AUSTRALIA
Goulburn post
By LOUISE THROWER Feb. 5, 2014
MARK Stiles was almost lost for words when asked this week the effect that years of alleged sexual abuse by Salvation Army officers had on his life.
“Where do I begin?” he told the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
“Mistrust. Everyday not knowing whether I said or did the right things,” he said before breaking down.
“Fear, anger, I suffer severe hypertension and I’m on drugs to control that.”
In a statement to the Commission, Mr Stiles said the Salvation Army had taken away his ability to interact with the community, “stolen my foundational life skills and caused me to panic almost every day for over 40 years.”
Mr Stiles, a Canberra electronics technician was one of two former Gill Memorial Boys Home residents who gave evidence to the Commission on Wednesday. The Salvation Army operated the home on top of Auburn St from 1936 to 1980.
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