BALLARAT’S rainbow of hope for clergy sex abuse victims has travelled across the sky all the way to Central Park in New York.
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After hearing about the Loud Fence outside the St Alipius Christian Brothers’ boys’ school fence in Victoria Street, former Ballarat resident, Vanessa Beetham was compelled to push the powerful message onto a global platform.
Ms Beetham, who now lives in America, created a fence in the heart of New York City.
She said the response to the fence in the weeks that followed was nothing short of extraordinary.
She has lost count of the number of colourful ribbons which were tied to the fence by strangers from all over the world. Each time she goes back to the park, there are more ribbons floating in the wind.
“There are so many people there at any given time,” Ms Beetham said. “It has became somewhat of a United Nations event to be quite honest.”
She hoped to take the movement to San Diego and Boston next.
Ms Beetham said there were strong parallels between the clergy sexual abuse in Ballarat and the scores of priests and religious leaders involved in the Boston archdiocese sex abuse scandal.
“The abuse is worldwide including in New York and if we are going to break the silence, shame and cover ups then we have to speak up as communities,” she said. “We live in a global village and it's just getting smaller and smaller. I’ve spent days talking with anyone who stood still long enough and educated them on the correlation between Ballarat and Boston, in particular re them both being the epicentre of abuse in their countries.”
Ms Beetham urged people all over the world to get involved.
“The real inspiration in all of this are the survivors as they stand in their power, speak their truth and give voice to those who will never be heard,” she said. “Tell your children ‘that's what Bravery looks like’.”
Since the Loud Fence Facebook page was established by Ballarat resident Maureen Hatcher the movement has gone global with ribbons tied on Westminster Abbey in London, in Bali, across Queensland and NSW.
Hundreds are expected to gather at the Loud Fence outside St Alipius Boys’ School in Victoria for march on Sunday at 1pm. Details: facebook.com/loudfence
