Copyright abc
A large legal firm is investigating claims of historical child abuse at the Potter's House Christian Fellowship church in Geraldton. A spokesperson for Shine Lawyers said it had already received some responses to a call-out for people who were involved in the church or attended its camps in the late 1990s. The firm is looking for information to corroborate the allegations of clients, in particular at youth camps run by the church. The spokesperson said they could not comment on details of the alleged abuse, as court proceedings were underway. The allegations only relate to the Geraldton branch of the Potter's House church. The Potter's House church has declined to comment. According to the Potter's House Christian Fellowship website, the sect originated in the United States before members brought it to Western Australia. The first church was opened in Victoria Park in 1978, and a couple was "sent" from Perth to start a church in Geraldton in 1981. The website said it quickly gained 200 members. The branch operated from a building on Geraldton's coastal main strip, before expanding to another large building in town. It moved again in 2008, and is known for holding community outreach events to recruit new members. In recent years, the church organised Polyfest in Geraldton, which was advertised as a Polynesian festival. At the event, members spoke about traumatic experiences from which they were saved by God. In a statement, a Shine spokesperson said lawyers were calling on members of Potter's House Geraldton to come forward who could help confirm what they already knew or reveal new information. "Even something that seems minor … for example, how Potter's House operated," the statement said. "Its culture, its layout, organisation, who was present, or how concerns were handled, can become incredibly important. "In past matters, we've seen firsthand how public appeals like this can lead to dozens of people coming forward, sometimes to share their own experiences, and other times to help support someone else's. "We encourage anyone else with information, even if [they are] unsure whether it's helpful, to get in touch — you might hold a piece of the puzzle that makes a real difference for someone else." The spokesperson said people who provided information would be given confidentiality and were not obligated to proceed with legal action.
