I want to offer my heartfelt apologies to the gentleman who was volunteering on behalf of the Independent candidate for Ballina at Ocean Shores Community Centre on Saturday. I let rip very loudly with some vile language, after which I felt immensely ashamed and disgusted with myself. This gentleman was doing his civic duty with grace and composure and did not deserve the treatment he got from me. In my volunteer work, I have never been subjected to the treatment I doled out to him. Volunteers deserve respect (though in this instance I exclude myself here), not scorn. There are no excuses. I wish the gentleman well and offer him my respect for his restraint.
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