http://www.thepunch.com.au/author-bios/kevin-maher/ Kevin is a Newcastle community leader, president of the Macquarie Scorpions Rugby League Club, and a White Ribbon Ambassador. en Copyright 2012 The Punch penberthyd@newsltd.com.au penberthyd@newsltd.com.au Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:49 +0000 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:49 +0000 Politics, opinion, world news, sports news, latest news, views, Barack Obama, Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard, Nathan Rees, Malcolm Turnbull, Peter Garrett, Barnaby Joyce, Australian, federal politics, opinion polls, election, The Punch, thepunch, punch ExpressionEngine 1.6.7 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 15 http://www.thepunch.com.au/images/punch-logo-rss.png http://www.thepunch.com.au/ 144 70 Politics, political opinion, world news, sports news and the latest news and views updated live, daily on The Punch - Australia's best conversation. Search The Punch keywords http://www.thepunch.com.au/search/ http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/no-one-lifted-a-finger-as-dad-raised-his-hand-at-mum/ Growing up in the 1950s and the 1960s I witnessed my mother being brutally beaten and verbally abused and belittled regularly by my father. For over 30 years Mum put up with this abuse and her health deteriorated over that time, so much so that she died in 1983 at the very young age of 49. My father was responsible for her death, I don’t doubt it. I will never get over the fact that during the many occasions Mum was being attacked by my father no one stepped in to help her. Neighbours saw and heard what was happening and did nothing to help her. I remember my brother, my sister or I running next door or across the road for help but there was none. People in the street would not stop and help when she was being abused or hit in public. Family friends would do nothing when they were around and saw the violence. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Kevin Maher) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/no-one-lifted-a-finger-as-dad-raised-his-hand-at-mum/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/no-one-lifted-a-finger-as-dad-raised-his-hand-at-mum/#item7194 Sun, 20 Nov 2011 19:42:41 +0000 Kevin Maher | Author bios | The Punch