since she was young. Despite being convicted of the sexual assault of Abbey’s best friend, her father was granted access to her and her two sisters throughout, and following, his incarceration. Despite Gill’s repeated and desperate attempts to protect her children, the Family Court allowed him access to the girls. The courts treated Gill as a hysterical and vindictive wife, rather than what she was: a protective mother. In May 2013, Abbey disclosed to her mother that her father had abused her. Again, Gill sought protection orders for her daughters. Tragically, in the November of that year, Abbey took her life by overdosing on medication. Ten days after she died, the Child Protection Authorities sent a letter to Gill stating that ‘the department has assessed that [Abbey’s father] has harmed Abbey and is at risk of harming [Abbey’s younger sister] if they were to have unsupervised contact’. It was too late for Abbey. But Bravehearts wouldn’t let it be too late for other children. “I flew over to Western Australian to meet Gill, Abbey’s mother,” Hetty says, “I told her that if we could get the money, if we could make it happen, we would call it ‘Abbey’s Project’ for her sweet little girl.” In June 2016, Bravehearts launched Abbey’s Project, a Discussion Paper that highlighted the failings of the Family Law System and calling for a Royal Commission. The Paper put forward 30 recommendations, the first being that a Royal Commission be established to scrutinise the failed Family Law System. “I cried,” Hetty admits, “I cried every day. I still do.” Hetty admits that before Bravehearts started looking into the Family Law System, before she cried for children like Abbey and mothers like Gill, she was strong; resilient to the evil in the world. But that has changed. “It’s so woeful, it’s so dangerous and it’s so now,” Hetty explains, “It’s not 20 years ago, it’s now, it’s today. It’s our kids, I’ve looked in their eyes, I’ve seen these children. I know what’s happening for them and there’s nothing I can do to stop it, there’s nothing their parents can do. Their parents have to hand their kids over to offenders every other weekend. “The kids are screaming. Parents can’t even take their children to the doctor. And if they disclose, parents are meant to change the subject. It is absolutely a gross violation of human rights.
“And for the first time, I’m not coping as well as I have done. This is actually really bad. “Parliament knows, they know. And what human being can know what I know – and believe me, they know – and not move heaven and earth to fix it?” And so Hetty is doing just that; she’s moving heaven, earth and everything in between. “I’ve hit the ceiling” In March this year, Hetty announced that she was running for the Senate as an Independent in the May Federal election. “They [parliament] would rather not fix it, they would rather look the other way and I feel sick about that and shame for this country. And that’s why – I can’t raise my pitch, my sadness, my anger, my disgust any more. I’m at the ceiling; I’ve hit the ceiling. The only thing I have left to do now is run for the Senate and that’s why I’m doing it.” Hetty admits that the fight has worn her down. She is tired of being bound by red tape, watching helplessly as children fall victim to monsters, and then victim again to the Family Law System. “I have to take the fight to them,” she admits, “I don’t know how I’m going to go. I have no money. But I have a big heart and a big passion and a lot of amazing people around me so we’re just going to try. That’s all I can do.” Hetty confesses that the battle has not come without scars. From the moment her daughter whispered, “Poppy” through her tears, Hetty's life and her mind has been consumed with child sexual abuse and that is a dark place to exist. “I am so battered and bruised. I am so tired. But I will not give up this fight, mark my words, I will not.” Hetty Johnston is not a greedy politician with a thirst for power, fame and publicity. She is a lioness protecting not only her own cubs, but those of every family in our country. And that takes the very bravest heart.
I got up, went outside and I screamed the most revolting obscenities known to man. I just had to get it out. I screamed and I cried.
May 2019
You can join the fight at hettyjohnston.com.au and find out more about the incredible work that Bravehearts do at bravehearts.org.au
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