| Name: Patricia Neild | Date: November 1, 2005 11:50:00 |
| Country: Australia | Homepage Link |
| Comment: I watched the Australian Story on 31-10-2005 and could not help but admire Heather's courage in the face of all the doubt and lack of support from the system she has been up against. As a former UK policewoman and partner in three abusive marriages from silence, words and physical I have the utmost empathy with what Heather has gone through. I am a voluntary crisis line counsellor and it never ceases to amaze me of the number of women, rich or poor who still do not realize they have anoption to leave such relationships. There is also a conspiracy by many women to stay in such relationships beause they have, almost saying that because I haven't got the guts to leave you must stay too. The depth of societal control to keep women and men in abusive realtionships doesn't appear to have changed over the past 40 years when women either "took" or were "given" freeedom to choose their life role. These controls just come from different sources e.g. advertising, untruthful political "leaders" hell bent on maintaining their own sense of power by the control of the masses. Best wishes to Heather and for the reunion of her family to her. Patricia. |
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| Name: Kate | Date: November 1, 2005 00:41:00 |
| Country: Australia | |
| Comment: Heather, My heart just broke for you watching Australian Story. I wish you a warm and wonderful life from now until the end of your days and if I were a millionaire i would send you millions so that you could do whatever you wanted. However you are rich in friends and from what I see here, surrounded by loving people who care about you. And that's all that's important ... the NOW! |
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| Name: Anette Barrett | Date: October 31, 2005 23:28:00 |
| Country: Australia (WA) | |
| Comment: I have just seen Heather's story on ABC and do not understand how they can put her in prison after she has suffered so much abuse herself and watched her children being abused. There would have been no other way out or her and her children would have been killed by the beast. |
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| Name: Merryn | Date: October 31, 2005 21:45:00 |
| Country: Australia | |
| Comment: Congratulations on getting to start a new life. I too have been in the grips of a violent and degrading relationship. He, unlike your husband was not as physically violent, but more mentally degrading. Even though there was violence he put me down so much that I have tried to kill myself 3 times. I have left him for the last time but my children don"t know of the extent of what he has done to me in 22 years. They don:t have much contact with me. After watching Australian Story I realised you have to try and put your life back together again and so do I. It is hard I hope you have the strength and support that I will never have. I too have thought about killing him, and always will because of what he has done to my life. Take care Merryn |
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| Name: Willem Rethmeier | Date: October 31, 2005 22:21:00 |
| Country: Australia | |
| Comment: I've just finished watching Australian Story and was deeply moved by Heather's story. Talk about injustice! Heather ,I would like to salute you,for being a true hero and I would like to wish you a great future with your newly found freedom. May justice been done and hopefully in the future the courts and jury, for that matter,will look upon cases like yours,in a more human way. With all my heart, Willem Rethmeier. |
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| Name: Kellie | Date: October 31, 2005 22:11:00 |
| Country: Australia | |
| Comment: Dear Heather, After viewing your 'Australian Story' I felt compelled to offer my thoughts to you and your family. You will not remember me but I certainly remember you. I worked as a nurse in the Womens Prison in Deer Park for a number of years. I was never aware of the circumstances that placed you in prison, working in that environment I find that it is easier not to know a persons history so that I can maintain a consistent level of care. I am sorry that I only ever knew you as Heather the prisoner and not Heather the woman. Good luck and remember that your strength is inspiring to others who face the same challenges. |
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| Name: Gill Merzvinskis | Date: October 31, 2005 21:02:00 |
| Country: Australia | |
| Comment: Dear Heather, I have just watched Australian Story and cried at the injustice you and your children suffered from your horrible husband, and then from our justice system. My heart goes out to you and your children, how on earth did you survive all those years. I sincerely hope that all your children do in fact come back to you and that you will find some peace and joy together soon. I will support you in any way I can. |
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| Name: Christine Sewell | Date: October 31, 2005 20:44:00 |
| Country: Australia | |
| Comment: Dear Heather, I feel so proud that you have been so brave to keep trying to get laws changed. I just watched Australian story with tears falling down my cheeks. I lived with a violent man who threatened me so many times and eventually I left him and took him to court for assault. He won where is the justice in that. I foolishly went back to him because I loved him so much. Why do women go back I asked myself a hundred times. I have left him and divorced him and people like you make me thankful I was strong enough to do it. I hope your life is a happier one and that you and your children are re-united soon. If you wish to write to me or phone I will be glad to give you any moral support you need. God bless you. You brave brave lady. Since I rid myself of this man I have met so many people who have been through this awful time and helped them the best way I could. Regards, Christine |
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| Name: T | Date: October 24, 2005 23:13:00 |
| Country: Australia | |
| Comment: Hi Heather, I became aware of you and your situation through a criminal law website from uni. I would just like to say that I think you are an incredible woman and that I think the fact that you are in prison is a disgrace not only to this counrty's legal system but to women who are living with and are survivors of, domestic violence- it is a sad thing when an abused woman is condemed for doing what any reasonable person in your situation would do. My family lived in fear and in a domestic violence situation for 19 years but my mother and us kids got away and survived! I was both angered and disgusted when I found out about your story!!! I wish you all the best and I hope that the politicians and judicial figures (the majority of which are male) that have allowed and continue to allow injustices such as yours to continue to occur feel ashamed of themselves!!! GOOD LUCK!!! |
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| Name: Kylie Lever | Date: September 29, 2005 15:49:00 |
| Country: Australia | |
| Comment: Heather, congratulations. What a woman! I never knew you were who you were (if that makes sense) whilst at Tarra. Have gone back to study to do Diploma Community Welfare Work and find myself using your case as an example for an oral presentation. I read your story and cried, I never knew! What an amazing woman you are with a beautiful new life ahead of you. Thank you for your kind words to me the short time I knew you, you know how much that means in a place like that. I haven't touched drugs or done anything wrong since I got out over 2 years ago. You're truly an inspirational woman and I wish you nothing but happiness and a fantastic future. Hope you enjoy that cruise you told me you were going to go on as soon as you got out. GO GIRL. love Kylie (unit 7 oct '02-June '03). |
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| Name: Emma Carter | Date: August 30, 2005 16:14:00 |
| Country: Australia | |
| Comment: Hi Heather, Hope all is going well for you. I was lucky to met you through Deidre in my breif time at Tarra and i wish you all the best for the future, going to bingo just isn't the same without you calling the numbers.Good luck, Love Emma |
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| Name: Bonnie Dalton | Date: August 19, 2005 11:31:00 |
| Country: USA | |
| Comment: I was deeply moved and I could relate completely with Heather's story. I also was a battered wife, my ex-husband was sent to prison for aggravated assault. He will be getting out soon and even though we are divorced, I am leaving the state; I am moving across the country. I was able to transfer within the company I work for, otherwise I could also be in prison . I fear for my life. |
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| Name: Amanda | Date: August 17, 2005 12:24:00 |
| Country: Australia | |
| Comment: I cannot believe the Victorian Government actually made you do time for this! We had a similar case in South Australia where a woman killed her husband with a sword yet she was given a suspended sentance (she's now seeking an acquittal). Reason she was not to spend time in jail is because her husband was so abusive and inhumane that this was her only way out. I feel for you and hope you are successful in your future fight. |
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| Name: Gainore | Date: August 17, 2005 09:57:00 |
| Country: Australia | |
| Comment: I urge the Government not to appeal VCAT's decision to allow the release of documents which will support her plea for a Pardon, and I congratulate her supporters who have been fighting the good fight tirelessly. |
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| Name: Jayne Rawlings | Date: August 4, 2005 22:46:00 |
| Country: Australia | |
| Comment: Hi Heather, I got to know you while I was up at Tarrangower with you. I have also experienced domestic violence. You always had the time to listen and talk to me. Would love to catch up with you someday. Keep fighting for all the women that have been wrong justified in this so called legal system. Miss our talks and BBQ. Love Jayne xxx |
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