AUSTRALIA
ABC News
[with video]
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Broadcast: 18/05/2015
Reporter: Madeleine Morris
Notorious paedophiles in the Catholic Church in Ballarat have scarred the regional Victorian city and left intergenerational damage, as one family describes before telling their story to the Royal Commission into institutional responses to child sexual abuse.
Transcript
LEIGH SALES, PRESENTER: Tomorrow, the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse heads to Ballarat. The regional Victorian city was home to some of the most notorious paedophiles Australia has ever seen. The effect of the abuse has been felt far wider than simply amongst the many victims. It’s intergenerational and it’s scarred the entire city.
Tonight, Madeleine Morris tells the story of one family who are set to share their experience tomorrow at the Royal commission.
MADELEINE MORRIS, REPORTER: Sunday is footy day in Ballarat. It’s all smiles at Eureka Stadium. But this city bears deep wounds.
TIM LANE: I think the impact of child abuse, you lock it away. You feel ashamed, even though you’ve done nothing wrong.
MADELEINE MORRIS: Over the next three weeks in Ballarat, the scars inflicted by paedophiles within the Catholic Church will be laid bare.
For Tim Lane and his family, it’s something they’ve lived with every day for the last 30 years.
TIM LANE: I remember there was an armchair there and I was about four and the lights were all off in the lounge room here and I think mum was out in the kitchen and all us kids and this Grant Ross was in here and he was fondling me right there. It’s clear as anything.
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