Gloriavale leavers’ trust launched
The Timaru launch of the Gloriavale Leavers’ Support Trust has been described as an eyeopening event with leavers sharing ‘‘heart-wrenching’’ stories.
The support trust was officially launched this week at the Caroline Bay Hall with more than 200 attendees shown an insight into what life is like in the 600-strong reclusive, religious West Coast community with former residents sharing their stories.
The trust aims to help support those who leave the community, providing financial aid, as well as a link to other agencies. Ticket sales and an auction on the night raised more than $5000 for the trust, while a GiveaLittle page set up about four months ago has also raised $25,506.
Trust manager and support worker Liz Gregory said the event was an ‘‘eye-opener’’ for the ‘‘captivated’’ attendees, who were ‘‘very generous’’ when the auction rolled around.
Joy Courage, of Geraldine, was among those the crowd applauded for sharing their experiences of living within Gloriavale.
Courage drew laughter from the crowd with the opening line to her story: ‘‘I left because my husband was a rebel.’’
Her husband’s refusal to follow restrictions saw him kicked out of the community. She debated whether or not to stay without him, then decided to go.
But just six months later, under ‘‘constant pressure’’ from her husband’s parents, she loaded her children into a car and drove under cover of night to Ashburton – where Gloriavale members were waiting to take her back to the West Coast.
‘‘I felt shame and guilt for betraying my husband. The more they told me I was doing the right thing, the more I knew I was doing the wrong thing.’’
Courage eventually decided she could not bear another day at the compound, and enlisted the help of Bronwyn Kempf – a member of the newly-launched support trust – to escape during a celebration that people outside Gloriavale could apply to attend.
Waimate district councillor Tom O’Connor, who attended the event to hear first-hand accounts of life inside the community, said he had ‘‘great admiration’’ for those who spoke at the event.
‘‘There was a great amount of courage involved. What struck me is there was understandable anger there, but I never got a hint of hatred. I don’t think I could be that contained,’’ O’Connor said.
‘‘I woke up angry this [Friday] morning and that’s not good. We shouldn’t have these types of things in New Zealand.’’
O’Connor had been ‘‘concerned about Gloriavale for a number of years’’. ‘‘I’ve known people to come out of there from when they were still called Cooperites,’’ he said.
‘‘It’s a very cruel and tragic story of manipulation and thought control and the very worst of fundamental Christianity.’’
He ‘‘absolutely admired’’ those behind the trust and hoped its launch would raise awareness of the issues faced by those within that community.
Courage and her sister, fellow leaver Rosanna Overcomer, of Fairlie, donated three girls’ dresses they had sewed to the auction, and had many other pieces of children’s clothing for sale on the night.
Overcomer, who was also on the panel, told Stuff the sisters enjoyed sewing clothes because it took a skill they learned in Gloriavale and allowed them to ‘‘be more creative with it’’. ‘‘We’ve also been able to give back to people who helped us when we needed it.’’
Overcomer and her family were one of the first to settle in Timaru more than six years ago. They met another leaver and reluctantly agreed to go to church, where they were introduced to a supportive community.
‘‘When we left [Gloriavale] we didn’t even want to go to church. But they really took us in and that’s what we really needed at the time,’’ she said.