Allison Langdon's heartfelt A Current Affair debut
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Content warning: This story contains mentions of domestic violence. Reader discretion is advised.
At SDC, we love stories of individuals acting with kindness.
And that's exactly why we're honoured to share with you Allison Langdon's powerful and touching debut on the beloved news program, A Current Affair.
The former Today host left a lasting impact on thousands of viewers who were touched by her sensitivity and compassion during a poignant segment about domestic violence.
As Langdon opened the show, she spoke from the heart about how 'privileged' she felt to be given the opportunity to host such an important program.
Her words set the tone for the following emotional segment about Kimbarlie O'Reilly, a survivor of abuse at the hands of her ex-boyfriend Jake Frecker, who had just been released from prison after serving only four of his six-year sentence.
O'Reilly's life was forever changed when she met Jake Frecker, a footballer from Victoria's Dimboola Football Club, in 2018. At first, she was captivated by him, but their relationship quickly turned into a nightmare.
'He would trap me in the garage, not letting me out until 7 am the next morning. He even locked me outside of the house,' O'Reilly recounted in an interview.
In 2019, the unimaginable happened. Frecker, fueled by rage, launched a vicious attack on O'Reilly, leaving her with a broken eye socket and shattered teeth.
But even in the aftermath of this assault, Frecker continued to torment her. When the police arrived, responding to the screams of O'Reilly's neighbours, Frecker lied and tried to convince them that her injuries were simply the result of a fall.
With all the evidence against him, Frecker pleaded guilty to assaulting two of his former partners, including O'Reilly. He was sentenced to six years in prison, but, in a cruel twist of fate, was released on parole just four years to the day of the assault.
O'Reilly's voice broke as she spoke about the fear that now consumes her. 'I can't stop thinking about what the next few years will bring, and how long I have left to live.' Her words are a heart-wrenching reminder of the devastating toll domestic violence can take on its victims.
Langdon was deeply moved by O'Reilly's story, and when she saw the guest's emotions overflowing, she offered a moment for O'Reilly to recollect herself.
That moment of empathy and compassion from Langdon proved to be the turning point in the broadcast.
With a gentle touch, Langdon leaned in to comfort O'Reilly. 'You are strong, brave, and a fighter,' Langdon told her.
O'Reilly, drawing from an inner well of strength, responded with a powerful message of her own. 'I'm never going to stop. I have a responsibility to speak up, to be loud, and to shine a light on the injustice that so many people face when it comes to violence,' she declared.
The story didn't just touch viewers at home. The show's Facebook and other social media pages were filled with praise for Allison Langdon, commending her for her 'stellar job' and saying that if she carries on in the same direction, they'll definitely be watching the show more regularly.
'Ally was 100 per cent the right choice,' one viewer wrote.
Allison Langdon's poise in this highly emotional setting was truly admirable. It was a beautiful reminder that having a platform doesn't auto-grant you the ability to speak on the topics you're discussing – you must have the heart, too.
We wish the very best of luck to Allison Langdon in her new role at A Current Affair.
If you or someone you know is facing sexual abuse or domestic violence, you can reach out to the following organisations for help:
Members, did you watch Ally’s debut episode? What did you think?
At SDC, we love stories of individuals acting with kindness.
And that's exactly why we're honoured to share with you Allison Langdon's powerful and touching debut on the beloved news program, A Current Affair.
The former Today host left a lasting impact on thousands of viewers who were touched by her sensitivity and compassion during a poignant segment about domestic violence.
As Langdon opened the show, she spoke from the heart about how 'privileged' she felt to be given the opportunity to host such an important program.
Her words set the tone for the following emotional segment about Kimbarlie O'Reilly, a survivor of abuse at the hands of her ex-boyfriend Jake Frecker, who had just been released from prison after serving only four of his six-year sentence.
O'Reilly's life was forever changed when she met Jake Frecker, a footballer from Victoria's Dimboola Football Club, in 2018. At first, she was captivated by him, but their relationship quickly turned into a nightmare.
'He would trap me in the garage, not letting me out until 7 am the next morning. He even locked me outside of the house,' O'Reilly recounted in an interview.
In 2019, the unimaginable happened. Frecker, fueled by rage, launched a vicious attack on O'Reilly, leaving her with a broken eye socket and shattered teeth.
But even in the aftermath of this assault, Frecker continued to torment her. When the police arrived, responding to the screams of O'Reilly's neighbours, Frecker lied and tried to convince them that her injuries were simply the result of a fall.
Kimbarlie's harrowing story of the years of abuse from her ex-boyfriend, Jake Frecker, left members of the audience feeling heartbroken. Credit: Pexels/Kat Smith.
With all the evidence against him, Frecker pleaded guilty to assaulting two of his former partners, including O'Reilly. He was sentenced to six years in prison, but, in a cruel twist of fate, was released on parole just four years to the day of the assault.
O'Reilly's voice broke as she spoke about the fear that now consumes her. 'I can't stop thinking about what the next few years will bring, and how long I have left to live.' Her words are a heart-wrenching reminder of the devastating toll domestic violence can take on its victims.
Langdon was deeply moved by O'Reilly's story, and when she saw the guest's emotions overflowing, she offered a moment for O'Reilly to recollect herself.
That moment of empathy and compassion from Langdon proved to be the turning point in the broadcast.
With a gentle touch, Langdon leaned in to comfort O'Reilly. 'You are strong, brave, and a fighter,' Langdon told her.
O'Reilly, drawing from an inner well of strength, responded with a powerful message of her own. 'I'm never going to stop. I have a responsibility to speak up, to be loud, and to shine a light on the injustice that so many people face when it comes to violence,' she declared.
The story didn't just touch viewers at home. The show's Facebook and other social media pages were filled with praise for Allison Langdon, commending her for her 'stellar job' and saying that if she carries on in the same direction, they'll definitely be watching the show more regularly.
'Ally was 100 per cent the right choice,' one viewer wrote.
We wish the very best of luck to Allison Langdon in her new role at A Current Affair.
If you or someone you know is facing sexual abuse or domestic violence, you can reach out to the following organisations for help:
- National Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Hotline: 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) - available 24/7
- Emergency Accommodation Hotline: 1800 800 588 - available 24/7
- Safe at Home Hotline: 1800 633 937
- National Violence and Abuse Trauma Counselling Service: 1800 FULLSTOP (1800 385 578). They also have a specific line for the LGBTIQA+ community: the Rainbow Sexual, Domestic and Family Violence Helpline (1800 497 212)
- Family Violence Crisis and Support Service: 1800 608 122
Members, did you watch Ally’s debut episode? What did you think?
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