AUSTRALIA
ABC News
1233 ABC Newcastle
By Robert Virtue
Peter Russ
Peter Russ was abused as a child in the 1970s.
He said he originally intended to speak to the Royal Commission under a pseudonym, but later changed his mind.
“Usually I’m the sort of person that just sits in the corner and doesn’t say anything,” he said.
“But for some reason [there was a] bolt out of the blue and I thought that was the way I want to go, and I’m glad I did do that.
“I’d got over the whole ‘shame’ thing.
“When I walked up there, I certainly wasn’t at all afraid; it was really powerful … it was the best thing I ever did.”
Mr Russ has been a teacher in the Catholic school system for over 35 years, and has only recently returned to work.
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