In the quiet corners of our neighbourhoods, where the heart of our community beats the strongest, a silent battle rages.
Our beloved corner stores, the guardians of our daily conveniences and unsung heroes of our local economy, are under siege.
These stores are more than just places to grab a quick snack or a forgotten ingredient for dinner; they are the soul of our streets, where smiles are exchanged, and stories are shared.
Yet, today, their windows reflect a harrowing tale of fear and despair.
The Dellar Supa Deli in Maddington, a fixture in our community for over a decade, stands as a poignant testament to the turmoil that has gripped our suburbs.
Behind the counters, where once stood proud shopkeepers, now linger shadows of fear, their spirits battered by an onslaught of threats, harassment, and violence.
This isn’t an isolated story; it’s a distressing echo that reverberates through all our suburbs, a narrative of lawlessness that threatens to erode the very foundations of our community.
The incident at IGA Kelmscott in January 2019 was not the end but a grim harbinger of what has become a widespread plight.
This occurs in our Coles, Woolworth and other IGA stores on a daily basis, but not to the extent where the owners are told they “Will be stabbed to death tonight”.
Our store owners, integral threads in the fabric of our community, are facing an unprecedented crisis, one fuelled by a brazen display of impunity by young vandals shielded by their youth, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake.
Frankly, if you can’t live peacefully within our community, then get out.
We do not want you.
Your actions not only undermine the safety of our neighbourhoods but also erode the very essence of our community spirit.
The response from our law enforcement, hamstrung by the constraints of age, is a cold comfort to those whose lives have been turned upside down.
This isn’t just about the loss of property or income; it’s about the loss of safety, dignity, and community spirit. The very essence of what makes our neighbourhoods vibrant and cohesive is under threat.
Our silence on this matter is tantamount to complicity.
It’s time for our voices to rise in unison, for our collective outrage to demand action and change.
We must rally around our local heroes, not just in words but in deeds.
The time for half-measures and excuses has passed. We need decisive action that transcends legal loopholes and bureaucratic inertia.
This is a call to arms for every resident, every leader, and every stakeholder in our community.
Let’s mend the shattered windows and the shattered lives of our corner store owners.
Let’s restore the sanctity of our neighbourhood havens.
For if we stand idly by, we risk losing not just our convenience stores but the very heart of our community.
Let this be the moment we say, “Enough!” and reclaim the safety and solidarity that define us.
Glenn Dewhurst is a City of Gosnells councillor and local leader.
