We Support You: Loud Community Message for Child Sex Abuse Survivors

By Margaret Burin
ABC Ballarat
May 22, 2015

http://www.abc.net.au/local/photos/2015/05/22/4240723.htm

(From right) Maureen Hatcher, Callan Slater and Karen Auchettl have tied colourful ribbons to the fence of the former St Alipius Boy's School to let child sex abuse survivors the community is behind them. (ABC :Margaret Burin)

After days of horrific evidence at the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, community members have begun tying bright ribbons onto the fence of the former St Alipius Boy's School where some of the abuse took place.

One of the organisers, Maureen Hatcher, says it is the community's way of letting survivors know that Ballarat is behind them.

"The idea is that it's a loud fence and that's because there's just been too much silence," she said.

"That's been the crux of this whole disaster, that children weren't listened to and they just weren't supported, so it's time to support them now and give them a voice."

Ms Hatcher attended St Alipius Primary School as a girl.

She says the stories coming out of the royal commission hearings have hit the local community hard.

"Everybody knows somebody," she said.

"Ballarat is a very small place when it comes down to it.

"I know people that were abused, I've known quite a few of the witnesses that have spoken this week.

"I feel everybody is feeling really flat and devastated, even though we knew this was coming and we've heard things before."