EDITOR’S LETTER
When my phone pinged with news that a girl from Tassie had been named Australian of the Year, I was instantly intrigued. Who was this fearless 26-yearold who’d fought tirelessly to reclaim her voice and rewrite the law? It quickly became clear Grace Tame was no ordinary activist. A survivor of child sexual abuse, she’d fast become a beacon of hope by inspiring others to tell their stories. Grace’s impassioned acceptance speech captured the nation, but little did we know she was also igniting a revolution. After seeing her on stage, Brittany Higgins came forward with allegations she was raped in Parliament House, Chanel Contos launched a poll in which thousands of schoolgirls told of being sexually assaulted by boys, and friends of a former star debater (known only as Kate) aired claims she was raped by a senior MP in 1989. Even as I write this, more revelations are emerging about outlandish sexism and lewd behaviour in Parliament, forcing the PM to reshuffle his Cabinet to include more women. In short, Grace’s message has gone right to the heart of the nation, and we’re witnessing a long-overdue reckoning.
When I asked Grace at our recent International Women’s Day breakfast how it felt to instigate a revolution, she humbly rejected the notion, instead describing herself as a “tiny domino” who’s helped tip others into action. Not so tiny, I say. As with other young global activists – think Greta Thunberg and Malala Yousafzai – Grace is a true change-maker. The power of her compassion and convictions goes beyond measure, which is why we’re proud to have her helm our May cover.
In the weeks since being catapulted into the spotlight, Grace has become a rock star in the best possible way. Her schedule is packed with speaker events, her inbox teeming with grateful messages, and at the time of writing, she’s having her portrait painted for the Archibald Prize. Yet despite her newfound fame, Grace is adamant she’s only here as a representative for her community: all survivors of sexual abuse. When she tells me on our Sydney shoot, “I won’t stop till I see the end of child sexual assault; it’s as simple as that,” I know she means it. I hope her story on page 62 inspires you to be your own tiny domino; to stand up, speak out and spark change. In the words of Grace, “Every voice matters.”