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Meet Lana

Hello, I’m Lana Smith and I’m 34.

I grew up in Tasmania in a large family; we aren’t close now and I miss my mum a lot. I can’t go back because of the trouble I caused when I told her what my uncle did to me.

I don’t think she wants to see me again.

I never did well in school – I was always in trouble for wagging and giving cheek. I got out as soon as I could.

When I was 15, I got involved with a fella called Joe and got pregnant. We moved to Queensland so he could get a job, but that didn’t last long.

He was no good, but we ended up having four kids together; I could handle him hitting and abusing me, but when he started on my babies, I fought back. I wasn’t going to let anyone hurt my kids the way my uncle hurt me.