Tweet fixado
When I was 18 years old I enlisted in the Australian Army
It was Remembrance Day 1986
Over Christmas leave I was raped, I couldn’t prove it because I had been drunk and passed out when I woke up to a monster raping me. I kicked him off me, but not before he got me pregnant.
I returned to basic training in Wagga Wagga NSW
January 1987
A drunk corporal entered our building and hopped into bed with one of our female recruits he had been drinking with earlier at the boozer
The girls in the room helped her and got him out of the room
Many people at Kapooka knew this happened and didn’t want it reported
I became scared, I had been raped the week before and hadn’t told anyone
I wanted to report the corporal for what he did
We had a vote and I lost
I was told if I reported it, I would be bashed during the night
I took an overdose of pain pills and was rushed to the hospital
I was going to tell them what happened but before I could
I was told I would be charged for attempted suicide
I received no help
I spoke to the psychiatrist and masked my anxiety
He sent me back to the platoon
Two weeks later I found out I was pregnant
I was told I could have an abortion and redo training, they would pay for it
I was told I could go home with no pay and have the baby and leave it with my family so I could come back and do the training again
I knew I couldn’t do that, my mother was mentally unwell and would have kept my baby
I chose to keep her
English
