Lesley Pearse Interview

Just released is Lesley Pearse's latest book 'Trust Me' which is sure to stir up a hornets nest. Which one? 'You know', the one that is becoming 'all too' common the one behind those ever so carefully guarded cathedral doors, of the Church

As Lesley and I are seated for coffee and settle in for what promises to be engrossing conversation in the dining room of her Melbourne hotel, the Windsor. I can't help but be a little in awe of her presence. Perhaps because I discovered that 'Trust Me' is no ordinary book. It tells of a child's worst nightmare coming true and follows stories and events, which simply 'had' to be told to the public. In fact Lesley's interpretation of the trials and rare tribulations of those forgotten orphans, have been etched in my mind long since I turned that last page.......

Today, here we sit on a beautiful morning, the sun steaming through gold leaf, lined frosted glass, surrounded by opulence, as people near by chatter peacefully in the rich confines of this grand hotel. Boy must there have been times in Lesley's life where she didn't dare dream, let alone imagine touring around the globe to promote what will surely be another best selling book.

Life for Lesley growing up was grim to say the least, and following the death of her mother at the age of 3, she was then sent to an orphanage, but before long was reclaimed by a nasty stepmother. If this sounds like a bad fairy tale, it was. Even in her teens things didn't lighten up, as she was tormented by having to give up a baby boy for adoption.

There is little doubt Lesley is made of the tough stuff, but you would never know, that is, by her appearance anyway. This morning she looks very feminine in her lilac suit nicely teamed with a pewter colored rosette handbag and matching shoes. She is every bit a lady, a lady, who likes to move on.

These days for Lesley, her past seems like a lifetime ago, and being the positive soul, she is, has turned her hurt around and called on the pain of her past, to tell the world, about the heart wrenching real life scandal, that some thousands of children endured. These orphans were sent to Australia from Britain, as a result of over crowded orphanages and were then stripped of their dignity to suffer horrendous cruelty, deprivation and sexual abuse.

Lesley's eyes have seen much, yet there still, even now remains a softness, that is until the conversation diverts... to the atrocities forced on the orphans, it's then, that Lesley's eyes burn.

Lesley you invited several of the real orphans to share their experiences, in order to gain a true understanding of the where these events occurred; particularly the Sisters of Mercy and Bindoon Orphanages in Western Australia. How did those victims receive your book?

(Thick English accent) "They all think it's absolutely wonderful. One particular character in the book 'Bruce' (based on a real life character) actually saw a lot of the abused men through the court system to gain their compensation."

"He (Bruce) read the manuscript to Trust Meand could not believe how perfectly I had captured the characters. I got all the characteristics of sexually abused men; the inability to see anything from anyone else's point of view and becoming a workaholic and/or alcoholic."

"I spent time going out with two 'Bindooon' boys and they could never really over come 'it', all they know is survival. There were of course some that turned out okay, but not many, the ratio in my book is about 1 out of 3."

Are you religious?

"I was brought up as a Catholic and am a supposed believer in god but I find what they have done in the name of religion absolutely disgusting! I don't go to church anymore, I couldn't. (Looking around) God is in the parks, the gardens and the bush."

Tell us about your own experience in the orphanage. Was it as barbaric as places like Bindoon and Sacred Hearts/Sisters of Mercy in WA?

"Oh no, it was just sort of desolate. My father used to get to see me about once a month. One of the saddest memories I have is when he came to visit me, and all these little girls ran up to him. I couldn't get near him.

"If you were given anything, like a coloring book or toy it was snatched by someone else. You had nothing of your own, no identity, whatsoever."

You began your publishing life at 40, what made you suddenly decide to become a writer?

"I 'm an avid reader. The turning point for me came after reading the Thorn Birds. This was the book that really pushed me in to thinking, if only I could write something like that! I was always good at writing people would always say my letters were fun and entertaining. One day I wrote a letter to a magazine and they sent me 25 pounds for the 'star letter of the week', that encouraged me, I then went on and did a 'short stories' writing course. At the time every body else thought I was wasting my time. It was a solitary beginning. Back then I used to own a card and gift shop in Bristol. Between looking after small children and running the business I would come home at night and write, my book Georgia (best seller) came out just as the recession hit in which my business collapsed.

What would you say is your biggest publishing accomplishment?

"I thought that Never Look Back was my sort of Magnus Opus I didn't think I would exceed that, Never Look Back wasn't personal it was an historical story. But Trust Me has a different dimension as I was angry about it, angry at both the British and Australian governments for not monitoring these establishments closely."

"I had actually written half the book before I came here (Australia) for research, but after I came to Australia I abandoned it. I fell in love with this Country, and I hope no one for a minute thinks this is an anti Australian book, cause it's not. The reality is they have been shipping orphans to various places around the world for the last 200 years. They used to send them to Canada, this book happens to be about what went on in Australia at that time and place."

Do you think 'Trust Me' will set off a chain reaction, and have other people coming forward with their stories?

"Well yeah, I think there will be more books, but this has been going on for a long time. I recall one story. There's an organization called 'VOICES' which Bruce chaired in Perth. It was there he met 'Jordy' who wrote 'Children of the Empire' which was an Australian best seller. After Bruce read the manuscript he was totally committed to getting it out. It was a shocking book and the author (Jordy) is a bit of a maggot (laughs) he has bitten the hand that feeds him quite a bit. But Bruce understands about that, he says that's the way they are".

When I told people around me, of the book they were horrified, making it clear they had no idea about these happenings. I'm sure a lot of younger people are going to be both amazed and appalled!

"Well yes an awful lot of people in England don't know about it, and the reactions can vary from those that do, I recall an occasion when I was outraged. I was at a very smart dinner party for friend 25th wedding celebration. There were marquees in the gardens, you know the whole bit. Having just returned from Bindoon I was quite angry, and had been talking about my experience. My friends husband, (the host) who was terribly posh heard me, came and stood by side and said with a huge smirk 'oh don't listen to her this is one of Lesley's little stories.' I wanted to hit him! But I could not as he was the host. This man is a church architect, 'you know' lived in 'cloud cuckoo land' completely out of touch having had an upper class privileged up bringing and never had a hard day in his life."

"You know my passion for this book has just never gone away and when I finished the book I did have a bit of a breakdown, I couldn't get rid of those images of the children from my head."

Lesley Pearse is a mother of three and an acclaimed author who lives in Bristol England. She has written 8 best sellers which include Gerogia, Tara, Charity, Ellie, Camellia, Rosie, Charlie and Never Look Back.

"The contents of this book will shock and bring shame to both the Australia and British governments who were ultimately responsible for turning a convenient, 'blind eye'. An absolute must read, the least we can give back to these children the acknowledgement that this happened."