A while ago, in the refuge, I met a young woman with her mum. She's 16. and when I met her she was shut down. Closed face, hardened. Staunch. Things happened, and her mum has disappeared, so she's living, with her sister, with a caregiver - a wonderful older woman, with a large family who … Continue reading Double Vision
Category: Women’s Stories
Aunties Speak
It is my extraordinary privilege to have curated a group of people, in the last three years, I call the Aunties. Some have been involved with my refuge work from the beginning, and some are recent arrivals. Irregardless, they are all beautiful souls and I appreciate them so much. Most are met via Twitter, some … Continue reading Aunties Speak
Trigger Warning: Taking power back.
This is not my story. It belongs to a very brave woman. It is her story of one night in her life. It's extremely graphic and may trigger you, so please be careful of yourselves. "I was feeling pretty stressed. It was Summer holidays sure, but lately I had been so … Continue reading Trigger Warning: Taking power back.
Imbalance
Some of you who know me well will know that one of the women I have met and come to love in the last two years has a large part of my heart. CYFS have uplifted her children twice now, and you will have to believe me when I say that she was not with … Continue reading Imbalance
The price of being a young woman – TW Rape
Tonight, a friend of mine contacted me privately. She wanted to tell me her story of rape. She, like me, is middle-aged. She, like me, has made a life for herself with a good man. But we all carry our secrets, we middle-aged women. And the shame of it is that, although this happened over … Continue reading The price of being a young woman – TW Rape
M’s story.
When I published the other womens' stories, stories in my own voice, M was really disappointed not to have had the opportunity and said she would like to write something for you all to read. To impress upon you why the Refuge is so important, and to give voice to those you are all helping. … Continue reading M’s story.