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Young boy shares how he overcame the daily terror of dealing with a violent and abusive father.

Since Kobe Bennett, 12, was a toddler his violent father made his life a misery through vicious assaults and verbal abuse from one day to the next, News.com.au reports.

When he was just three years of age his father threw him against a wall.

‘He hit me and my siblings, and made me feel like crap. ‘He yelled at me and bashed me. I remember it, but I just don’t like to tell people,’ the 12-year-old Tasmanian said.

‘To be honest, I thought about stabbing him and I used to practise,’ Kobe said.

Kobe would practise self defence by stabbing a teddy bear “with a very sharp knife” in case he needed to fight off his father, or so that he could protect his mother, Maree.

‘When my dad hurt my mum, my heart felt like popping. If you don’t tell someone and get rid of your dad when he hurts your mum, your mum will be in a coffin and your dad will be off hurting someone else.’

Following the violence that he and his three older brothers had to endure, to help him and others in the same situation cope with it all, he wrote the book The Only House in the Desert.

In it he shares his thoughts on family violence, describing it in the audio book of the publication as ‘like Alice in Wonderland only it’s like a desert and your house is the only one left in the middle of it’.

He wanted the book to give a voice to children who have suffered in the same way as he and his brothers have, and a way of processing what they’ve had to experience.

“I wrote this book because I wanted to help other kids like me,” the now 12-year-old says in the book.

“When you’re little, you are stuck and you can’t go anywhere by yourself.

“Family violence houses are like prisons for little kids. Adults need to listen up and stop doing family violence they need to go and get some help.”

It details the sickening fear he had of his abusive father, and advises other children how they can protect themselves if they are in the same brutal circumstances.

Kobe’s literary work was also given the seal of approval in January when received a Human Rights of Tasmania award for his efforts.

He was given the award for ‘taking action to ensure the promotion, protection and fulfillment of human rights’.

Read the full story here. 

A very brave young boy!

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Image via news.com.au 

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  • Well done Kobe. I’m sure this book will be a great inspiration others old enough to speak out and seek help. A friend of mine “rescued” a teenage girl he found sleeping in his car and being suspicious that his car was being broken into over night a few times. Together with a woman they took her to the Police, who then took her to hospital as she had bad bruises made by bigger hands than her own. On talking to her they found out her Dad was also sexually abusing her and that’s why she was running away, breaking into and sleeping in the car some nights in a country town. The medical staff obtained all the evidence they needed via examinations and tests. The Dad was charged & gaoled and the girl placed in foster care in the city. She was able to go to school every day without being embarrassed about bruises she wore long clothes in hot weather to cover. Apparently she went on to do very well at school. The people who rescued and took her to the Police saw her a few moths later, or putting ity correctly she spotted them and ran across the road through the traffic. Her foster parents were petrified she would be hit by a car, even more when they realised she had run across to meet a man. He had to explain who he was in a hurry as you can imagine. They gave him their phone number and he contacted them a couple of times to make sure he was OK., then told them he was glad she was Ok and said he wouldn’t contact them any more in case the girl was home and answered the phone. A relative lived in a nearby suburb so he took a different route every time he went to visit her after that.
    I hope Kobe trains and becomes a counseller. I reckon he would be an excellent one.

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  • A very brave and inspirational boy. I am so saddened that he was exposed to such violence from someone who should have protected him, not harmed him.

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  • No child or adult for that matter should have to suffer through violence. Kobe, you are a very courageous young man. Congratulations on your achievement. I bet your mum is very proud of you. I hope your life is so much better now

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  • Noone should have to endure such abuse. What an inspiring young man.

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  • What an amazing young man. I know from my husband his memories of living with an abusive father and his need (as the 2nd son) to protect his Mum and the rest of the family. It still breaks my heart when he re-tells these stories. No child should ever have to live that way.

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  • A very brave young man & excellent job on the book. Keep speaking out.

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  • Sorry to hear you had to go through this Kobe !!
    What a brave boy you are, to bring your experiences into words and out in the open. I hope your book will be helpful to other kids who go through the same and to those who’re reaching out to help.

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  • You have done an amazing job in bringing out into the open what your family went through. Do hope that all those working to end violence in families read your book and use it as a valuable learning tool for others.

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  • Such a brave boy but so so sad that he had to take those measures against the people who should be protecting and caring for him.

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  • Kobe your strength and determination to let people hear your voice regarding this very difficult topic that needs a lot of attention. I have no doubt you will grow into a wonderful young man who will treat his own family with so much love. I hope you, your mum and your siblings have the strength to continue as a wonderful family. Take care

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  • I am sorry you had to grow up so fast but your bravery is inspirational. Well done mate, I hope your life has improved a million now!

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  • Wow, really hits home how domestic violence affects the kids. That feeling of being trapped, in a dessert where your house is the only one in existence. So sad. So grave for speaking out

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  • An amazing young man,good on you!

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