Facebook group responds to Port Adelaide Enfield Mayor’s exit over commenters ‘crapping on council’

Members of the “You know you’re from Port Adelaide/Le Fevre Peninsula when” online group have continued to pile on the criticism after the Mayor left the group.

Members of a community Facebook group have stepped up their criticism of an Adelaide mayor after she left the group claiming she was a victim of bullying.

Port Adelaide Enfield Mayor Claire Boan levelled a lashing against some members of the 29,000-strong group named ‘You know you’re from Port Adelaide/Le Fevre Peninsula when …’ on Tuesday when she said she was exiting the group over commenters “(crapping) on council”.

“It is pretty average for others to crap on the council for things that many of these people commenting know nothing about,” she wrote.

“The speculation, false information and rumours are just too much.

“I’ll tell it as it is because no-one likes BS. I love our community and this page doesn’t truly reflect the amazing people who live here.”

Ms Boan made a shock exit from the community group, blaming bullying and toxic behaviour. Picture: Facebook

Members have doubled down on the mayor, calling her out for her exit.

“This group isn’t an airport, no need to announce your departure,” one member wrote.

Another said he doesn’t condone the “inappropriate messages” but “as mayor, you are responsible to the people”.

“By leaving a group you alienate yourself for the good majority of people, that’s poor form … so pull ya head in … I’m entitled to call out bad behaviour,” he wrote.

Another member said rate payers have “every right to express concerns about the councils actions on social media”.

“Especially since council members use social media to bask when the sun shines,” he wrote.

Ms Boan’s departure came after recent commentary in the group around the council’s move to scrap Semaphore’s annual fireworks display in lieu of a free ‘Dockside Festival Event’.

An anonymous post in the group, which attracted more than 130 comments, slammed the decision, labelling it an “absolute farce”.

Some group members are disheartened at Ms Boan’s exit saying the group has “lost someone high up to listen to us”.

An anonymous post to the group called out toxic members saying the group was once a “good place to express our thoughts and ideas”.

“Nice one! Drive our Mayor off this page … there was no need to get personal,” the member wrote.

Others “don’t blame her for leaving” calling for the admins to “clamp down” on the negativity.

Claire Boan, Port Adelaide /Enfield. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

In response to questions about the post, Ms Boan said she “couldn’t exit quietly” and wanted to stand up for others who were “too scared to write anything with the fear of being bullied on there.”

“Aside from council bashing, these people continually put others down. Having a go at individuals with bullying behaviour, shitting on the community with comments about how bad the peninsula is etc,” she said.

“The way people speak about others (not only council) in that group is disgraceful and by passively bystanding we are endorsing that behaviour.”

“These voices have gained momentum and power and don’t deserve it.”