Napier man Claude Thomas told the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care that he suffered abuse at school for being left-handed which left him deaf in one ear. Photo / Warren Buckland
Napier man Claude Thomas told the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care that he suffered abuse at school for being left-handed which left him deaf in one ear. Photo / Warren Buckland
Left-handed Napier man Claude Thomas' handwriting and penmanship is exemplary.
It's somewhat extraordinary. At Hawke's Bay and Whanganui schools 70 years ago he was beaten repeatedly to try to get him to put his pen in his right hand.
Thomas steadfastly refused.
One assault by a teacher was so severe,Thomas says it has left him deaf in one ear.
The 79-year-old gave evidence as part of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care late last year.
Thomas recalled several traumatic incidents from his time spent at Napier schools, and two in Whanganui, which he said had contributed to feelings of loneliness and led to him leaving school aged 16.
"I remember [this teacher] coming at me like a roaring bull.
"He looked about 10 feet tall and he had a strap over his shoulder."
Claude Thomas says he's waited more than 70 years for the abuse to addressed and fears he won't be around to see the findings of the Commission. Photo / Warren Buckland
He was regularly hit over the hand with a thick ruler and once with a pair of scissors which cut him.
"It's bloody unacceptable. I was punished simply for being left-handed.
"I have good handwriting. There was no reason for them to punish me."
"This teacher came up behind me and smacked me in the ear and bashed my ear drums.
"It just felt like somebody hammed a red hot knitting needle in my ear."
His burst ear drums later grew infected, leaving Thomas deaf in his left ear ever since.
"Loss of hearing is one of the worst handicaps because it cuts you out of the social interaction," he said.
Despite being beaten for being left handed Claude Thomas still writes with his dominant hand and has excellent handwriting. Photo / Warren Buckland
Even today, it keeps him from socialising with those at the Napier Sailing Club of which he is a member, as he struggles to hear in busy spaces and often feels left out.
He said the abuse had also contributed to estranged relationships with his children and two failed marriages.
"It taught me not to trust my instincts.
"That was the worst injury they could have inflicted on me."
Thomas felt there were many others who had suffered "worse" abuse.
He worried many of his age might not live to see the answers they wanted.
An interim report by the Commission was released in December last year.
It said that up to 655,000 children, young people and vulnerable adults were in state and faith-based care during 1950-2019 and up to 250,000 children, young people and vulnerable adults were abused.
A Royal Commission spokesperson said the Government established the independent Abuse in Care Inquiry in 2018 with two reporting dates.
"The Interim Report was delivered in December 2020 and the Royal Commission's final report is due for delivery in early 2023. The Inquiry will be making its recommendations on Redress (Compensation/apology etc) by the end of 2021."
The spokesperson said the inquiry "prioritises" hearing the experiences of older survivors or those who are unwell.
"Survivors have been waiting a long time for this Inquiry. Before now, many survivors tell us that they have not been heard, believed or counted. We are indebted to the survivors of abuse in care, such as Claude, who have bravely come forward to share their experiences with the Inquiry so far.
"The Royal Commission does not pay compensation. After hearing for survivors and the State/faith-based institutions about the adequacy of abuse Redress processes, we will make recommendations the Governor General about what compensation may look like in the future."
