I could have stood and cheered when Rosie Batty was
named Australian of the Year. What a
shining example of courage she is! Rosie is rising above her personal tragedy
to speak out for all sufferers of family violence: people across the nation who
need support, recognition and help.
I’m sure February is a very painful month for Rosie
and my heart goes out to her as she remembers her son Luke. Rosie is scheduled
to appear on ABC TV’s Q&A this coming Monday, 23 February, and I will be
cheering for her from home.
The Doncare iMatter app she launched only a few days
ago sounds like a brilliant way to help young women identify the sort of
controlling behaviour that leads to violence. Doncare’s clinical director
Carmel O’Brien describes it as ‘like driving lessons for relationships’. There
are images, clips, quizzes and articles.
Vulnerable people need this help. No one chooses to
be abused, they simply do not recognise the danger signs - until it is too
late. So late that their self-esteem is crushed and they can’t get away. Or
they can escape, but with difficulty and at great risk.
Most, but not all, victims of abusive relationships
are women. But the tragedy is that there are also child victims. These are the
children of violent partnerships who grow up to believe that abuse us normal –
or even a sign of love. What a tragic delusion!
I care particularly about this as my novel ‘Finding
Felicity’ deals with domestic violence: the causes and lead-up, the effects
(especially psychological) and the very real dangers. I put a lot of thought
and care into ‘Finding Felicity’ and signed a contract with Australian
publisher Horizon Publishing Group last September. I’m looking forward to its
appearance on bookshelves.
I’d like to think that it gives insight into what
can go wrong with relationships and how – and offer the hope of dealing with
them ‘in the best way possible’.
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