Loud Fence Lismore supports child sex abuse victims

THE Loud Fence Movement gives people the chance to show their support for child sexual abuse victims by tying a ribbon on a fence in Conway St Lismore.

Now Remembered Australians president Barbara Lane, organiser of the Lismore Loud Fence Movement, ties a ribbon on the fence in Conway St. Photo: Jenny Dowell. Picture: Photo: contributed

BEING sexually abused as a child is an experience that destroys the lives of many victims and Northern Rivers residents can show their support by tying a ribbon on a Lismore CBD fence.

Known as the Loud Fence Movement, the practice that originated in the Victorian city of Ballarat is spreading across Australia and beyond.

Now Remembered Australian's president Barbara Lane said the group recently voted to host a Loud Fence event in Lismore, which began last week.

"The Loud Fence Movement was born at Ballarat for survivors of institutional child abuse there, (when) Gerald Ridsdale was in that diocese," she said.

"So everyone please come and tie a ribbon on the fence in support of child sexual abuse victims from across Australia."

Since the Loud Fence Movement began it had gained traction world-wide, Ms Lane said.

"The Tim Minchin song that was recently released, the proceeds went to Ballarat survivors to take them over to Rome to hear Cardinal Pell testify.

"The Loud Fence Movement is generally seen as supporting victims of child sexual abuse and we have just taken it up here in Lismore to support those victims who are travelling to Rome, but also survivors across Australia, including ones in our own organisation."

In 2013, the Lismore-based North Coast Children's Home was at the centre of hearings before the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Abuse over abuse claims, some of which occurred in the 1950s and 1960s.

"We have many survivors of child sexual abuse in our organisation and other forms of abuse, including victims form the North Coast Children's Home," Ms Lane said.

Now Remembered Australians have permission from the owner of the fence, on a vacant block of land on Conway St, which is currently for sale, to use the fence until the land sells.

"People are welcome to tie their own ribbons on the fence or donate ribbons by putting them in a box at the site, which would be wonderful," Ms Lane said.

"Traditionally the Loud Fence Movement uses 'loud, bright colours' to attract attention to the fence to show the message of support for victims.

"Any item of material or ribbon people want to tie to the fence to show their support would be great."

Ms Lane said there were already about 100 ribbons on the fence opposite Trevan Ford.