WIIMA, I CAN FEEL YOUR PAIN I TOO I AM A VICTIM OF THE RAPES AND ABUSE WE OCCURRED UNDER THE HANDS OF THE GOVERMENT THE STATE OF NEW SOUTH WALES ,THIS HAPPEN TO ME AT DARUK BOYS HOME AS WERE MY INOCCENCE WERE STOLEN FROM ME BY TWO [2] PEDOPHILES ,IN 1977 AND 1978, AND I AM A BOY , NOW A MAN TRYING TO SEEK JUSTICE NOT ONLY FOR MYSELF BUT FOR THAT OF THE FORGOTTEN AUSTRALIANS , THESE ARE GIRLS AND BOYS HOMES ,ORPHANAGES ,AND REMAND CENTRES , ITS ABOUT TIME THE GOVERMENT STOP THE COVER UP EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE DONE ALL THESE INQUIORIES ,YET THEY ARE NOT ALLOWING US VICTIMS TO HAVE JUSTICE IN THE COURTS ,AS THEY TOO ARE PROTECTING ,THE GOVERMENT , OF WHOME HAD THESE PEDOPHILES WORKING FOR THEIR STATES , IM MICHEAL BROWN AND IM A REAL VICTIM AS IS WILMA , HAVE THE NERVRE YOU POLITICIANS TO SPEAK OUT ABOUT THIS AS THEY CAN NOT SACK YOU FOR TELLING THE TRUTH ABOUT WHAT US VICTIMS SUFFERED KIND REGARDS,

I totally agree with FrankGol: Congrats to you Kevin! You don’t sound bitter at all (hmm) because you survived in the way you knew how, does not mean every individual should behave the same way. And where does it state Wilma is asking for a ‘hand-out’ (government or public to prop me up or give me cash to compensate me for my hard start)
Hirez, Do you know Col Rouge? I think you hit the nail on the head 
As for BOAZ_David, “When she escaped, where the heck did she plan to go?” How about: as far away as possible, from the scum that inflicted this on her. Would you like to hang around and cop this treatment? As I read it, I believe she was put into “care” because her mother had cancer, not because she was a ‘bad girl’ She believed they were going to care for her (as would you and I), not abuse her. Or maybe she thought all homes were not like this and if she escaped someone would show her some kindness? She has told her story for us to read, I don’t believe she deserves criticism.
It sickens me to know there is scum out there that protect the evils of society. I hope they rot in hell.

Ginx, there is a small but important difference between Kevin's comments re Wilma, and FrankGol's comments re Kevin. Kevin was seeking to make general comment, and referenced this to a person who is probably not going to be reading these posts (but she is free to speak up if she is). FrankGol directly attacked another poster, who by his own admission, suffered a similar fate. That is what I think is lacking in compassion.

Wilma may have done well for herself despite this abuse. I hope she has. But that is not the tone that is portrayed in the article. Perhaps though, it should be Bernie Matthews who we should be saving the slightly scathing comments for, not the people whose stories he tells. If he isnt telling the full story (which really goes far beyond any childhood abuse), then he is misleading and not giving these people the credit that they deserve.

Hi to you all...

Well, what can I possibly say ?

As a retired member of 'the establishment' (coppers), I/we occasionally heard these rumours of the gross injustices, and serious crimes that were perpetrated against the most vulnerable of ALL human beings, our children !

By simply saying, there's nothing we can do about it ? If there's no official complaint, then there can be no investigation ! What a terrible misfeasance, by omission !?

Since the burgeoning incidences of paedophilia have become more apparent in this country, and the seemingly extraordinary lengths taken by the hierarchy, of both church and state in order to conceal these VILE crimes.

I can only wonder, how ANY MALE can look one of these hapless victims, straight in the eye, and attempt to mitigate or diminish the absolute atrociousness of this abominable crime, that we've apparently allowed to continue, unchecked. ?

On my own behalf I can only apologise absolutely, to ALL victims and hope that in the future, the law significantly strengthens the penalties for any crimes perpetrated against our precious young.

And to those pious and virtuous 'larva' who knowingly shield these 'rock spider' monsters, apply exactly the same heavy penalty as if they themselves, committed the offence.

As I said, I feel so very ashamed that we as a community have allowed these reprehensible crimes to essentially go unpunished, by looking the other way. God help us !

o sung wu

Thank you for your very compassionate and generous response. Why do some people get it straight away and others feel the need still to blame the victims?

I wish there were more compassion and empathy, especially in official circles. Governments are still making it hard for victims to heal and for redress to be made.

I once belonged to (helped set up) an organisation called LOSS - Lives of State Shame. The name was consciously chosen to imply that the children bore no shame. That shame belonged entirely to the agencies that were meant to look after us and provide protection and nurturing.

The mantle has now fallen to a group called CLAN - Care Leavers Network of Australia. They have about 500 members around Australia who are trying to make sense of their childhood experiences of abuse and neglect in institutions.

CLAN needs all the support they can get to support their members in the face of government denial and stonewalling.

www.clan.org.au or 1800 008 774.

"Ginx, there is a small but important difference between Kevin's comments re Wilma, and FrankGol's comments re Kevin. Kevin was seeking to make general comment, and referenced this to a person who is probably not going to be reading these posts (but she is free to speak up if she is). FrankGol directly attacked another poster, who by his own admission, suffered a similar fate. That is what I think is lacking in compassion." (Quote:Country Gal)

Thanks for the response CG.

I have to disagree though. I will always admire people like Kevin, there are a good few like him; but not all.
If one has the strength of character to cope,survive,thrive; then that person is a strong and stoic human being.

To that end Kevin is strong; and it sits very uncomfortably with me that he is critical of one who tells another story of a vulnerable and not so strong human being;-and of that human being herself. I will not judge Bernie or Wilma. It churns my guts at what children;-ALL children have had to suffer in so many many, cases. What is even worse than this, is that those who perpetrate this;- even in Kevin's case; get away with it; and frequently these scum are 'pillars of the community'.

I'll lay odds that Wilma may well read this, but that isn't the point. Just because she is 'not here', and Kevin is; does not make criticism of Kevin an 'attack', but Kevin's comments 'general'!

Fair go. Kevin was critical, because of his own excellent coping skills, and FG. was critical of his criticism!! (Sorry!, but you know what I'm saying.)

I think Kevin will understand, even if he doesn't agree.