A teddy bear in Newcastle

By Damon Cronshaw
Newcastle Herald
August 7, 2017

http://www.theherald.com.au/story/4838652/teddy-bear-catches-some-rays-in-town/

Bring to Bear: This chilled out teddy bear is doing an important job in Newcastle.

Topics was strolling along Newcastle foreshore last week, basking in the winter sunshine under a fat blue sky, as the coal ships did their thing.

We were surprised to see a teddy bear out the corner of our eye.

This teddy was looking very relaxed, lying back on an anchor. It was put there in memory of merchant mariners lost in wartime. The anchor, that is, not the teddy.

As it turns out, the teddy was also doing a very important job.

A note was left with the cuddly toy, saying it was to honour children who suffered sex abuse “within the congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses”.

Jehovah’s Witnesses were castigated at the Royal Commission for refusing to accept accusations of sex abuse, unless there were two witnesses.