A STRONG show of support for former residents of Catholic-run orphanages and homes – “homies” for short – by the Ballarat community has made their protest this week much easier.
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The group has stood outside the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse since last week, campaigning for action over the abuse in their care homes.
Care Leavers Australia Network (CLAN) director Leonie Sheedy said the response from drivers and passers-by had made their hard work worth it.
“It started very slowly last week; they just couldn’t believe we were out here,” she said.
“(There’s) a lot of support and a lot of people thanking us for being here.
“I think it’s wonderful.”
Abuse survivors from Ballarat Catholic schools have also expressed support on their way into the royal commission, sometimes sharing stories of abuse.
The sole witness to the royal commission from CLAN was former St Joseph’s Home resident Gordon Hill, who told of his torture and rape at the hands of priests and nuns at the former Sebastopol home.
At the protest, Geelong man Vlad Selakovic has been cheerfully greeting everyone going by – whether police from the station next door or people simply doing their shopping.
Mr Selakovic was overwhelmed by the generosity of Ballarat people.
“They say, ‘I’ve come past that many times and seen you standing there, I’m just going to get you something’,” he said.
“All you can do is give them a hug and say thank-you, you know, and tell them how much it really means.”