My town faces an interesting divide for those aware of issues circling one of our accountant/financial advisory firms.
There are those, a small group, some twenty or so individuals and families impacted by their actions over the last few years and those who, despite overwhelming information and an ongoing ASIC investigation, refuse to entertain the idea that this has or could happen here.
And somehow, in the shaky middle where people don't want to admit it could and has happened here, there is a space where the victims are ridiculed, shamed and made to feel like this, if this has even happened, is entirely their fault.
The well-known, third-generation accounting firm couldn't have taken a wrong turn or been involved in any misconduct; it most certainly must have been a mistake by those twenty individuals and families.
Of course, it is human nature to jump to the 'that couldn't happen here' ideal until it does.
What these often otherwise well-meaning, unaffected bystanders don't know is that twenty individuals and families once thought the same way.
It couldn't happen.
Not here.
Not us.
This was their accountant for many years.
For some, a close friend.
For others, a family member.
A professional with all the proper certificates.
Trusted.
Until the necessary paperwork wasn't received, financial returns didn't arrive, emails and phone calls were avoided, then ignored, excuses and delays made, and then, the office was closed one day.
Then, slowly, questions became louder, and the people started finding each other, realising they had all heard the same stories, received the same delays, and trusted and believed the same things.
Wherever he is, the once trusted accountant has vanished with client funds totalling around 4 million dollars despite the tendrils of hope held by some bystanders that this is all a mistake by those claiming wrongdoing.
Isn't it funny how discomfort at other's loss and trauma can cause some to be immediately dismissive of it happening, or if acknowledging that it did happen, blame the victim?
After all, they should have known better.
Shouldn't they?
I first saw this behaviour when I was eight years old, a choice made by my Grandmother; it took me many years to realise that her turning away from the truth was what she needed to do to preserve her world at someone else's expense.
This accountant has done it every time he took funds he knew he wasn't investing to better his circumstances at the expense of another person's well-being.
To a degree, it is also what the bystanders claiming his innocence have done.
As for us, the group of twenty-something individuals and families who now have to find a way forward through a maze of trying to prove losses, complete tax returns, and somehow recreate a future that should have been secure, I imagine the journey will be very individual.
For me, my treatment, health and well-being need to be the priority.
I value health, peace and wellbeing far more than money, but that doesn't mean what happened was ok.
It shouldn't have happened to us.
None of us should feel the stress of losing what we saw as a secure future due to someone else's greed.
None of us should be made to feel that this was our fault because that narrative makes other people more comfortable that it couldn't happen to them.
Sadly, it can and does happen to anyone.
People who feel their needs are more significant than others break trust every day in many ways, and when this happens all too often, victims are still the first to be interrogated and blamed instead of supported.
May we all support each other a little more.
Because we aren't all that far apart.
That this couldn't be happening to us, too.
Thanks for sharing Trudi and sorry you went through this....
Sounds like there is a lot of denial going on. It's perhaps similar to members of families who act like there is no abuse, alcoholism, eating disorder etc in the home. I once read a simple definition of a dysfunctional family: "A family where there's a lot of pain and it is covered or avoided. "
Thank you Trudi for always loving us and posting such inspiration for us to find hope in our dark moments. 💫🙏❤️🤗