Surviving the aftermath of his mum's murder: Ashton Kline Pt. 2

After Ashton Kline's mother Viola was murdered by his dad after decades of abuse, he faced a choice "Do I let it destroy me?"

In Part 2, Ashton sits down with Gary to share what came after, the unbreakable bond with his younger brother Grant, being taken into foster care with their belongings in a garbage bag, and going from family to family.

Ashton talks about the red flags that were missed in the build-up, learning to carry trauma rather than be defined by it, building a toolkit for recovery, and why he and Grant chose not just to survive, but to thrive.

For Ashton, it's about carrying his mum's memory forward, so her loss is not in vain, and using their story to help others understand the impact of domestic violence and homicide. 

Find out more about The Alannah & Madeline Foundation Buddy Bag program here.

Find out more about What Ally Needs Now, a children's book created by Ashton and researchers at The University of Melbourne to help children navigate grief after fatal family violence here.

If you or someone you know has experienced domestic, family or sexual violence, you can call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732 or visit 1800respect.org.au for online chat and video call services.

You can watch I Catch Killers on Youtube here. 

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