About our organisation

The original LOUD fence is the front of the former “St Alipius Boys School” site in Victoria Street, Ballarat.


The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, held Stage 1 of its 'Case Study 28: Catholic Church authorities in Ballarat' from Tuesday 19 to Friday 29 May 2015.


The media reports from these public hearings were harrowing as the full details of the abuse and its cover up came to light. The silencing of child victims, their loved ones, the victims as adult survivors, and whistle-blowers was shocking.


Ribbons appeared tied on the gate of St Patrick’s College Ballarat as a show of support and solidarity with those who were telling their truth through the commission process.



LOUD fence Inc.
LOUD fence Inc.

On Thursday 21 May 2015 the LOUD fence Inc. Facebook page was created, and the call went out to meet on Friday 22 May 2015 to tie ribbons on the front fence of the former St Alipus Christian Brother School in Victoria Street. A small crowd gathered on that Friday afternoon and the first ‘LOUD fence’ came into being. By the end of the weekend the fence was almost completely covered in ribbons.


Ribbons began to appear on LOUD fences across Ballarat marking sites where child sexual abuse had occurred - the magnitude of what had happened in Ballarat became highly visible.



On 4 July 2015, at the Care Leavers Australia Network (CLAN) conference, the Hon Justice Peter McClellan AM, spoke of ‘loud fences:


‘There are other aspects of the Ballarat hearing which could be discussed but I do not have time. However I should mention one quite remarkable event which has occurred. In the days immediately following the hearing parents, parishioners and other community members have been conducting what has become known as the ‘loud fence’ campaign.


They have been tying bright ribbons to the fences of the former St Alipius Boys School and St Patrick’s College as a sign of support for survivors and their families affected by sexual abuse. The ‘loud fence’ stands in contrast with the silence that was imposed on survivors as children.


The local newspaper has reported that ribbons have been tied on fences in Ballarat, in NSW and in Queensland. But it has not stopped there. I understand that the ‘loud fence’ campaign has reached Bali and Westminster Abbey in London.’


LOUD fence Inc.

The words ‘NO more silence’ became synonymous with the LOUD fence movement.

LOUD fences can be seen not just locally, not just nationally but globally – a simple but powerful gesture and a strong message of support to all victims, survivors, their loved ones, and the communities who care for them.


Right: A LOUD fence in front of the Vatican, Rome.


Whist we connect survivors and victims, we also work in with organisations who have inherited a dark past.


In time we have evolved into many people, doing many things including further social support for survivors and victims and engaging with organisations for the difficult conversations that need to happen in order for them to acknowledge their past.


LOUD Fence Inc.

LOUD Fence Inc. have recently secured a space to focus on workshops, events, connection, and beyond.


More details on this soon.

Respect and communication are incredibly important to us, and the culture we foster.

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