Surviving abuse: Debra Barry’s story

Debra Barry thought the abuse she had routinely endured was normal until the age of 14.
Debra Barry thought the abuse she had routinely endured was normal until the age of 14.
Last week I met two formerly homeless women, Leona and Kellie. I was surprised that they were very much like me, ordinary Australians who, through an unfortunate set of life circumstances, had found themselves homeless.
For what must be the millionth time I hear the sentence more likely to provoke infinite rage than any other, “I would never have guessed you were anorexic”.
Marlena Katene is an average young woman with the usual dreams, hopes and fears. Marlena also has what she calls a “unique point of difference”.
It was to be the last day of September 1982 when the XII Commonwealth Games, ‘The Friendly Games’, bounded into town in the pouch of a giant plastic marsupial and put Brisbane at last on the proverbial map.
Inside the chapel at St Francis Theological College in Brisbane. Credit: Steven Riggall. The non-religious or the religiously-indifferent might wonder why anybody would spend their time researching religion. But to co-founder of Australian Anglican group A Progressive Christian Voice Rev Dr Ray Barraclough, Biblical research continues to offer exciting insights into the way we should live today. “The last twenty years or so has seen some very stimulating study of the scriptures, particularly women scholars bringing their life experience into the scriptures, so we wanted to say, in the wider arena of Australian public life ‘hey there’s fresh things being found in Christianity, fresh insights and there’s also fresh windows being opened into how the Christian faith can be expressed’,”… Read More →
If we accept that an educated public is key to keeping tyranny at bay, then what do we need to do to break through the armour some people have encased themselves in?
Taking over the reigns of the Fortitude Valley State School P&C only a couple of months ago, Anthony Holcroft has been thrust into the role of helping lead a community campaign to stop the possible closure of the school.
What’s the best way to address social problems? It’s a question that has vexed people for years, but a group of passionate Brisbanites think they have got it worked out.
More than 500 motorbike riders turned out on Sunday in a massive display of support for the annual Black Dog Ride.