‘‘Hear me NOW”

Her courageous journey has already raised awareness of child sexual abuse and achieved greater justice for survivors. Now she has a platform like no other. Samantha Trenoweth sits down for a one-on-one with Grace Tame, the Australian of the Year.

- Samantha Trenoweth

At 15-years-old, Grace Tame was insidiously groomed, stalked and sexually assaulted by her 58-year-old maths teacher. He thought she’d be silent, but hadn’t counted on Grace’s resilience, her sense of justice, her fighting spirit. At 16 Grace found the courage to report Nicolaas Bester to the police, after which he was convicted and imprisoned. At 22, she campaigned against an archaic law that allowed her abuser to speak publicly while she was forbidden from using her name to tell her story. Grace has helped to change laws, spread understanding, and has given strength and hope to other survivors of abuse. Now, at 26, she is Australian of the Year. “Well, hear me now,” she said as she received her award, “using my voice amongst a growing chorus of voices that will not be silenced.”

What was life like, growing up in suburban Tasmania? As a kid, I was full of love, life and energy. I was an active kid. I played sport – soccer, I loved to run, to hang out with my cousins and friends, and spend time outdoors. I was a tomboy, always climbing trees and falling out of them. Most of my friends were boys. I was the only girl on the soccer team. I was very enthusiastic. I loved school, I loved to have a laugh. I threw myself at everything and gave 110 per cent.

How did life change when you went to high school? I’d never given much thought to image or size or anything like that. Then I went to an all-girls’ school and it was a different environment, different values. Unfortunately, there’s a lot more focus for women on how they look and I’d never previously given much thought to that. I’d always just been this happy-go-lucky, goofy kid …