Encouraging Women of Nhill Victoria Australia, in partnership with the Salvation Army and Wimmera Family Violence Prevention Network is proud to have Dr Caroline Taylor speak at their upcoming function on November 3rd 2004. Encouraging Women is a non party political and non profit group aiming to provide high profile guest speakers to encourage, stimulate and motivate women in our community. Encouraging Women was developed in response to an identified need within the community to facilitate and support women from all walks of life and experiences. Encouraging Women is a subcommittee of the Nhill Neighbourhood House Learning Centre
Former Encouraging Women guest speakers include Mrs Lila Hensley; Dr Judith Slocombe - Telstra Australian Businesswoman of the Year 2002; Ms Dur-e Dara - Restauranteur; The Hon. Joan Kirner - Former Victorian Premier; Christine Nixon - Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police and Ms Jenny Buckland - CEO Australian Children's Television Foundation. Encouraging Women has forged strong links within the Nhill community and speakers often attend the Nhill College to talk to students and staff.
Dr Caroline Taylor is a University of Ballarat Post Doctoral Fellow. Dr Taylor was awarded the 2001 Jean Martin Award by the Australian Sociological Association for her groundbreaking research into the way Victorian courts deal with rape within the family and she is also included in the 2002 Who's who of notable Australians. Dr Taylor has also successfully secured a criminology research grant of $55,905, with Dr Beverly Blaskett, also from the University of Ballarat.
Dr Taylor is herself a victim/survivor of sexual abuse and studied more than 17,000 pages of transcripts from every Victorian trial dealing with intrafamilial sexual abuse during 1995 for her PhD thesis.
Dr Taylor's internationally acclaimed thesis has been published by the American publisher Peter Lang entitled "Court Licensed Abuse" in a format that takes the reader on a voyage of discovery into six different trials where every piece of evidence is revealed, even the evidence withheld from the jury.
A second book, "Surviving The Legal System," launched recently at the national Home Truths conference on sexual assault, is an insiders view of what it is to be a victim-witness in a rape trial in Victoria.
Leaving school at 15 to work in menial jobs, Dr Taylor finally left home in her early twenties having been sexually abused by her father from the age of 6 until her early twenties. Enduring the trauma of two trials after her father was released on a technicality, Dr Taylor is only too familiar with the treatment handed out to victims/survivors of child sexual abuse.
"The deeply entrenched and historical suspicion and bias directed at victim/survivors of child sexual abuse was directed at me with all its fury. My lack of formal education as a child; my preference to turn inwards in response to the trauma, my deep love of animals and my lack of social skills and social life were used to portray me in a cruel way.
The price for speaking out also included complete rejection by my family and other relatives. I experienced homelessness and the many levels of distress and fear that accompany this abuse. But I was determined to survive and rebuild. I am proud of what I have achieved and the processes I developed, nurtured and put in place to achieve this." (extract from Dr Caroline Taylor's Speech, Heather Osland Fundraiser April 20, 2004)
Encouraging Women encourages all women to come and hear Dr Taylor speak and to meet this extraordinary woman to find out first hand the processes she developed, nurtured and put in place to allow her to survive and rebuild her life. Bookings for the night are encouraged but not essential. For bookings please contact Joan Bennett 5391 1206.
Where: Nhill Bowling Club, Railway Street, Nhill
Date: Wednesday November 3rd 2004
Time: 7.15
Cost: $5.00
Media Interviews Contact:
Karen Werner
Community Health Nurse
A/H 5389 9210
B/H 5389 1301
Mob 0407 526 780
Bookings and General Enquiries Contact:
Cr Joan Bennett
Hindmarsh Shire
5391 1206
Press Release Ends
Lisa Mostyn
www.lisamostyn.com
lisa@lisamostyn.com or cagfire@iinet.net.au
Short run promotional product specialist
Media consultant
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RMB 1094, Nhill Vic 3418
Ph 03 5391 9236
Fax 03 5391 9245
About the Author
Lisa Mostyn runs a short run promotional business in rural Australia.
A ceramic artist, business owner, and dedicated community person. |