5 Reasons why I want to be best friends with Grace Tame

Grace Tame was awarded Australian of the Year 2021 for her advocacy and work around sexual assault and grooming. She had a large part in changing Tasmania’s laws allowing survivors to speak about their experiences. Grace likes running, yoga, and sticking it to the man. Her address to the National Press Club in February of this year proved again how enthralling she is as a speaker. Alongside Brittany Higgins, you can’t help but see her as future leadership material, and frankly, I want to be friends with a future Prime Minister like Grace.

2. WE NEED TO SAVE JENNY MORRISON

In a recent 60 Minutes interview, the Morrisons took to commercial television to try and make audiences feel bad for them. It appears that the Prime Minister wished to parade his wife around to remind us all that not all women hate him. Just some.

A lot of the Morrison’s time on screen was spent lamenting guilt for the infamous Hawaiian holiday during the bushfire crisis in January of 2020. Jenny looked guilty and apologised for taking a holiday with her kids (even though no one had a problem with Jenny doing it. Just the Prime Minister).

WORDS BY LEAH BRAHAM

5 REASONS WHY I WANT TO BE BEST FRIENDS WITH GRACE TAME

But there was a moment of clarity which outshone the other 59 minutes of the show. The interviewer, Karl Stefanovic, asks Mrs Morrison what she would say to her sixteen-year-old self.

“Run,” Mrs Morrison replied. We hope she’s joking.

Jenny, if you need saving, wear red in the next curry video. Grace can help you. She isn’t scared of your husband. Her whole shtick is about speaking out against abusers. I’m not saying Scotty is a monster, but if he is, you’ve got a professional who’d be happy to help.

3. SHE WOULDN’T LET MATES GET AWAY WITH SAYING THINGS THEY SHOULDN’T

It’s 2022, and it feels like we’ve found ourselves at a halfway point between having extremely problematic opinions and learning better ones. At least we’ve realised we have a problem, and have decided to change. Our opinions will be better. Our mates’ will be too.

We’ve all been there. You’re with a group of mates and someone makes a joke that doesn’t quite land. It might be about the missus making sandwiches or staying in the kitchen. It might be about race, or age. Whatever it is, it causes your stomach to curl up into your lungs as you cringe.

But you don’t know whether to say anything. After all, it’s just your mate, and they’re a nice enough person, and surely they didn’t actually mean what they said, right?

If Grace Tame was there, she absolutely would not let your mate get away with such a bad take. She’d call them out, and even better, she’d call me out. Sometimes you need friends who make you question yourself, and what you believe in. The recent photos with Tame and Morrison caused a stir because Tame wasn’t smiling. It really made people question whether Tame should have been. Do you have to smile at people you don’t like? If you do, why?

It’s important to have friends who make you think.

Tame represents a very female and familiar struggle. Molested by an older child and then a teacher. Struggles with an eating disorder. Undiagnosed autism…

It has been proven that people who suffer from disordered eating have often been sexually abused. Studies have shown that 50% of those suffering anorexia nervosa, whether due to PTSD or deprivation of self-esteem and power, have also suffered childhood sexual abuse.^

The fact that Grace Tame is so ordinary, and shares lived experience with so many women, just makes her all the more worthy of admiration, and I’d happily let her speak on my behalf in regards to anorexia and sexual abuse.

5. THE BONG

If Grace Tame wasn’t already going to be an Australian icon, she is now. Add her to your dream blunt rotation! Or in Morrison’s case, nightmare blunt rotation. Regardless, what was meant to be a smear campaign against Tame is just another reason why I want to be her friend.

PHOTOP: DAILY MAIL

^ Carter, JC, Bewell, C, Blackmore, E & Woodside, DB 2006, ‘The impact of childhood sexual abuse in anorexia nervosa’, Child Abuse & Neglect, vol. 30, no. 3, pp. 257–269.