Salvation Army Urged to "Step up" over Abuse

Sky News
October 6, 2015

http://www.skynews.com.au/news/national/2015/10/07/salvation-army-urged-to--step-up--over-abuse.html

The Salvation Army has been urged to 'step up' and ensure the ongoing welfare of boys sexually abused in its care rather than just offer one-off compensation payments.

Graham Rundle says victims like him should be helped with ongoing expenses like dental and medical bills and with accommodation and counselling.

'The fear of being old with these financial burdens is very real for many victims,' Mr Rundle has told the Royal Commission into child abuse.

'They (the Salvation Army) should be made to step up in this way as they are the cause of our problems.'

Mr Rundle, 63, was sexually abused on at least 200 occasions at the Salvation Army's Eden Park Boys' Home in the Adelaide Hills during his time there in the 1960s.

Eden Park is one of four homes operated by the Salvos in South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia which are being investigated by the royal commission during two weeks of hearings in Adelaide.

In her opening statement on Tuesday, counsel assisting, Sophie David, said 13 former residents would give evidence to show that child sex abuse was widespread and unchecked over a long period of time.

Mr Rundle said the abuse against him started when he was aged just eight and involved older boys and staff members.

He was sexually assaulted at all times of the day, even during Bible reading sessions.

Another former resident, Steven Grant, told how Eden Park had a 'culture of humiliation' where boys were punished for no reason.

While a third, who chose not to be named, described Eden Park as a 'hell hole' and said going to bed at night was a terrifying experience with boys regularly taken away to be abused.

The hearings continue on Wednesday with evidence to come from victims who were abused during their time at the Salvation Army homes at Bayswater and Box Hill in Victoria and at Nedlands in WA.