Faraday – A community rediscovered

by Robyn Howarth

Faraday, such a beautiful part of the world. A small hamlet in rural Victoria, nestled under the serene gaze of Mount Alexander. Once, families of many generations proudly farmed their land, knew and helped their neighbours, and, in the 19th century this community built a beautiful granite school building that would be known as the Faraday State School 797. It was a source of pride to the community and educated their children well. This school building provided the social hub for the community to gather, mingle, share stories and celebrate events.

In 1972, the unthinkable happened. A heinous event that was coined the crime of the century, and became known as the ‘Faraday Kidnapping’. Two masked men burst into the school room on Friday 6th October, 1972 and kidnapped the young female teacher and 6 female students.

This wicked act brought the Faraday community to its knees and thrust into the national spotlight in an insidious way. Their actions led to the closure of the school, and a loss of innocence was felt by the wider community. In the years that followed, Faraday was for ever known as ‘that place where those kids were taken’. People would shudder when hearing the name ... Faraday.

Robyn Howarth, who was 10 years old at that time, tells her story of life on the farm, that heinous event and the aftermath, in the long road for justice. Telling the story through the lens of childhood trauma, and the effect it had on herself and her family.

It has taken Robyn 62 years to acknowledge with pride that she came from Faraday and was educated at Faraday State School 797.

224 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 27, 2024

Reviews

[Sharyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written and very descriptive.
You can picture being there with the author through her experiences

[Amanda Day · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting look at rural life in Australia during the 1970's and one incident that changed everything for one family, one town and one generation.

[Keira McCabe · Rating 5 out of 5]

“We owe Mary Gibbs our lives.” Robyn Howarth I owe you my life, thank you for writing this book and helping me come to terms with my trauma.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I laughed out loud @ the “Aussie” truisms & then I cried.
I remember when it happened but had not idea of the aftermath & the court proceedings.
Well done Robyn, you should be very proud of yourself.
A remarkable story of the times & what you all survived.

[Amanda Witt · Rating 5 out of 5]

While a terrible event, this account reads like I was there.
And it prompted changes in the law and how things are done in courts with children now.

[Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't believe how brave all the girls including Mrs Gibbs were, and how bad mental health support for Robyn was at the time. I shed a tear at the end but ended on a positive note ❤️

[Zdenka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a well told story from a survivor of child hood trauma, and illustrates the lack of support given at the time.

[Peter S · Rating 4 out of 5]

A memoir interestingly and simply told, not only of the ordeal of the kidnapping and the aftermath of the court cases, but also of life in country Victoria of that time.