We see people in the media and we have a tendency to think they have perfect lives: when we see them they always look perfect: perfect make-up, perfect hair, perfect clothes, perfect shoes. We imagine them having perfect homes and perfect cars and perfect everything else. Sometimes we envy them – all those glossy magazines wouldn’t have a market if that wasn’t the case.
Sometimes we discover they suffer just like the rest of us and then we realise they are just like the rest of us.
I was hit with just such a realisation yesterday when I was pointed in the direction of a very special website in memory of Gary Doran. Gary was an artist and he was illustrating a book; a book being written by his sister. The artwork is stunning and I am told the originals are so much better.
Gary also drew this.
Artwork
I reproduce here a loving sister’s description:
Description: The angel is welcoming the little boy to heaven and he is safe (actually Gary told me he was the little boy in the picture). Below chasing the little boy is a Demon (Gary told me that represented a Catholic Priest) behind the Demon is a Castle (Gary told me that represented the Catholic Church). As shocking as this is I tell the story only to help prevent more of this happening.
The beauty of Gary’s artwork, his wonderful illustrations for his sister’s words, show great talent. What could this young man have achieved had he lived a full life? Gary took his life on November 2, 1998 (aged 34).
Debbie Carr is Gary’s sister. Debbie has developed the website in honour of her brother and it is dedicated to “all those with depression and to those who have lost loved ones to suicide and to those who suffered Child Abuse as a result of the Catholic Church“.
Please visit Gary’s website. I know you will enjoy his artwork. Gary’s life was too short and his death too soon.
Further Reading:
The Australian Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse is underway. The Victorian Inquiry into the Handling of Child Abuse by Religious and Other Organisations is still in progress. We have heard some terrible history given in evidence and Chrissie Foster has written Hell on the Way to Heaven about her daughters’ suffering.
Random Observations of Life 
Thanks Robin, for showing us such a Beautiful drawing. Another person and family who the church have allowed to be so hurt and suffer in mind, body and spirit. Shame on the church and those invoved, for not allowing young people to fulfil their lives because of such abuse.
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Thanks Maureen. I felt this artist’s work showed the problems in a way that people could relate to.
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You metioned: Chrissie Foster has written Hell on the Way to Heaven about her daughters’ suffering. I looked this up and found some references to what Chrissie writes about her experiences with Cardinal Pell. He truly didn’t seem to have been very good as spokesman on matters concerning abuse.
” . . . . Shortly afterwards the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference appointed a Truth, Justice and Healing Council to liaise with the royal commission, removing the need for Cardinal Pell to act as spokesman on matters concerning abuse.
Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/the-man-in-the-big-chair-20130526-2n50u.html#ixzz2Y8QXepmZ”
I noticed a like button by Matthew Wright on this page and looked him up. I found out he is a historian and successful writer. I am always interested in what sort of novels historians come up with.
Thank you, Robyn, for another very informative blog!
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Glad you found it informative Uta. Yes, Matthew is a great New Zealand writer!
Cardinal Pell I do not have much time for at all. I want to get Chrissie’s book, and will do so after I have finished the couple I am reading now.
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