65
Spring 2014
Escarpment Magazine
ESCARPMENT HOME
|
serenity in the woods
Thesearenew trails, carvedout of 1000year oldmapleand
pine stands on the topof theBlueMountains andare part of
the6hoursofGibraltar. This race is the inauguraloneand the
brain childof Ian Sinclair, an avidmountain biker for most of
hisadult life. Iandecided that itwas time togiveback, to impart
his lifeexperienceandknowledge in the formofa race to raise
money for a local charity. As he assembled his team, the
thought of fighting for the underdog,
thedowntroddenand theneedy rose
to the surface. The team chose My
FriendsHouse–anorganizationded-
icated to reducing the occurrence of
domestic violence towards women.
The house exists, albeit quietly, in
Collingwood and is in dire need of
support, exposureand funding.
I scheduleda visit to thehouse to see
for myself what they didand topossibly interviewone of the
womenwho had used their services. I was lucky enough to
speakwithHeather: asuccessful,educatedandhard-working
nurse,Heather sitsacross frommeanddetailsher story. Ayear
agoshe thought shehadmet themanofherdreams, sevenand
ahalf months later shewas at theendof her ropeand fearful
for her life. She escapedwith amake-up bag, a t-shirt, and
endedupatMyFriend’sHouse.
Her relationshiphad startedwell enough,but soon themental,
emotional, andphysical abuse startedandescalated rapidly.
Having sworn tonever be ruledbyamanHeather recalls the
shame of being in an abusive relationship, how the fear of
doing thewrong thingkepther from leavingand then the terror
of the threat that her childrenwouldbe killedprevented her
from seekingaid.
Shewasdegradedandputdown, her
self-confidence eroded. She would
jumpat loudnoisesandcouldn’t sleep
properly. She had break downs at
work – uncontrollable crying and
panic attacks. Her possessionswere
taken from her, spy ware put on her
phone and computer andby the end
of thesummer sheknewshehad toget
awayor shewouldbekilled.
My Friend’sHousewas anoasis forHeather. Shewas taken
in by knowledgeable, caring staff that providedabed, food
and a secure place for her to stay. Heather recalls that the
pleasure in the ability to take a shower without wondering if
shewas going tobebeaten and having the freedom towalk
out of the door and not look behind her, were the first steps
along the road to rehabilitationand recovery.
*
As he assembled his
team, the thought of
fighting for the underdog,
the downtrodden and the
needy rose to the surface.
