on this site than by the contest itself using the figure of contestants as the sole indicator, and I’d like to see a positive outcome by there being more contestants next year, if even indirectly via the ‘infamy’ of appearing on this site.

I do also think it’s a little off that the contest organisers didn’t think to shoot down to summernats and say Who’d like to enter a beauty competition in Queanbeyan ? instead of Show us ‘yer tits, but I suppose that’s one of the great lessons to be learned about a ready pool of scantily clad wannabe pornstars parading around in the nearest township isn’t it ?

All in all, poor form, and the result is dubious, with the suggestion that it may have been rigged.

Not too bad for a contest with only two entrants.

I last went two years ago…I only went a few times because I had to help ‘man’ a stand. It was a terrible experience. It has no idenity! I’ve also been to shows in Bungendore, Braidwood, Cooma, Bombala and Nimmitabel – and they are great rural shows.

Has anybody ever gone to the Queanbeyan show?
It just seems tired the people seem tired. One of the best things for the show would be for younger people to get involved and give it a much needed re vamp. I also guess we try to compare it to Canberra show, they are worlds apart.

Good Luck Leah!!

The whole Queanbeyan showgirl-affair seems rather inbred to me. The fun has gone out of the Queanbeyan Show some years ago and now the Harriden’s want to take the fun out of free speech.

Bogans from Cooma? Thumper! tch tch That is most offensive.

Patent Pending

Definitely a good sport. Go get ’em at zones. 🙂

Hey Leah, let us know how you go on Feb 11th in Cooma? 🙂

She is indeed.
Good luck at the zone finals, Leah.

Awww, shes a good sport that Leah girl.

heya
This Leah NOT pink lady. I have had had a look at the posts and comments made. I am not offend, suprised that i was news worthy. There will be no more posts in relation to this and no “action”. I suppose that this is what happends when you have an over protective committee and siblings.

Sorry and thanks

Slinky the Shocker2:54 pm 04 Jan 06

So as a lesson for Mikey ‘Glassed’ Harriden, Sister Pink Kim and also possibly Cherie, Marie, Bill and Emma (see previous link): Accept the mostly positive comments on Leah and keep the legal threats out, then no one will take the piss! Oh…too late.

show girl coord and cow pat bingo organiser!!

Oh Slinky, it just gets better and better doesn’t it?

find YOUR comments offensive.

Mission accomplished. Bless!

Slinky the Shocker2:25 pm 04 Jan 06

Check this one:
http://www.queanbeyanshow.com.au/qss/about

Is it just a typo that Leah herself is the ‘Show girl coordinator’?

Interesting point about defamation Spitfire3, I’d say there’d be just as many people (and corporations) who only need to hint at legal action to get what they want, whether they’re in the right or not.

Most starving publishers just can’t take the risk or afford even preliminary advice. That was what happened that Canberra restaurant review site wasn’t it?

(This is one of the reasons I like the changes to defo law – moneybags Corporations can’t sue)

I would also add that by having your family in the public eye, as is the case here, “comments” of all kinds are inevitable. If you want to avoid people “making comments”, running as a contestant in a showgirl competition is probably not the best way to go about it.

If the community were making comments obout your family would you sit back and let it happen?

No, but my first port of call would not be making legal threats and demanding the removal of material I have no claim over. Neither of those things is likely to endear people to your cause, and it simply attracts attention to the very comments you’re trying to restrict.

A reasoned, polite comment, more like the one in this thread, is probably a far better start.

Do they still have the cow pat bingo type game where you pick a number on the grid and if the cow ‘pats’ on your number, you win the booty?

Threats to free speech are a major problem in this country. Why? Because the person making the threat almost always has the law on their side. Truth is not an absolute defense, read this for more info: http://www.uow.edu.au/arts/sts/bmartin/dissent/documents/defamation.html

Our defamation laws in this country are not just and they’re not right. They act as a tool for scoundrels to further their own interests by suppressing protest, dissent and fair comment.

Mr Harriden’s bluff was called, and I’d wager that johnboy hears no more from him.

I think your missing the point. In a town like Queanbeyan unbiased judging is impossible when EVERYONE is related.

And what are we talking about Queanbeyan for anyway? Isn’t there a RiotNSW for that?

RandomGit – I have substantial interests in thirty minute blowjobs and find YOUR comments offensive.

Action Pending.

jr – nice work on digging that up. I wonder if having your father as the Prez and your sister as the Coordinator would affect your chances in a two girl race?

Do I get to make a joke about ‘blowjobs taking about 30 minutes to get me off as well’ or would that be going too far?

Oh yes – I can’t wait for the ‘pending action’ on an image they don’t own and on comments they can’t stop.

Lets just hope that there is no breach of the rules regarding the whole Showgirl thing…

The (official)rules can be found here:
http://www.agshowsnsw.org.au/new_page_2.htm

In particular rule (5): “Councillors of the RAS and their daughters, staff of the RAS and their daughters and staff of the Agricultural Societies Council of NSW (‘ASC’) and their daughters are not eligible to enter.” would hopefully ensure that these events do not deterioriate into being family affairs.

Sorry, I’ll try and use more discretion next time…

Until then I’ll await you pending action and assume you know what you’re talking about.

Bahahahahaha!!

Bulldog, I have substantial investments in Bovine Cybernetic technology and find your comments offensive.

Thank you Thumper, I agree

The showground is an important part of QBN. As it stands the grounds seem safe, from residental and commerical development. The more people who show their support for the gounds the better.

Best policy would have been for the Harriden’s to leave this alone – it would not have raised any eyebrows and been forgotten about in a day or two. People can have their opinions and they should be allowed to voice them. Just becasue it appears here does not mean that it is condoned by the RA it’s regulars.

I feel a bit sorry for Leah – as the actions of family members have now cast a shadow of doubt over her moment of glory. But let’s be realistic here folks – it’s a frickin’ rural show, who gives a damn if the results of the Miss Rural, Best Tractor, Most Attractive Pig or Fastest Cow competitions have been rigged? Not me.

Oh – and it does no favours to fly the confederate flag at any events in this fair country – why follow the trends of the southern US when we have our very own flag which does not provoke thoughts of slavery, butchery and cousin marrying? Why not fly the Eureka flag?

Initial contact was made to me though a RiotACT member, who had some concerns about comments being made against Leah.

I sent the correspondance under direction of Michael.

If the community were making comments obout your family would you sit back and let it happen?

Yes, Anissa Jones is correct, we are related.
(we are not about character bashing).

The QSS committe is made up of family members in one way or another (many ag shows are)

There were only two girls in the competition

Judging was conducted by the Queanbeyan Age and Foxtel Digital ACT.

Interviews were 30 mins each.

Either girl would be a fantastic representative for Queanbeyan.

Leah will complete at the zone finals on the 11th February in Cooma where she will go up against 16 other skilled young ladies. The winner from zone finals will then go on to Sydney Royal Easter Show to complete again with 20+ young ladies from across NSW.

If you would like to meet the committee and learn more about the show movement and what is involved in arranging an annaul show please come to our meetings. We meet on the first Tuesday of each month to discuss and plan the show. Please come along on the 7th March 7.30pm

I think we should have perhaps used a little discretion in comments made.

F*%k that!

Seems pretty simple to me – the Harridan’s don’t hold copyright on the photo (unless they’ve trademarked their image Elvis style), it’s held by Rural Press so RP are the only ones with a claim to taking it down. As for the comments, if they were regular readers of RA, they’d know that there’s a broad array of opinion here (from informed to crass) and little to be done about it.

You mightn’t like it guys but…

Happy New Year to everyone too 🙂

This whole thing begs a few questions:
1. Who were the judges?
2. What relationship did they have to the Harridan family which seems to organise the event?
3. Above all, why on earth did the organisers permit one of their own family to appear in this particular cattle parade – surely they have the brains to realise that people are bound to be sceptical if said family member turns out to be the winner of the comp?
-I suggest the organisers owe the poor lass a big apology.

more rambling…
some say a value inherent to free speech is the public right to know
I say it’s certainly to public’s right to know why the Confederate Flag was flying at the Queanbeyan show or at least to know what else is symbolises

I didnt’ notice that on the first reading either Kerces.

If we start with a little discretion where will we end up?
gently hacking away at our ability to share opinions is very dangerous

although being mean ain’t really nice either

I dunno…just rambling

I wonder if this fracas will be deemed newsworthy for a follow up story in the Queanbeyan Chronicle.

Whilst I’m not sure that the email sent was necessarily done appropriately, I do think some of the comments made in the original thread, in relation to the Showgirl’s attractiveness were inappropriate.

I think we should have perhaps used a little discretion in comments made.

Thanks for that Nyssa

Kerces, don’t forget Kim Harriden Holden – who sent the e-mail to johnboy.

Hang on… Michael Harriden and Leah Harriden.

I didn’t notice that on my first reading of the whole lot.

Maybe they’re concerned that RiotACT is going to uncover a Queanbeyan Showgirl racket of some sort????

This is all very seriously weird.

Er, on the original strand the Michael Harridan vomit is actually posted by “pink lady”…make of that what you will.

Michael Harriden was a bully in school and it looks like he still is.

I thought that girl looked familiar…..

I knew Leah Harriden when I was at school (Hacket Primary) and was in the same class as her sister Kim. She also had brothers named Michael and Edward.

According to this website – http://www.schoolfriends.com.au/friendsreunited.asp?wci=otherprofile&member_key=67714604

As you will see, Kim Harriden is now Kim Holden.

I hope that my info helps johnboy.

indeed they do

well then they’ve got a problem.

no it says “we request that the image and comments be removed from this site”

I’m not arguing against The RiotAct just saying I don’t think it’s ur comments they have a prob with

They’re asking for the picture, not the comments down.

I don’t think their approach is anywhere near so carefully calibrated.

They were playing a PR game and appear not to understand that game.

JB I think they may have a problem with others’ comments more than yours.

“The comments some postive [sic] are welcomed and appreciated, others are not.”

Welcome to the internet…

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