The real-life cult behind Cate’s starring role
The actress’ turn in a controversial new miniseries has everyone talking and placed the spotlight on a secretive Australian sect and its founders
While Cate Blanchett’s star power brings a giant helping of Hollywood glamour to Netflix’s new drama Stateless, a chillingly dark true story lies beneath the show’s glittery facade.
Cate, who co-created the series, and British actor Dominic West play Pat and Gordon Masters, who run a “spiritual healing group” called GOPA. The characters are based on Jan Hamilton and her partner Ken Dyers, who founded Kenja Communication in Melbourne in 1982.
Through counselling sessions, Ken and Jan, who was 27 years his junior, promised their members a heightened relationship with “the spiritual nature of man”.
However, it has been alleged that Ken was abusing members, some as young as 12, under the guise he was “cleansing” them.
Jan claims Kenja has faced decades of persecution by those who want to bring them down.
Since the show’s release, many former members have bravely come forward to open up about what they allegedly endured during their time at Kenja.
Alison Pels, who was born into the sect, says she was abused every week from the age of 12. “I was born and grew up in Kenja. I always knew something wasn’t right,” she says. “Ken was an elderly man with bad breath and broken capillaries all over his face.”
Alison claims that a lot of people knew Ken was abusing her, with some of them “literally in the room” at the time.
“I remember it with absolute disgust,” she says. “I used to vacate my whole body and brain when I was being abused.”
She says Ken always tried to make his victims instigate the abuse as he wanted to think that they wanted it – and encouraged members to reveal their darkest secrets so he could blackmail them if they dared to leave.
When Alison turned 18, she told her father Michael about what Ken was doing to her.
Horrified, Michael – who had spent more than 25 years with the group and had even given Kenja $430,000 – fled with Alison and her two siblings in 2006. However, his wife chose to stay.
Opening up about his daughter’s horrific ordeal, Michael says Ken would get away with the abuse as he claimed it was all part of his ‘therapy’.
“He was trying to clear ‘degradation’ and ‘attached spirits’ from people. That’s how he explained it to the girls he
abused,” Michael tells. “Looking back, I have a feeling of betrayal. I thought it was an organisation doing good in the world.”
Now 33 and living in New York, Alison is determined to put her experiences at Kenja behind her, but the memories still haunt her. “Kenja stole my childhood and my teenage years. But they don’t have any more control over me,” she says.
THE CORNELIA RAU CASE
The six-part miniseries focuses on Sofie Werner, whose character is inspired by German-born, Australian flight attendant Cornelia Rau.
In 2005, she received widespread attention when she was unlawfully detained at an immigration centre for 10 months after being mistaken for an illegal immigrant.
Cornelia was diagnosed with schizophrenia, and her family are adamant that her time spent with Kenja, before her detainment, contributed to her fragile state.
Jan has fiercely denied any wrongdoing, releasing a statement at the time saying the sect had nothing to do with Cornelia’s condition.
‘Kenja stole my childhood and my teenage years’
“We are not a cult. It’s a witch-hunt,” she said.
Kenja have strongly denied any sexual assault occurred at the organisation, saying “people that were hostile to Kenja made false allegations” over the years.
Ken killed himself in 2007, aged 85, as he was set to face 22 counts relating to sexual assault of two underage girls.
Kenja still operates in Australia. According to its website, Jan, now 72, still works for the group in a consulting role.
He’s been resting for the past 11 years, but Humphrey B Bear is set to return to the limelight with a new show, which will endear our furry friend with the big smile and the trademark tartan waistcoat to a new legion of young fans around the world.
“Fifty-five years on, Humphrey still holds a special place in the hearts of generations of Australians,” says Kris Maric, co-founder of Humphrey
B Bear Entertainment.
“Humphrey has a heartwarming ability to connect with audiences of literally all ages, and from all walks of life, including those with special or diverse needs.”
With his hat, tie and waistcoat – but no pants – the friendly silent grizzly has been entertaining, educating and delighting the young and the young at heart as the star of Here’s Humphrey since 1965.
Brightening up the mornings for generations of Aussie kids, Kris says it’s the lovable bear’s taste for fun, learning and adventure that makes him a hit with audiences of all ages.
The new show, which will be called Here’s Humphrey TV, will include live shows with funny and compelling stories, fantastic visuals, catchy singalong music, apps, e-books and, of course, dancing.
It’s sure to bring a smile to new and old fans of the big brown bear after an all-too-long absence from our TV screens.
NEW DIMENSION
“The new TV show will be an evolution of the Humphrey experience involving the use of exciting 3D virtual sets and technologies,” says Kris, who is also the CEO of Fika Entertainment, the virtual production studio working on the project. “For the older generations, there is a desire
to pass the Humphrey magic they loved and embraced down to their kids and their grandkids.”
‘Humphrey loves being a friend to everyone’
“For the newer audiences, Humphrey’s core messaging of being entertaining, curious and kind, still rings true today, if not more than ever.”
And while he may be a bear of few words, it’s his actions that speak volumes, sharing smiles, hugs and kindness for more than 50 years as an “Ambassabear” for many charities, including the RSPCA Celebrity & Pet Showcase, World Vision’s Bears on Stairs and Rotary’s Malaria Vaccine Project with Griffith University. He is also a regular at the Good Friday Appeal.
“Humphrey loves being involved with communities, supporting charities and philanthropic endeavours,” says Kris.
“Humphrey loves being a friend to everyone, and everyone is his friend.”
The beloved bear, who calls Adelaide his forever home, celebrated his milestone 55th birthday with a virtual dance party in his famous Tree House, grooving the night away with all his forest friends.
And with his show just around the corner, the bear with best friends everywhere is ready to put big, broad smiles on the faces of a whole new generation.