KAY Danes’ life was changed forever 15 years ago, when she and husband Kerry were subjected to wrongful imprisonment and torture in one of the world’s poorest communist countries.
It was just two days before Christmas in 2000, when the couple, who were living in Laos with their children, were falsely accused of embezzlement and the theft of gems from a sapphire mine.
Kay and Kerry were torn from their young children’s sides at the time of their arrest, with Kay forced to watch as her children were driven away without her.
As the children were forced to return to Australia alone, Kay and her husband were jailed and tortured in an attempt to force them to admit their guilt.
It was almost one year before the couple was released on a presidential pardon, the result of an ongoing campaign by the Australian Ambassador.
Their recovery from the harrowing ordeal was long and hard but as the years have passed, the couple have turned their story into a force for good.
“It’s good to know you go through these hardships and something good will come out of it, that will benefit so many people,” Ms Danes said.
“That’s what I guess has been a great motivator for me. Yes, it was a terrible thing to go through but look at the amazing things that keep happening from it.”
Ms Danes, who received the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2014, will share her story in Jimboomba next month.
“It’s kind of like the never ending story because I keep adding to it,” Ms Danes said.
“It’s only 15 years but it seems like a lifetime has passed since Laos and I’ve been incredibly busy with all my humanitarian work and academic study… that’s basically been my life since the ordeal.”
Over the past decade, the international humanitarian and author has dedicated her life to promoting social justice in some of the world most’s challenging environments across the Middle East, including in Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia and throughout Asia.
She has published several books during that time, in a bid to further educate the western world about the fight for justice overseas.
She said among her proudest achievements was helping to educate Australian soldiers deployed internationally.
“I was part of a defence initiative training documentary that is shown to soldiers who deploy to overseas (conflict zones),” she said.
“A couple of us got together under invitation of the Defence (Department) to assist them with putting together this documentary.
“It’s really a marvelous contribution because you get to tell them how you endured conduct during capture and after capture, so that’s a really great legacy because we come from a defence family.”
Quota International of Jimboomba will host Ms Danes at the Jimboomba Hall from 7pm on Saturday, September 19.
Event organiser and Quotarian Sharon Harland said it would be a thrill and a privilege to have Ms Danes visit.
“She knows of what Quota does and supports Quota,” Ms Harland said.
“Its exiciting to think what it’s going to do locally for her to come here.”
She said proceeds from the event would go towards an international charity of Quota’s choosing.
Tickets are $20 and must be purchased prior to the event.
For more information phone Sharon Harland on 0419 739 499.
