CONTROVERY: The caption which sparked a war of words between a HeraldSun columnist and Belgrave residents.NO APOLOGY will be given to Belgrave residents after a daily newspaper labelled the town ‘unglamorous’.
Herald Sun ‘The Eye’ columnist Mike Edmonds said the small caption that appeared beneath a photo of celebrity witch Fiona Horne as she visited the township was tongueincheek when it labelled Belgrave ‘relatively unglamorous’ compared to ‘the glitz and glamour of Los Angeles’, from where Ms Horne had returned.
“London, Paris, New York then Belgrave; it does not exactly make a Peter Stuyvesant (cigarette) ad,” he said in the caption’s defence.
The caption incited complaints from residents, including Emerald’s Anita Mackay who said she was appalled by the caption.
“It read like (Hills people) were scum,” she said.
“Belgrave is on the up, it is hard enough getting things out here,” she said.
“I thought it downgraded Belgrave.”
Ms Mackay contacted The Eye via email and received a response which she said pointed the finger at Herald Sun subeditors for placing the caption.
Mr Edmonds said The Eye would make no apology for the caption.
“No, no apologies; it stands that Belgrave is comparatively unglamorous to Los Angeles and the better for it.”
Mr Edmonds said he was often a visitor to the Belgrave area.
“I have got good mates up in Belgrave and Tecoma, and I enjoy getting up into that territory.”
Ms Mackay said she was unhappy with the Herald Sun’s response, but would not pursue the issue.
“By the looks of it I won’t get much of a reply anyway.”
