FROM YOUR DIRECTOR'S DESK
1st June, 1989. 
Dear Supporters,
LOOKING BACK AT 1988

In this month in 1971 a steering committee held the first of its meetings which by the following October resulted in the formation of the Society To Outlaw Pornography (with 'yours truly' elected as Director), followed by the publishing of our first 'STOP PRESS' newsletter. 'STOP PRESS' newsletters and magazines have been sent out continuously ever since, with the exception of one year, 1988.

1988 - OUR YEAR OF TESTING: 1988 was the year God saw fit to test (and bless) the Joyners. In December, 1987, just before his 92nd birthday,  my Dad went to be with the Lord after having been bedridden for four years following a stroke. I was ever so blessed with having been able to spend a few precious periods of time helping to care for him in Bundaberg, and also during his hospitalization in Brisbane for cancer treatment.

Son Stephen's Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (M.E.) or Chronic Fatigue had its crisis between December 1987 and April 1988. Then the 'ups and downs' set in, but God has blessed us with his slow improvement overall and a much greater understanding of this strange baffling disease and the way it affects its victims, especially in the area of 'sympathetic' stress, and allergies.  It is essential to avoid chemicals in their diet and environment  so I am now into organic growing of food.

THE MISSING EDITION OF 'STOP PRESS': In November 1987 I had almost finished what would have been 'STOP PRESS' Vol.17, No.1 (January 1988) but the overthrow of Sir Joh and the changes in Cabinet meant that my letters to various Ministers (that I had intended to circulate to you, together with answers), were apparently pigeon-holed, for no answers were received. My plan to rewrite them to the new Ministers was interfered with in the early part of the year through the severe family limitations on my time. Then I was called upon to coordinate a Steering Committee in July 1988 to publicize and sell to the electorate the idea of forming a local Citizens' Electoral Council (CEC) - which occupied every spare minute.

As a result of all the seemingly more pressing matters mentioned in this letter, our 'STOP PRESS' Vol. 17, No.1 is still awaiting completion. However, I did send out a Director's letter with the Referendum Leaflet which we prepared in lieu of a 'STOP PRESS' in August, 1988. Hopefully I may be able to distribute Vol.17.1 shortly after this one which is Vol.18, No.1.

Many thanks to you, our loyal supporters, who continually send in your subscriptions and donations every year, without waiting for a 'STOP PRESS' to arrive. I do apologize to you for not having been able to keep up the flow of information over the last year or so. I hasten to add that I have been continuing to carry out the other aims of STOP, CARE & ACTS by writing, telephoning and speaking out through the media and by making speeches, as you will see as we continue to look back over what was done during 1988.

ELECTORAL DEMOCRACY??: After losing 2 months' of my valuable time and $600 in unrecouped personal out-of-pocket expenses as co-ordinator of the local steering committee for C.E.C., I found out that it was not God's will that I be sidetracked into a situation where rules were disregarded and meeting procedure, truth and fair play meant nothing to certain ones who acted as though "might is right." A group of people (some of whom the Electoral Office later advised were not even on the electorate roll) took over the movement contrary to C.E.C. rules.

On 15/9/88, a group arrived at our home with plans devised at a prior 'get-together' to prevent my opening or holding the committee meeting called for that' night . No meeting, no motions, no voting, no minute-taking - just a 'hi-jack' on false pretences - and a self-appointed non-enrolled chairman had taken over!