Overview

No Defence is the inspirational, heartfelt memoir of Kenny Mcilwain's extraordinary courage to share his long-held secret of suffering repeated sexual abuse while serving as an apprentice in the Royal Australian Navy. Kenny was raised in Warwick, QLD by an alcoholic father who at 18 years of age was jailed for murdering his own father. For many years, he inflicted abuse and terror on young Kenny and his family. A month after his 16th birthday, Kenny escaped his home life by joining the Royal Australian Navy as an engineering apprentice. At HMAS Nirimba in 1971, Kenny found his nirvana and for 18 months life had never been so good. A simple ironing job to earn some extra money, led to him becoming a victim of sexual abuse at the hands of two senior ranked servicemen. For nine long months, he endured unimaginable rapes and violence before attempting suicide to end his nightmare. He was only 18. 57 days in a psychiatric hospital followed. Kenny was officially discharged in December 1973 for being found unfit for service - Below Naval Physical Standards. Despite telling the Navy medical doctor and his own parents of the abuse, no one believed Kenny and so he locked it all away in his personal vault. He kept his dark secret for 38 years, through marriage, career, raising 4 daughters, artistic pursuits and competing in marathons, triathlons, bike races, ultra-triathlons and ultra-marathons. But in 2011, while watching the Australian Defence Force's Skype Sex Scandal unfold on A Current Affair, his vault suddenly exploded. Kenny could no longer keep his toxic secret. He told his family and then he went public. It was time for justice and to fight for a formal apology from the Australian Defence Force. No more cover ups - no more secrets. Despite Kenny's hardships and challenges, he has proven himself to be a remarkable and inspiring man achieving incredible feats as an ultra-endurance athlete. In six years, he swam, ran, walked and cycled, the distance around the world. Riding his mountain bike solo from Darwin to Broome in 2015 was the first of many awe-inspiring adventures. Kenny is one of many who suffered sexual abuse at HMAS Nirimba and one of thousands living today with chronic, Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. His story sheds much needed light on institutionalised sexual abuse, abuse of power and living with PTSD. Positive change can only occur with awareness. It took 38 years. It is time for the world to know. Quite simply - The truth needs to be heard.

Full Product Details

9781922368584

Table of Contents

Reviews

Prologueix Part One: Sins of the Father1 1 I am a Rock3 2 Living with a Madman17 3 Escape23 Part Two: Out of the Fire and into the Volcano31 4 Joining the 'Pussers'33 5 Nirvana40 6 Hell51 7 No Way Out68 8 Enough75 9 No Further Investigation79 10 The Blue Dressing Gown Zone81 11 Vow of Silence89 Part Three: A Brand-New Life99 12 The Vault101 13 Blood's Thicker Than Water112 14 Love Is Stronger Than Blood118 15 Two Safari Suits Please124 16 Gotta Love Pink129 17 Stormy Seas and Switzerland138 18 Promotions and Exercise147 19 Stable Times153 20 Endurance Turns to Ultra162 21 DNF170 Part Four: The Vault Explodes181 22 Skype Sex Scandal183 23 Revelations187 24 The Work Begins197 25 Your Loss212 26 DART215 27 To Give Is To Receive238 28 Time To Go Public241 29 Bravehearts254 30 D2B259 Part Five: David and Goliath279 31 I want Justice!281 32 The Interview That Shocked Australia288 33 The Royal Commission299 34 Over the Edge - St. John of God306 35 Kenny Mcilwain Versus the Commonwealth of Australia320 36 Mediation Day - 17 July330 Part Six: Justice Begets Healing347 37 An End and a Beginning349 38 A New Journey358 Epilogue365 My Book, My Brag, My Daughters367 A final word from Kenny Mac371 A word from the author380 Acknowledgements389 About the Author390

Author Information

Lauren Wilkinson-Barnes was born in Sydney and presently lives in the beautiful Southern Highlands of NSW. She is a primary school teacher and mother of four sons. Lauren is the author of three memoirs - Smashed To Pieces, Piece By Piece and No Defence. Her first two self-published books have sold in eight countries without promotion or marketing. Visit Lauren at www.laurenwilkinsonbarnes.com

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available