Key Takeaways:
- Survivors of clerical abuse from Newcastle and Ballarat gathered in Newcastle to reflect on the past horrors and remember lives lost to suicide.
- The two cities are linked by a dark bond of scores of suicide deaths linked to historical Catholic clergy abuse.
- Survivors tied ribbons to the fence line of St Francis Xavier’s College, formerly Marist Brothers Hamilton, to symbolize their stories and remember the lives lost.
- The gathering was a significant step towards healing and acknowledging the abuse that occurred in both cities.
- Survivors are calling for a public memorial in Newcastle to acknowledge the abuse and provide a space for healing.
Introduction to the Gathering
The city of Newcastle recently played host to a poignant gathering of survivors of clerical abuse from Newcastle and Ballarat. The two cities, although 1,100 kilometers apart, share a dark bond – a significant number of suicide deaths linked to historical Catholic clergy abuse. The survivors met for the first time in Newcastle to reflect on the past horrors and remember the lives lost to suicide. The gathering was a symbolic event, where survivors and their supporters tied ribbons to the fence line of St Francis Xavier’s College, formerly Marist Brothers Hamilton, to share their stories and remember the lives lost.
The Significance of the Location
The location of the gathering was significant, as it was the site of the former Marist Brothers Hamilton, where many of the survivors were abused. Bob O’Toole from the Clergy Abuse Network, who was himself a survivor of the abuse, described the location as a place of "carnage" caused by "depraved clergy." The Marist Brothers Hamilton was a place where many young boys were subjected to physical and sexual abuse, and the gathering was an opportunity for survivors to confront their past and seek healing.
The Ribbons of Remembrance
The ribbons tied to the fence line were a powerful symbol of remembrance and reflection. Some of the ribbons were made from ripped pieces of clothing that once belonged to Audrey Nash, a Newcastle great-grandmother who died this year at the age of 99. Her son, Andrew Nash, was believed to be Australia’s youngest clerical abuse suicide victim, dying at the age of 13 in 1974. The use of Audrey’s clothing to make the ribbons was a poignant reminder of the devastating impact of the abuse on families and loved ones. Ballarat abuse survivor Paul Auchettl described the ribbons as "sacred" and thanked the Newcastle survivors for hosting the visit.
The Scale of the Abuse
The Child Abuse Royal Commission heard that the Marist Brothers Hamilton was a hub of clerical abuse, with several paedophile brothers walking the halls of the school in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. The commission’s data showed that 22% of all Marist Brothers in Australia were paedophiles, with many of them based at Marist Brothers Hamilton. In the Hunter Valley, complaints were made against at least 20 Marist brothers, and Bob O’Toole estimated that there were 80 suicides or sudden deaths linked to Catholic clerical abuse in the Hunter over the past decade, with 30 of those deaths linked to Marist Brothers Hamilton.
The Impact on Survivors
The gathering was an opportunity for survivors to share their stories and reflect on the impact of the abuse on their lives. Stephen Woods, a Ballarat abuse survivor, travelled to Newcastle to attend the gathering and reflect on his own abuse and remember his brother, who died by suicide. He described the significance of the gathering as a way of acknowledging the "utter criminal neglect and abuse" that occurred in both cities. The gathering was also an opportunity for survivors to connect with each other and find support and solidarity in their journey towards healing.
The Call for a Public Memorial
The gathering was also an opportunity for survivors to call for a public memorial in Newcastle to acknowledge the abuse and provide a space for healing. Acting Lord Mayor Charlotte McCabe expressed her support for a public memorial, stating that she would "absolutely support" such a move. The Ballarat memorial, which is expected to be delivered in 2026, is seen as a model for the Newcastle memorial, and survivors are hoping that it will provide a similar space for healing and reflection. The call for a public memorial is a significant step towards acknowledging the abuse that occurred in Newcastle and providing a space for survivors to heal and find closure.
