Here’s an eye witness report form community campaigner and long time Hills resident:

I spent 2 hours this morning standing over the road from McDonald’s, alongside old friends and community united against McD’s opening the doors of their Tecoma outlet. What I witnessed wasn’t a ‘grand opening’ or a ‘celebration’, far from it actually. The people I saw lining the footpath for their burgers looked bored and sad. There was no excitement on their faces. There was no demonstration of joy or triumph at finally getting their beloved McDonald’s in Tecoma, that we have fought so hard to stop.

I have lived in the Dandenongs all my life, so I know a lot of local faces. I couldn’t help but notice, and I say this in all honesty, that there was absolutely no familiar local faces in this line up, with the exception of 4 teenagers who were there for a laugh. I anticipated a lot more high school aged kids, coming down for the sheer fun of it, but they just weren’t there. I sincerely believe the people who walked through the doors today were James Curries customers from his Boronia and Wantirna stores, and that they had been lured up to Tecoma today by free burger vouchers.

I wasn’t going to go today. I didn’t want to see the fences come down and the doors flung open. I expected a staged McCelebration with happy face painted children, balloons and music. I just didn’t happen. I guess they just couldn’t be bothered and their patrons just don’t mean that much to them. The ‘customers’ were not smiling. They were being herded in like sedated livestock, 10 at a time, dutifully consuming their free burgers and providing James Currie with his manufactured evidence for the media, that people were supportive of him being there. Most cars that left the drive thru turned right, to return to the flatlands. They were not local hills folk.

I’m glad I went today because I was reminded of how vibrant and resilient this community is. There was music, theatre, laughter, tears, dancing and happiness. I’m so proud of my community. I saw a genuine demonstration of how united we are in our desire to preserve the unique characteristic of the Dandenong Ranges from corporatisation, to forest conservation and to maintaining community health and wellbeing- especially in our kids and young adults. We have stood for years now for what is right. Still, they opened their doors today because they simply don’t care about people. However, we have lost nothing, because we are on the right side of this fight. To everyone who has participated in ANY capacity, in this long battle with McGreedy and continues to, you are amazing, beautiful and incredible. Together we have made history and we have rattled this corporation in a way they have never experienced in this country. Thank you to you all. I feel privileged to have been a part of something really great, and look forward to working towards a future McDonalds free Dandenongs.

Community member