AUSTRALIA
Illawarra Mercury
By Melissa Cunningham
Dec. 14, 2015
THEY are in a city full of people but there were moments Ballarat’s clergy sex abuse survivors never felt more alone.
The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse’s public hearing into Catholic Church authorities in Ballarat commenced at the Melbourne County Court last week.
As more truth emerges of Ballarat’s dark history of abuse, torture and rape survivors Andrew Collins and Peter Blenkiron say the emotional toll of being away from their loved ones intensifies.
“It’s really, really hard,” Mr Collins said. “I’m surrounded by people and I still feel alone. I’m really missing my family and my support structure but it’s important to be here so I’ve got to get through it.”
Mr Blenkiron said many of the survivors attended the public hearings then go back to their accommodation and fall to pieces.
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