Childhood broken

Yesterday I was told something awful. When I heard I felt as if my childhood was broken in half. I felt like I could have cried. I felt like it could not possibly be true.

Rolf Harris has been arrested and interviewed by British police investigating the Jimmy Savile child sex scandal. It hasn't been reported much by mainstream media but it was all over twitter and independent media. (Source)

We grew up listening to Rolf Harris, Court of King Caractacus was one of my favourite songs! It is the soundtrack of our annual epic drives to the Gold Coast in the Ford Falcon from Sydney, singing with my sister in the back, between squabbles and vomits and games of Eye spy and vegemite sandwiches. Listening to Rolf Harris recently and introducing all those songs to Busy was so fun, we laughed at how I knew the words from so long ago. But now it's tainted.

I have been thinking about it a lot since I found out yesterday. I think this news combined with the start of the Royal Commission into Sexual Abuse has me reeling a bit. I feel like we are on the edge of uncovering something truly horrible. Like we are about to find out just how bad things have been.

I am not completely naive, I know so much from what clients have told me at work. About the priests, the foster parents, the coaches, who have abused, been reported and literally gotten away with it.

But I feel like as a community we will be truly horrified at the extent of the cover-ups. I think there will be public outcry the likes of which we haven't seen before. I feel sick about it. I know for so many people so much of this will trigger horrible feelings and anxiety and shame and anger and despair.

 I hope there is a shift afterwards.

 I hope this commission really does change things and although it may never be possible to protect every child  I hope that as a community we ensure that when a child tells us they are scared and have been hurt we listen to them, we believe them, we make it stop, we keep them safe and we make sure the perpetrator can never harm another child again.

I feel for those working at the commission, I hope they are looked after.