The step is the first of many that will see the ribbons put into yet to be decided permanent displays across the city. Ballarat clergy sex abuse survivor Phil Nagle was present for the process and said he was glad the school had engaged with survivors to ensure it was done in a respectful way. 

“Today is about symbolising that if the ribbons are going to come down ‘we want this to come down in the right way’,” he said. 

“I don’t want to see people driving into Ballarat and seeing faded, tatty, old ribbons, so let’s preserve the ribbons while we can. So John (St Patrick’s College principal John Crowley) said if we are going to take them down let’s do it the right way with survivors present.” 

He said it was not certain what sort of permanent installation would be created, however it was expected some ribbons would be kept at the college. Other plans are being discussed with the City of Ballarat. 

“It is an amazing feeling. We are just so humbled by the community which has sent an example for not just Ballarat but Victoria, Australia and the whole world,” he said.  

“The (community) have led the way by getting behind us and showing us they love and care for us through the Loud Fence and that is all we want because we can’t change what happened. 

He said he was hopeful other ribbon locations would follow a similar procedure by involving survivors to discuss the future of the ribbons prior to any removal. 

Loud Fence creator Maureen Hatcher admitted to being emotional on Tuesday. 

“I have a great deal of respect for John, I certainly understand he is going to be respectful and he has a clear understanding that every ribbon has a story and I think that is really important,” she said. “Because of that it is making the task a bit easier, because it is important they are preserved. It is so much nicer than someone just taking them down and he has given people an opportunity, he told them an month ago it was happening here so it has been done in a respectful way.”

He said the school wanted to handle the matter with sensitivity and have a broader discussion with the community about the best placement for the ribbons. 

“Because someone has taken their time to to come and tie the ribbons here and as I said often in letters i have written to the community each ribbon represents someone that was affected,” he said. “I think as a college community we have been really aware that each ribbon represents someone affected.”