A Beautiful Boy: Ray's Story

Would you know if your child was being groomed by a paedophile?This is a true story. Here is a life that exemplifies the need for the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. Yet Ray, the man, is not completely broken and is a tireless advocate for men abused as children. How did such strength come out of such a dreadful childhood? Born into poverty and violence Ray is forced to beg for food on the streets of inner Sydney. Sent to a children’s home at Kincumber when he is caught stealing, he learns more about abuse and violence. When he is expelled for bad behaviour he returns to his parents and is assigned a social worker to help and guide him as a Ward of the State. The dark world his social worker takes him into, Sydney, Wollongong and Hunter Valley paedophile rings, is a trap for a boy without a proper home or schooling. He inhabits a world that no child should ever enter. He knows Frank Arkell, Robert Dolly Dunn and many high profile men in society who do not use their real names when they rent boys. It took years for Ray to escape this life and to become who he really wanted to be – a married man with kids and a regular job and happiness he could only dream of once. But then he is subpoenaed to the Royal Commission into NSW Police Corruption because he knows so much. Will Ray's search for justice break him? Will his courage and determination crumble away?

Ray is a committed advocate, through Journey Home, for men who were abused as children.

He had little formal education and is very determined that his story be told as a warning to anyone who works or lives with victims.

He would not allow his lack of education to get in the way of his story being told. So, here it is, written with the help of Kate Shayler.

They both hope that the book will educate, illuminate and be an incentive for change in our society.