ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We are indebted to many people for their assistance with this book.

It would not have been written without the extraordinary help of former Detective Senior Sergeant Lex de Man AFSM, whose dedication to the pursuit of justice for those caught in The Family continues. His vivid memories, and those of his colleague, former Detective Senior Sergeant Peter Spence, helped us to get inside the Victoria Police taskforce Operation Forest, which brought charges against Anne Hamilton-Byrne. Thanks also to Victoria Police for their assistance.

Our special thanks go to the brave people whose interviews for the feature documentary The Family are a major part of this book: Barbara Kibby, Fran Parker, Anthony Leigh, Michael, Bryan Cussen, Rob Maclellan, Ian Weeks, Philippe de Montignie, Hilda Kogut, Kerry Lawrence, Joan Radha Bridges, and Marie Mohr. And especially to the former children of the cult, Adam, Sarah, Leeanne, Anouree, Ben, and David.

Thanks also to Kay Scott, Alana Balfour, Jenny Dawson, Syd and Christine Savage, Chris and Kaye Rigg, Judge Carolyn Douglas, John Helmer, and the Citizens Commission on Human Rights, as well as those who so generously assisted in the research but prefer to remain anonymous.

Many thanks to John Thomson, Angus Thomson, and Peter Tapp. At The Age, thanks to Jason Steger, Michael Bachelard, Michelle Stillman, and Maria Paget, and thanks also to David Elias and Gerard Ryle for their dogged reporting on The Family in the 1980s. Big thanks to Benjamin Law, Alex Adsett, Peter Bain-Hogg, Linda Klejus, Penny Stephens, and Tom and Kit Johnston.

Very special thanks to film producer Anna Grieve, for her dedication and unwavering commitment to the telling of this story. She has wisely commented on the many drafts. Her advice has been invaluable.

Lastly, special thanks to Julia Carlomagno and Henry Rosenbloom at Scribe for their expert guidance.