Up Front by Emma Hart

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Up Front: Any Port in a Storm

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  • David Haywood,

    Bit of an emotional read, that one. A nasty subject, but very nicely written... Thank you, Emma.

    Dunsandel • Since Nov 2006 • 1156 posts Report Reply

  • Deborah,

    As David said.

    Also, that this type of story is so common - a woman who simply has nowhere to go, and very few financial resources, even if she has all the courage in the world. There can be huge barriers to just leaving. And the act of leaving can be the most dangerous time of all.

    Thank you for this, Emma.

    New Lynn • Since Nov 2006 • 1447 posts Report Reply

  • Jackie Clark,

    Oh Emma.

    Mt Eden, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 3136 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle,

    Thank you.

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    You. Write. So. Well.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • James Francis,

    Thank you, Emma. That's an incredibly powerful piece of writing.

    My Mum has worked as a Refuge volunteer for over thirty years in a pretty desperate part of the country. They - the volunteers - know these stories but of course they can't tell them. I'm pleased that somebody can.

    St John's, Newfoundland • Since Nov 2006 • 121 posts Report Reply

  • 81stcolumn,

    Thank you Emma

    It's frightening how much of this goes on.

    Bingo anyone ?

    Nawthshaw • Since Nov 2006 • 790 posts Report Reply

  • Emma Hart,

    Thanks, guys.

    Part of growing up for me was really wanting to understand how this could have happened. My mother is a very smart, strong woman. I think the most important thing to realise is that it's never bad all the time. Sometimes it's lovely - I hate to be clichéd, but I think Once Were Warriors did a good job of portraying that. And as Deborah says, it is very, very difficult to 'just leave'. You don't have to be weak or stupid or lazy to stay when it might mean losing your job and your home, shifting your kids' schools, avoiding your friends and family. You just have to be human.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    They - the volunteers - know these stories but of course they can't tell them

    But the victims themselves can, and the Refuge newsletter (which is terrific) regularly features them. The ones published to date are collected here.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    (Also, what everyone else said: thank you so much for this, Emma.)

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Roger Lacey,

    The Women's Refuge Appeal is collecting on the 24th and 25th of July. But you can slip them a twenty via their website right now. It's something you can do, and it's easy.

    Just done it. Sure is easy, everybody should try.
    Pity we can't fix the s***s who do the abuse quite as easily.
    Great post Emma.

    Whatakataka Bay Surf Club… • Since Apr 2008 • 148 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Williams,

    Thank you Emma.

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

  • Jolisa,

    Amen, Emma.

    Auckland, NZ • Since Nov 2006 • 1472 posts Report Reply

  • Gareth Ward,

    Cripes, powerful stuff. Nice work.

    Auckland, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 1727 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Staying with the theme, Kristin Dunne-Powell on Media7 last week:

    She has a nice riposte to Jane Clifton at the end as to why the hell would she shut up about domestic violence in the week before the Women's Refuge appeal.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Deborah,

    But the victims themselves can, and the Refuge newsletter (which is terrific) regularly features them. The ones published to date are collected here.

    My girls have been asking anxiously why I'm crying.

    New Lynn • Since Nov 2006 • 1447 posts Report Reply

  • andrew llewellyn,

    Awesome. Makes me remember my wife hasn't seen her father since she was 9. She's one of 7 kids - he went on to have at least 6 more somewhere. The two families have never met as far as I know. I wonder if they & their mum had similar experiences. I kind of hope he's living sad & lonely somewhere.

    Since Nov 2006 • 2075 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle,

    You know what kills me, before I even get to the stories? The 'Hide My Visit' button. Of course, but also... god. That's horrible.

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • Emma Hart,

    You know what kills me, before I even get to the stories? The 'Hide My Visit' button. Of course, but also... god. That's horrible.

    That got me too, Danielle, and the detailed instructions on how to clear your cache. It speaks volumes.

    Makes me remember my wife hasn't seen her father since she was 9.

    The last time I was home, my mum gave me a bunch of my stuff to take away. In among all the old photos was a birthday card I don't even remember receiving from my father, sent when he was living in Brisbane. There was some confusion about when it was sent, but the postmark told me he knew how old I was, but not what year it was. He asked for a photo of me - he hadn't seen me for about six years. And because it was a card for my fifteenth birthday, I know I didn't send it, and he died a couple of months later. Alone.

    I sat there for about half an hour, holding that card, trying to work out how the fuck I felt about it.

    My girls have been asking anxiously why I'm crying.

    I'm planning to get my shit back together some time before my kids get home from school.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report Reply

  • mark taslov,

    Well that ripped my heart out of chest, dowsed it in kerosine, grilled it for a couple of eons, slapped it between two folic acid laced buns and Federer served it back into the tiny compartment from whence it was issued. I'm staggered that the Womens refuge isn't already fully funded by the Government.

    Te Ika-a-Māui • Since Mar 2008 • 2281 posts Report Reply

  • Megan Wegan,

    I'm planning to get my shit back together some time before my kids get home from school.

    Could you find mine and bring it back to me before everyone in my office wonders why I'm crying at my desk?

    Welly • Since Jul 2008 • 1275 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Emma, your mother must be proud to have such a compassionate, thoughtful and brave daughter.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Megan Wegan,

    Emma, your mother must be proud to have such a compassionate, thoughtful and brave daughter.

    Word.

    And I wonder if your kids know how lucky they are.

    Welly • Since Jul 2008 • 1275 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    I truly don't understand people sometimes. Fucked up beyond humanity even if it's half true.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • webweaver,

    Emma - thank you so much for this.

    It's encouraged me to make a donation on the Women's Refuge website - and I'm sure I'm not the only one.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 332 posts Report Reply

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