MOUNT Gambier City Hall fell silent on Tuesday night as the inspiring and courageous Glyn Scott shared her tragic domestic violence story with the community.
Recently launching her book “Hope was all I had: A Journey of Tragedy and Triumph”, the brave Mount Barker resident brought tears to the eyes of many as she recounted some of the brutal beatings she endured.
Thrown into a life of mistreatment from the beginning, Glyn was sold by her mother, who extorted money from the women who bought her for the first two and a half years of her life.
She lived in an orphanage and was taken into the foster care system, where she was locked in a cellar for three years, left feeling cold, alone and unloved.
Growing up, she endured many terrible and sickening forms of physical and sexual abuse from men that she initially saw as friends and people she could trust.
Finding the strength within her, she fought her way through the pain and fear and is now helping others to do the same through her book and foundation.
Mount Gambier Library community engagement coordinator Kristi Leamey said the book will certainly change lives of both those who have and have not gone through domestic violence.
“Having read the book, it does read like a motion picture, you couldn’t imagine anyone having endured what she has gone through and she is just unfortunately one of many,” she said.
“It isn’t an easy ready, it details her brutal life and her fight for justice – it is a story that needs to be shared to give others hope and perhaps in my case a bloody kick up the bum to realise how lucky I am – it has certainly changed me as a person who isn’t a victim of domestic violence, it is making me look a little differently on life.”
Starting her foundation a couple of years ago, Glyn said she wanted to use her knowledge and experiences to help other women going through domestic violence.
“I decided that I had to do something worthwhile because not only did my baby boy get murdered, but because by eldest son was so traumatised and depressed from the sexual and physical abuse from his father, he took his own life,” she said.
“So in honour of my two boys and my daughter I started my foundation Love, Hope and Gratitude – for me it is about honouring their lives and being able to do something worthwhile for other people and give them strength and hope to be able to get through domestic violence and child abuse.”
Glyn currently has over 100 clients that she helps through telephone counselling and assists women and children who are living on the street, helping to find accommodation for them wherever she can.
“I also have plans to lobby the government to build more rehab centres – one of the biggest things that escalates domestic violence is drugs and alcohol – without rehab centres, how do these people get well and stop taking drugs?” she said.
“I deal with people on a daily basis who are suffering from partners who are drug addicts – the severe injuries that these women have because of that is soul destroying and it affects their children so badly.”
Committed to helping others through the foundation, Glyn said she hopes that the legacy will be continued on when she passes away.
“In all my days from here on after I will be working to save as many people and to support as many people as I possibly can because with that support and awareness that I hope I can create I think my job is going to be done,” she said.
Speaking at Mount Gambier City Hall on behalf of the Limestone Coast Domestic Violence Service and the Limestone Coast Family Violence Action Group, case manger Nik Tilley said everyone can help to stop domestic violence from occurring.
“It’s everybody’s responsibility to challenge the stereotypes, call out sexist attitudes, speak out if you hear excuses for violence, spread the word that violence is never an option nor a solution, acknowledge and respect women and children and everybody in the community,” she said.
“Although progress has been made, ending violence against women and children is far from today’s reality.”
If you require assistance contact the Domestic Violence Gateway on 1800 800 098 or 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732.
In an emergency dial 000.
