Joanne’s message to fellow victims of domestic violence is that there is hope and help available

IT HAS taken years for Joanne Stefanovic to have the courage to speak publicly about the domestic abuse.

Joanne Stefanovic from Castle Hill is now free from domestic abuse and looking ahead. Picture: Peter Kelly

IT HAS taken years for Joanne Stefanovic to have the courage to speak publicly about the domestic abuse she has experience nearly her whole life.

The Castle Hill resident survived domestic violence as a child and at 18 started a relationship which spiralled into years of physical and emotional abuse.

Joanne and her six siblings grew up in a house where the children were not allowed toys or to watch television with a house full of fighting and arguments.

“My father controlled what we could wear and what we could eat,” she said.

“If we wore something not acceptable to him or ate anything he disagreed with then we would get a hiding. “

Joanne Stefanovic now runs her own business.

She was eight years old when her family finally fled their abusive home. “My sister found a place to rent and hired the removalist when dad went to work as soon as he left the removalist came and we quickly moved before he came home.”

Her mother worked several jobs to try and keep home for her children but Joanne turned to alcohol and drugs as a teenager and left home at 16.

It was her brother-in-law who helped her by getting her job in real estate and she finished her HSC.

At 18 she moved in with a friend’s brother who she said turned out to be violent, controlling and an alcoholic.

“People would tell me I am intelligent. How could I let this happen?” she said.

“My self worth was zero to none. I felt as though this is all I deserved. I was made to feel guilty. It was all my fault ... I was continually told I was useless.”

The big change in her life happened when she started work at a Baulkham Hills law firm and met Jo Brogan, who had returned to work after being treated for ovarian cancer.

“I told her one day I wanted to shave my hair off to raise money for the Cancer Council and from then I we became soulmates.

“Jo and I worked together well and fundraised together well. We had so much fun.”

It was after Jo passed away in 2009 that Joanne decided she had to leave her partner of 13 years.

“He smashed some things that were very precious to me and I decided I could not tolerate this violence any more.”

She left her three-bedroom home and couch-surfed at the homes of friends for 12 months before finding a place to rent.

Her health collapsed twice as she worked two jobs to try and cover a mortgagae, rent, car laon and credit card debt as well as doing her own property settlement through the Family Court.

She said the support of close friends and also colleagues at Castle Hill RSL helped her survive.

Her message to people going through tough times is: “It’s hard but there is a better life out there.”

She has been a volunteer community ambassador for Ovarian Cancer Australia for several years now and is a licenced conveyor with her own business, joannestefanovicconveyancer.com.

“Finally, after seven years, I now have my business up and running and I am looking forward to my new life filled with lots of love, joy and happiness,” she said.

JOIN THE MARCH

● The White Ribbon march in Castle Hill is at 7am on Friday, November 25.

● The march starts at The Piazza , Castle Towers and moves down Castle St, to end at Castle Hill RSL Club.

● A White Ribbon Breakfast will be held at The Lyceum at Castle Hill RSL starting at 8am. Cost is $40. Bookings are a must at castlehillrsl.com.au

● After the march there will also be a forum for schools and a barbecue breakfast.

● For help call DV Hotline [phone]