From torture to reunion: The story of the Riverview Old Boys

AUSTRALIA
Queensland Times

ROBERT Toreaux knows what it’s liked to be tortured; to spend each day in fear of being attacked and humiliated without being able to escape.

He’s also knows how child abuse can lead to long-term, chronic health problems for survivors.

The 66-year-old spent a good portion of his childhood living and working at the Riverview Training Farm for Boys.

The Salvation Army-run facility has proved to have a long and grim history as a place of abuse, where children were routinely physically and sexually assaulted by staff.

Mr Toreaux arrived at the training farm in 1960 when he was 10-years-old and resided there for four years.

“My mother died in 1956,” he said. “She was killed in a car accident when her vehicle collided with a drunk driver.

“After that, my father took off and left my brothers and sisters to fend for ourselves.

“I was separated from my seven siblings and spent a number of years bounced around 27 orphanages.”

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