Mission Beautiful Australia {MBA} Magazine MBA Issue 1 March. 2014 | Page 26

Real Life

I

Jan Milne Shares Her Triumph

respect women who are affected by DV.  Did you know that 1 in

several days. My thoughts were what did I do wrong and I mustn’t

3 women are living with physical violence in their own homes

let my dad see this. My biggest thought was my parents have paid for

on a regular basis, and 1 in 5 with sexual abuse. This is NOT

the wedding I cannot pull out now. I remember thinking as I walked

okay. The cost to the community in resources alone consumes

knowing full well that only one person in our family had ever been di-

The most dangerous time in the relationship is when the decision is

vorced and I would feel so much like a failure if this was to happen so I

made to end the relationship and you leave, as then they have nothing

had to give it my best shot. This I did for the next 11 years. You wonder

to loose. Hence we now have at least one death per week in Australia

how does a normal, independent woman go from being very focused

due to family violence. This was no different for me. It takes real cour-

and driven to being totally controlled by a bully. Well it doesn’t hap-

age to leave a relationship like this. Where did it all start, well I was a

pen overnight, it is a gradual thing, which starts with them cutting

young 16 year old girl who had dreams and goals just like anyone else.

you off more and more from your family and friends so that they have

I came from a very loving family where I was the oldest of four chil-

more control of your life. Where you never know what mood they will

dren consisting of 2 girls and 2 boys. I can only remember my parents

come home in or what very minor thing will trigger the violence. Each

having one serious argument and this was a silly one, my dad came

can read more about Jan’s story in their
book PARDON ME! I’m Prospering
wealth Secrets From Everyday
Australians. An inspirational couple
from rags to riches story that will

down the aisle if this doesn’t work out I can always get a divorce,

$14 million of tax payers money yearly throughout Australia.

Don & Jan Milne, You

time the violence happens it becomes more violent and more often. At

home just before Christmas and

the time that this was happening

he had one too many drinks with

to me it was not something that

his work mates, this was a very
rare occasion as my dad didn’t
drink but my mum didn’t take
too kindly to it. There was a war
with words and it was soon over
without any violence or threats.
So you may ask how does someone go from a very loving close

“You wonder how does
a normal, independent
woman go from being
very focused and driven to
being totally controlled by
a bully ”

was talked about. I was totally
ashamed, embarrassed, and very
much alone as I had just lost my
father at the very young age of 41
at the time and I had two young
children. Lets fast-forward 30
years. Today I am very happily
married to my soul mate. We

family to being involved in Do-

own and operate a successful

mestic Violence with absolutely

business where we educate and

no history of it. I was headstrong and met the man who was to become

mentor. We are accomplished authors and public speakers. My life is

my husband through friends. He was everything I could ask for, hand-

so blessed and couldn’t be further from what I call my previous life (or

some, smart, worked hard and 5 years older than myself. We started

should I say night