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 New McDonald’s outlet dealing with parents’ issues 

New McDonald’s outlet dealing with parents’ issues

31 Oct, 2009 03:00 AM
McDonald’s Dubbo West owner Peter Lewsam has promised to send the “message loud and clear” to students that they can not cut class to eat in the fast-food outlet.

Mr Lewsam said this was one of a number of issues he wanted to address and that his door was open to the community.

The fast-food outlet has Daily Liberal bloggers as allies, as they take up McDonald’s right to trade.

Dubbo West Public School Parents and Citizens Committee president Simone Gray had concerns to do with litter, nutrition, traffic and building after the store opened last week.

Mr Lewsam has told the Daily Liberal that students dressed in school uniforms, unaccompanied by an adult and without a leave pass, will not be served.

“If we put our foot down, kids will realise they’re not going to get served and give it a miss,” he said.

“We’ll come down hard in the first month to get the message out loud and clear.”

It was a development application condition that McDonald’s routinely clean up about the block, Mr Lewsam said.

Staff had begun litter patrols, he said.

“We need three to four weeks to work out the patterns, and the most effective times,” he said.

The gap in the wall mentioned by Ms Gray was another development application matter, Mr Lewsam said.

The council had signed off and issued the occupancy certificate before he took possession of the building, he said.

The fast-food restaurant owner has pledged to work with the community.

“I’ve given a 100 per cent commitment to attend to anything (the schools) think we’re falling down in,” he said.

He also said he had offered support to the schools and told them if they have any ideas, they should feel free to approach him.

Mr Lewsam said he had also made efforts to contact the P and C president, but had not been successful.

“I’m freely open and available to anyone who wants to speak with me, they can give me a call, I’m happy to deal with it,” he said.

Daily Liberal website readers have taken a dim view of the charges levelled at McDonalds.

“Instead of blaming McDonald’s, how about putting some blame on the parents who don’t take the time to send their children to school with a healthy packed lunch, but would rather just give them money and tell them to get their own food,” ‘Talpip’ wrote.

“It’s (sic) the lazy parents that should take the blame not the fast food companies.”

ICEQueen agreed.

“ Why should McDonalds staff be responsible for the choices that a district makes when it comes to the nutrition of children?” ICEQueen wrote.

“Asking them not to sell particular food to people wearing certain clothing can be viewed as both discriminatory and also imposing restrictive trade practices on the company.”

faye.wheeler

@ruralpress.com

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Allowing a McDonald's to open up next to a primary school is a dumb decision for the community on so many levels. People need to realise that we live in Dubbo and we need to do what is best for the community. There is more to life than a businessman making money
Posted by The Socialist, 31/10/2009 4:39:32 AM, on Dubbo Daily Liberal
For the socialist and his arrogance whats the difference with the lolly shop around the corner lollies chips pies cakes chips yep thats health food wake up mate if parents look after there kids properly by getting up giveing them breakfast and teaching them that the fast food shop down the roads not the answer than Mr lewisham wouldnt have to police his store for kids and worrying about whingeing parents hes fully entitled to put his buisness where he wants because yes unfortunately thats his aim pick a good spot and put a good buisness on it and make money and also think McDONALDS ARE A FANTASTIC SPONSOR OF RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE AND OTHER CHARITIES FOR KIDS
Posted by your joking, 31/10/2009 2:55:40 PM, on Dubbo Daily Liberal
I think people need to take responsibility for their own actions, and the actions of their children. No-one is forcing anyone to buy their product.
Posted by Jose, 31/10/2009 3:53:11 PM, on Dubbo Daily Liberal
I don't know if people are really addressing the real problem here; ie Truancy! Many parents may be worried because truancy 'may' already be a problem in the West and the opening of another 'school away from school' premises would be adding to the issue in the minds of many parents/carers. It is difficult to monitor childrens' whereabouts when both parents and/or single parent work; but, I don't believe that a business is responsible to monitor the comings and goings of wayward students. Money should be put aside by both council and school attending rate payers to have student attendance monitors hired in schools. The role is checked before recess and after lunch. When a child goes AWOL the parents are informed and the kids are penalized through loss of academic credits and removal of sporting privileges. Fines should be imposed on serial truants where the parent/s show lack of care and/or responsibility. Loss of licence for non payment of fines, just like the RTA impose, would soon get a quick response. Some new legislation maybe Dawn. Again I say the real issue should be brought out not simply deflecting inadequacies in attendance by blaming a food outlet.
Posted by Neil, 31/10/2009 5:54:35 PM, on Dubbo Daily Liberal
good on MACS if i was a man with brains i would build a money making bussiness on the main hyway from north to south go MACS
Posted by kes, 31/10/2009 8:51:10 PM, on Dubbo Daily Liberal
Where is the common sense ??? Again......it comes down to the parents responsibility....
Posted by Min, 1/11/2009 2:11:14 AM, on Dubbo Daily Liberal
An addition....

We have problems in 3 areas in our society. 1) Serial Truancy

2) Serial Dole recipients

3) Parents/Carers who won't take responsibility for the above

2. Solution perhaps....

1) Serial truants are suspended from all sporting activities. All sporting clubs in Dubbo come on board with this. Club secretaries are emailed a list once a week from the school and the serial truants are suspended until they get a clearance from the school. Sport is big in the West; I have a feeling that would work.

2) Serial dole offenders who may flaunt the 'work for dole' scheme are placed in school as attendance monitors to report on truancy. They'll hate that job so much that they will want to get a job.

3) Parents who don't care about their kids truancy have their driving licences suspended. Fines often don't work as many know their way around the court system. The driving licence is a big issue. I'm sure we would get some action then.

Then, maybe.. we wouldn't have as many professional sporting deliquents who use violence to intimidate which many learnt when they were skipping class.

Posted by Neil, 1/11/2009 5:19:57 PM, on Dubbo Daily Liberal
to "your joking" do you have kids if so wake up to your self parents have a right to have concerns as well. to "jose" same question as well as can you stop a child from spending thier pocket money without thier parents knowing. to "neil" when a child has decided to do something that is wrong it is up to the community to help keep them from doing the wrong thing no matter how small. to "talpip" are you the perfect mother because even the most perfect mother has a bad day like being sick and cant go shopping as a single mum you cant always ask someone to go shopping for them. and why cant a parent reward a child by letting them buy from the healthy food canteen.to mr lewsam how can you say a child is in school if they deliberatly dont wear a uniform because the parent dosnt buy any and then skip school to go to your shop. can any parent or teacher be sure a child is going to stay in the school grounds during school hours with a temptation like macs.
Posted by ferral, 1/11/2009 8:17:32 PM, on Dubbo Daily Liberal
to ferral... if we lived in a perfect world that would be good. If the laws weren't as restrictive for community interaction then maybe a good citizen could help more. If today's children were better mannered and didn't swear or behave in a violent manner towards a helpful hand maybe your suggestion would be valid. But ferral ....it's not. The community has to report things anonymously these days. Neighbours sharing concerns with other neighbours are often met with hostility or AVO's are slapped on them. In an ideal world the community should act like a family...
Posted by neil, 2/11/2009 8:45:48 AM, on Dubbo Daily Liberal
I want to apply for a job with you
Posted by Mcdononalds west dubbo, 11/11/2009 9:04:19 AM, on Dubbo Daily Liberal

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Owner of McDonald’s West Dubbo Peter Lewsam has vowed to address the issues raised about the outlet’s opening.
Owner of McDonald’s West Dubbo Peter Lewsam has vowed to address the issues raised about the outlet’s opening.

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