Defender of children farewelled
ANTHONY Foster, a man who tirelessly spoke up for those with no voice and who comforted countless families in pain, has been farewelled at an emotional state funeral.
Mr Foster, 64, was remembered as a passionate and committed advocate for victims of child sexual abuse.
All who paid tribute to Mr Foster at his funeral at the Melbourne Recital Centre spoke of the powerful voice he and wife Christie developed as they fought for justice for survivors, including their own daughters, Emma and Katie, who were childhood victims of prolific pedophile Catholic priest Father Kevin O’Donnell.
Sadly, daughter Emma died of suicide aged 26 and Katie was disabled after being hit by a drunk driver in 1999.
Mr and Mrs Foster were instrumental in bringing about the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse and their work to expose abuse in the church led to the Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into the Handling of Child Abuse by Religious and Other Organisations.
Mr Foster died on May 26 after a fall.
Premier Daniel Andrews said Mr and Mrs Foster had always showed integrity, strength, grace and extraordinary courage.
They had placed their own unimaginable tragedy behind them to fight for others to be listened to and believed.
“Remarkably, despite everything they endured themselves, they dedicated their lives to other victims,” Mr Andrews said.
The Fosters fought for every child and every family that been broken by “perpetrators and their defenders” who continued to deny and hide the truth.
“Anthony and Chrissie shone a powerful light on one of our darkest chapters,” Mr Andrews said.
Child abuse Royal Commission chairman Justice Peter McClellan told about 700 mourners that Mr Foster’s legacy could already be seen in the changes institutions were making to protect children from abuse and to respond to those who had suffered abuse in the past.
The Fosters attended Royal Commission hearings to support victims, and Justice McClellan often observed Mr Foster offer comfort to others as evidence became difficult to hear or give.