Mary’s light still shines

The ‘Mary’ who inspired the naming of Mary’s Place spoke to Sydney Star Observer about the new artwork at the site, her message for victims and witnesses of crime, and her feelings 14 years after she was raped in the laneway.

In 1996 Mary Shalala was beaten, raped and left for dead in Floods Ln, Surry Hills by men who followed her into the lane. She later found out that people in nearby buildings had seen and heard the attack but did not call police.

Following community outrage, the lane was renamed Mary’s Place in 1997, with a mosaic and painted surface covering the bitumen.

Redevelopment of the Beresford in 2006 saw the lane resurfaced and the artwork lost.

Now a replacement work, Mary’s Lamp, has been unveiled by Mary and Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore.

Mary said she couldn’t be happier with the results. “I absolutely love it — it keeps the concept of Mary’s Place alive — the awareness of violence and hate crimes and that we can work together to create a safer environment,” she said.

“It’s also a bright, happy artwork shedding light on a lane that has a dark and heavy energy.

“Hot pink is a colour that talks about future and recovery and healing, while through the story it tells, the artwork is saying that we aren’t going to remain silent and allow the perpetuation of violence to go unnoticed.”

Mary said one of the hardest things for her had been that justice had never been done.

“They were never caught and that’s been hard to live with,” she said. “In the beginning I focused a lot on retribution but I have to move on in my life — to do my healing and not worry so much about that.”

Some might find Mary’s openness confronting, but she said that while it was something she would never be comfortable talking about, it was vital that she did so all the same.

“People need to know that there is no shame in being raped or bashed,” she said, “If I hadn’t been public in speaking about my story that would be telling others that they had reason to be scared about coming forward if they are in a similar position.”

Mary said people who witnessed crimes and did nothing needed to ask hard questions of themselves.

“How do people stand by while someone is beaten and raped and then live with that? Which are people going to be more uncomfortable with? One day it might be you that is in need of protection. The more people who speak out to say that this is not ok the closer we move towards a brighter and safer future.”