“Hear me NOW”

At 15-years-old, Grace Tame was insidiously groomed, stalked and sexually assaulted by her 58-year-old maths teacher. He thought she’d be silent, but hadn’t counted on Grace’s resilience, her sense of justice, her fighting spirit. At 16 Grace found the courage to report Nicolaas Bester to the police, after which he was convicted and imprisoned. At 22, she campaigned against an archaic law that allowed her abuser to speak publicly while she was forbidden from using her name to tell her story. Grace has helped to change laws, spread understanding, and has given strength and hope to other survivors of abuse. Now, at 26, she is Australian of the Year. “Well, hear me now,” she said as she received her award, “using my voice amongst a growing chorus of voices that will not be silenced.”

As a kid, I was full of love, life and energy. I was an active kid. I played sport – soccer, I loved to run, to hang out with my cousins and friends, and spend time outdoors. I was a tomboy,