Judy Sharp, a 61-year-old motivational speaker from Brisbane, shares her powerful story of overcoming domestic abuse to inspire others.
In the past, when her husband Mick gave her a bouquet of tulips, her heart would sink. Though she forced a smile and thanked him, the weekly ritual of receiving flowers—52 weeks a year—didn’t make her feel special. Instead, it contributed to her growing discomfort and fear, as Mick’s jealousy was constant. He would get upset over the smallest things, and Judy felt trapped in the relationship.
Things worsened after the birth of their two sons. Mick, believing she was unfaithful, covered the doors with sticky tape every night to check if they had been opened. He would also belittle her, calling her a bad mother. Judy felt that her boys deserved better but was financially controlled by Mick, who kept all the money, leaving her without the means to leave.
One day, after a harsh argument, Mick took a photo of Judy and their boys, telling her, “This is your last night on earth.” As he tried to grab her, her screams stopped him. The next morning, as Mick left for work, Judy packed up the kids and fled.
With no money or job, she scrambled to find a place to stay, eventually finding a rental despite the challenges of Tim’s severe autism, which made it difficult to find a shelter that would accept them. She used money from their account to pay for a week’s rent and the deposit.
After the move, Mick’s physical abuse stopped, but the emotional scars were still painful. Judy made sure her children never saw the anger that their father had, and instead, she taught them kindness and love. Her efforts paid off—Tim, now 32, is a successful artist, and Sam, 30, is a swim coach who tried out for the Olympics.
Today, Judy leads a fulfilling life with a job she enjoys and a peaceful home with a garden. She shares her story every year on the anniversary of their escape, aiming to show other abuse survivors that they are not alone.
A few years ago, she discovered the photo Mick took of her, and though it was difficult to look at, she chose to share it publicly to raise awareness about domestic abuse. Her goal is to inspire others and remind them that no one should ever endure such abuse—and that there is always hope for a better future.
She encourages others to share her story and spread the message of hope and healing.
