Having been disassociated from her Jehovah's Witness family, Kathy spent six transformative months living with her aunt and uncle in Victoria. She describes the stark contrast between the two worlds she traversed, one filled with acceptance and warmth and the other with restriction and isolation. And now her "homecoming" begins as she returns to her birthplace, Alice Springs.
Kathy's narrative is a story of contrasts, of light and darkness. It's about the powerful bonds she formed with her foster family, Sheila and Wayne, who enveloped her in warmth and love, making Matthew Cottage a true homecoming. The support and acceptance she received from her foster family and foster sisters nurtured a sense of belonging that Kathy had yearned for.
Her resilience, combined with the love and support of her foster family, crafted a heartwarming narrative of a young girl who found her place in her invisible village. "Homecoming" is a tale of courage, transformation, and the enduring human spirit, reminding us all that, even in the darkest of times, there is a glimmer of hope and the promise of a better tomorrow.
Quotes
"As I reflect back as an adult, my mother and father in their own way were victims of a ridiculous Jehovah's Witness environment. Their ability to control their spirited 13-year-old was clearly broken." -Kathy Hoolahan
"I am almost certain that this job kept me well and truly busy and out of trouble, but it also provided me with the insight and reflection that my life was really not that bad." -Kathy Hoolahan
Resources:
Raised By an Invisible Village Episode 01: A Child of a Jehovah's Witness Family
Raised By an Invisible Village Episode 02: Like A Tornado
Raised By an Invisible Village Episode 03: The Sound of a Kookaburra
Raised By an Invisible Village Episode 04: The Aftermath Consequences
Raised By an Invisible Village Episode 05: Fireside Dining Room Chat with Aunty Norma and Uncle Dan
WHERE TO FIND KATHY HOOLAHAN
