The recent abuse and egging of a wheelchair-bound woman at Rutherford shops has prompted action from Federal MP Meryl Swanson to take action in a bid to make the area safer.
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The Mercury story about Aberglasslyn woman Vicki Shaw being egged and abused by a group of youths, struck a cord with Ms Swanson.
She said she was so heartbroken reading Ms Shaw's story that she wrote to all councils in her electorate to encourage them to apply for funding through the Safer Communities Fund.
The fund provides up to $1million to community organisations, local councils, schools, and places of religious worship for strategies to help implement and boost crime prevention and security initiatives. This includes things like CCTV, security lighting, alarms and hiring security guards.
After the "confronting" story appeared, a representative from Ms Swanson's office reached out to Ms Shaw to offer support.
Ms Swanson's office also encouraged Maitland City Council to apply for funding to improve safety measures in the area Ms Shaw was attacked.
"I was heartbroken to read about a member of our community being attacked verbally and physically," Ms Swanson said.
"After learning about this incident, I wrote to all councils in the Paterson electorate as well as several other organisations to encourage them to apply for funding through the Safer Communities Program," Ms Swanson said.
Ms Shaw welcomed the news. "I think we definitely need at least better security, but that's not going to make a difference unless the police and the judicial system do something more with punishment," she said.
"What these kids did was a badge of honour for them. They are just so brazen. I finally went back to the shops on Saturday and as I approached I heard someone yell out 'do you want some eggs'. I ignored it because I know they are just trying to upset me," she said.
