Tiny Tott

Teddy's name: Tiny Tott

Age when sexually assaulted: 7

Who assaulted Teddy: Primary School Teacher

Town or State where the assault happened: Victoria

Teddy's message to the world:

I may have been little but now I have a big voice. Child abuse needs to stop! Kids deserve to be kids! They deserve to be safe!!!!!!!

Getting Stronger

Teddy's name: Getting Stronger

Age when sexually assaulted: 6 to 13

Who assaulted Teddy: Father, uncle, brother, god father

Town or State where the assault happened: wurtulla queensland

Teddy's message to the world:

I'm getting stronger with what happen to me in the past
and will survive and get through it all
I am strong
I have courage
I have broken the silence

Charlie

Teddy's name: Charlie

Age when sexually assaulted: 8-13

Who assaulted Teddy: Dad

Town or State where the assault happened: Victoria

Teddy's message to the world:

Sexual assault is never ok ! Under no circumstances should it be seen as acceptable. It is an abuse of power, whereby someone has no choice but to conform to the abusers demands in order to come out the other side. Never let an abuser tell you that it is your fault, because this is impossible. These people who i call "monsters" make conscious decisions to inflict pain. They pre-plan when and where to assault the victim. They are smarter than we think.... because they have everyone else fooled. No matter how guilty you feel inside, know inside of your heart that you were the least to blame... because i can assure you this is something that i battle with on a daily basis. I try and tell myself this as often as I can. And in writing this, I can see that in reality i know i couldn't have done anything to prevent it, so I am content with this for the time being. Stay strong. No matter how hard it gets.... trust me 'you are a worthy person who should never have been taken advantage of'. You have so much to offer in this world.... and one day you will smile again!

Brown Bear

Teddy's name: Brown Bear

Age when sexually assaulted: 8-24

Who assaulted Teddy: Brother, Father, Foster Father and his mates

Town or State where the assault happened: WA

Teddy's message to the world:

Please Teddy's do not give up. I love you, even though we do not know each other. The silence embraces their filth. Shout loud and let the shame we have carried be there's to burden. When we meet I will hug you and you will know you are not alone.

Rani

Teddy's name: Rani

Age when sexually assaulted: 7-13

Who assaulted Teddy: Father Uncle Grandfather

Town or State where the assault happened: Melbourne

Teddy's message to the world:

One day you realise it was a long time ago.... One day you can see through some fog and get to know you.... One day I called CASA ... One day I found my counsellor there ..... Today I feel whole .... Don't give up ... please just don't give up.

Casper

Teddy's name: Casper

Age when sexually assaulted: 4-9

Who assaulted Teddy: uncle

Town or State where the assault happened: victoria

Teddy's message to the world:

Childhood sexual abuse is not ok. It damages the child for their entire lives.

Blanky

Teddy's name: Blanky

Age when sexually assaulted: 4-9

Who assaulted Teddy: Family Friend

Town or State where the assault happened: UK

Teddy's message to the world:

15 yrs later and it still snaps, snaps shut, and engulfs my every thought. Still no real control over any thing or any one, least of all myself. It destroys any love with heavy dark clouds. I ruin it like always. I will be stronger, I will heal someday. I love you baby girl. Don’t forget.

Lisa

Teddy's name: Lisa

Age when sexually assaulted: 7 - 10

Who assaulted Teddy: Wesley - neighbour

Town or State where the assault happened: Cairns

Teddy's message to the world:

You killed that little girl who used to be me. It took me years to stop her screaming in my head and sometimes she still screams. I still can't be in the pitch-black dark, I still can't have anything under the bed in case anything (any monsters like YOU) are hiding there amongst the shadows. I'm sorry, little girl who used to be me. I'm sorry i wasn't strong enough then. I love you so much, little girl who used to be me, just know that I know now it wasn't your (our) fault.

Toby Ted

Teddy's name: Toby Ted

Age when sexually assaulted: 10 to 14

Who assaulted Teddy: After school care teacher

Town or State where the assault happened: Geelong, Victoria

Teddy's message to the world:

Boys get abused, too. It is so hard to tell, but if you don't you let the perpetrators keep on abusing.
Parents, talk to your kids about sexual assault. Adults, talk to each other.

Am I Your Teddy?

Thanks to the generosity of people in the Sunshine Coast community, we now have a whole family of Teddies just waiting to be given a tag so that they can officially join the Tour.

The purpose of the Teddy Tour is to end the silence surrounding childhood sexual assault. We want to take back the power from perpetrators and bring their dark secrets out into the open. Yes, sexual assault is an unthinkable crime against children, but it is NOT unspeakable. By talking about it we can help to lessen the shame and guilt so often felt by survivors and we can promote an attitude of loud voices and zero tolerance that makes perpetrators think twice before abusing our kids.

This is a great thought, but we cannot make it happen without the courage of survivors who are willing to speak up and add their voices to the collective Teddy Tour Family.

If you are a survivor of childhood sexual assault, please consider submitting a Teddy Tag and helping to end the silence.

Bobby

Teddy's name: Bobby

Age when sexually assaulted: 16

Who assaulted Teddy: Family Friend

Town or State where the assault happened: Victoria

Teddy's message to the world:

I can’t believe it’s been two years since I was abused, it seems like it just happened two weeks ago. Everything still doesn’t seem right, things will never be the same.

Thank you Bobby, for helping me Break My Silence.

Trying to heal

Teddy's name: Trying to heal

Age when sexually assaulted: ? - 11

Who assaulted Teddy: Father

Town or State where the assault happened: NSW

Teddy's message to the world:

It's time for me to stand up and be strong. I couldn't control what happened to me - I was just a child. I've hated myself for too long. I didn't do anything wrong. I just want to look in the mirror and be able to say "I love you" without seeing my father in the reflection. Don't let your body get consumed with anger and hate for the perp - forgiveness means letting go, it frees you. I've forgiven him, but for some reason I feel like I have to let go and forgive myself, but for what? This is a lifelong process. I still have so much work to do - the abuse I suffered changed every part of me for life. Who am I? What wonderful life was planned out for me before the abuse? How different I must have been before it happened, how happy and carefree I must have been. I know none of what I was before it happened. I can't find myself through all the tears and pain. I don't know who I am. I'm lost and alone and trying to heal.

Anita

Teddy's name: Anita

Age when sexually assaulted: 5 till 15

Who assaulted Teddy: My Dad and 2 of my Mothers boyfriends

Town or State where the assault happened: Moline, IL

Teddy's message to the world:

These people took my life a way from me. I was never to have children because of the damage these men cause but by the grace of God I have 2 wonderful boys. I can't stay in a relationship because I don't trust men. I have to take medications so I can function in life. My kids are very good boys but I think they live in fear because I trust no one I have taught them to trust no one. I am 47 years old,And I am fill with rage. I hide out in my home. I feel sick when people look at me. I think they know. But on the up side. I am alive today..

Nicholas

Teddy's name: Nicholas

Age when sexually assaulted: ? till 13

Who assaulted Teddy: Brother

Town or State where the assault happened: Country Victoria

Teddy's message to the world:

Even though it happened over 37 years ago it is sometimes so raw. It does go on to effect other relationships in life. My Marriage relationship. The way you raise your kids, act towards others. How watching my kids grow makes me ache and grieve for what life could have been for ME. If only the Childhood Sexual Abuse had not happened to me.

Tiamo

Teddy's name: Tiamo

Age when sexually assaulted: 11 to 18

Who assaulted Teddy: family friend

Town or State where the assault happened: Melbourne Victoria

Teddy's message to the world:

My abuser killed the person I could have been. I have spent most of my life hating the person I am.
He took my soul and broke my spirit most days I feel like a dead person among the living. I have everything in life I need or could have ever wished for but I do not have life itself. I will not surrender to the darkness I will walk until I find the light.

Kuma

Teddy's name: Kuma

Age when sexually assaulted: 10-11

Who assaulted Teddy: Mothers boyfriend

Town or State where the assault happened: Victoria, Aust

Teddy's message to the world:

No matter what you are told, you are stronger than you think!