Norton and Osborn
Content Warning: These stories are about violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation and may include references to suicide or self-harming behaviours. They may contain graphic descriptions and strong language and may be distressing. Some narratives may be about First Nations people who have passed away. If you need support, please see Contact & support.
When Norton and Osborn were young boys their mum left home. It was the late 1960s. Their dad tried to look after them for a bit but couldn’t manage and they briefly went to live with some other people.
Norton told the Royal Commission this didn’t work out and after a short while they were sent to a residential home for children with intellectual disabilities.
Norton remembers sleeping in a big room with lots of beds. One of the supervisors would repeatedly slap Osborn across the head. She slapped other children too but never hit Norton. ‘Because I made sure she didn’t, I stayed away,’ he said.
One time the supervisor kept slapping Osborn. Norton tried to protect him, but other staff stopped him. Osborn tried to protect himself – he grabbed a knife. Norton said, ‘He didn’t cut anyone and he didn’t get cut.’
But an ambulance came and took Osborn away. He was in hospital for four or five months and never returned to the home. Osborn was sent to live in a different home for children who had behavioural issues.
Norton only ever saw Osborn at school after this incident.
‘When my dad found out he was wild, but he couldn’t do anything about it.’
Now, Norton sees Osborn every day.
‘They shouldn’t have hit kids, they should have treated my brother nice and not sent him away. We should have been looked after and kept safe.’
Disclaimer: This is the story of a person who shared their personal experience with the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability through a submission or private session. The names in this story are pseudonyms. The person who shared this experience was not a witness and their account is not evidence. They did not take an oath or affirmation before providing the story. Nothing in this story constitutes a finding of the Royal Commission. Any views expressed are those of the person who shared their experience, not of the Royal Commission.