TARA’S TRUTH
Harvey Norman Women of the Year nominee Natalie Hinton reveals her heartbreaking plans to explain the murder of her daughter, Tara Brown, to her sixyear-old granddaughter.
She said similarities between the pair are already quite striking.
“If she had darker hair, she would be the spitting image, and I see bits of her mum coming out in her personality at the same age, she’s very strong-willed,” she said.
“She gets a little frustrated that she can’t remember so we look at photos and sing songs that her and Tara used to sing together.”
Christmas is a tough time of year for the family, who remember Tara’s enthusiasm for the festive season.
Since the tragedy Natalie has worked tirelessly to raise funds for victims of domestic violence, through the Tara Brown Foundation, which she co-founded in 2016.
This year the organisation has raised $35,000 for women’s refuges and sanctuaries to ensure those people escaping domestic violence have the resources they need.
The DV Connect helpline reported a 300 per cent jump in contact from victims of domestic violence in the months following Tara’s death, with around 400 calls a day from people seeking help.
“These women never reported it or sought help before Tara, so some good has come out of this, it’s made women stand up and get help,” she said.
Natalie is a Gold Coast Women of the Year nominee for her charity work.
The Gold Coast Bulletin’s inaugural Harvey Norman Gold Coast Women of the Year campaign celebrates the city’s leading females.