Returning to Wayne and Teresa's
8 August 11
This is a story of meeting some extraordinary people and yet not making the time to get to know them properly. Away from them, we realised that we hadn’t taken hold of the original opportunity we’d been offered, so we returned to hear more of their stories and learn from their own journeys.
When we were previously staying with a family of four girls in Dargaville, David got in the habit of walking around the town in the early morning hours. On one of his walks, he met Teresa and Wayne. Wayne was sitting out on his porch, enjoying an early-morning cigarette, and he greeted David warmly. This led to the start of a conversation and David was invited inside for a cup of tea.
Teresa is an artist, and she categorises her original works as “symbolic spiritual art”. In her paintings, she uses illustrative figures and objects to symbolise people, relationships, emotions and burdens. Because he is so intuitively connected to Teresa, Wayne finds that he can often “interpret” her paintings better than she can. It’s a beautiful example of how a marriage can be so intimate that one member understands the other better than they can express themselves.
We’ve spent a meaningful day with Wayne and Teresa, talking about her artworks and hearing their individual and joint stories. It’s lovely to be back in the Dargaville area, and to know that more lovely personal encounters are waiting for us at every stop!
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1 · Australopithecus. · 23 April 2015, 15:37
I was placed into Wayne Ryder and Teresa Wardrops care on the 18th of December 2004. Teresa began to treat me badly after a few months in their care. I lived with Wayne and Teresa for almost 2 years. The abuse from Teresa became so bad that I feared for my life. I told my teacher at school, who called Wayne, and I was punished. Wayne called me a liar, and told everybody I was causing problems. On one occasion, Teresa entered my bedroom with a sharp knife and threatened to scalp me. I was terrified. I ran away, and the police found me, and returned me to Wayne and Teresa’s care. I even walked to Dargaville police station and told a police officer there, I still remember his name. He did nothing to help me. I was finally removed by Child Youth and Family services in 2004, but I am still emotionally scarred and traumatized by what happened to me when I lived with Wayne and Teresa. I did not deserve to be treated badly as a child.
2 · Australopithecus. · 23 April 2015, 15:53
Sorry, I was removed from Wayne and Teresa in 2006, not 2004. Cheers. :-)