Editing The Family (Australian New Age group)

{{short description|Controversial Australian New Age group}}
{{Distinguish|Family International|White Brotherhood (religious group)}}
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2011}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}

'''The Family''', also known as the '''Santiniketan Park Association''' or the '''Great White Brotherhood''', was an Australian [[New Age]] group formed in the mid-1960s under the leadership of [[Anne Hamilton-Byrne]] (born Evelyn Grace Victoria Edwards; 30 December 1921 &ndash; 13 June 2019).<ref name="wrn">{{cite web|url=https://wrldrels.org/2018/01/03/the-family/|title=The Family|date=3 January 2018|work=World Religions and Spirituality Project|first=Carole|last=Cusack|access-date=14 June 2019}}</ref><ref name="theage2019"/> The group taught a mixture of Western and Eastern religious doctrines, with Hamilton-Byrne claiming to have been a [[reincarnation]] of [[Jesus]]. It has widely been described as a [[cult]].<ref name="wrn"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/conversations/conversations-thefamily-rpt/10279232|title=Inside The Family, the bizarre and brutal Australian cult|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=25 September 2018|access-date=21 July 2023}}</ref>

The group became the centre of controversy when its compound in [[Olinda, Victoria]], was raided by police on 14 August 1987 amid allegations of [[child abuse]]. All children were removed from the premises, and were discovered to have been adopted through illegal means.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Elias|first=David|date=2019-06-14|title=From the Archives, 1987: Police raid on secretive sect "The Family"|url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/from-the-archives-1987-police-raid-on-secretive-sect-the-family-20190614-p51xtp.html|access-date=2022-02-22|website=The Age|language=en}}</ref> Hamilton-Byrne and her husband were eventually arrested in 1993 and charged with conspiracy to [[fraud|defraud]] and to commit [[perjury]] in relation to the adoption scams, but those charges were eventually dropped. She pleaded guilty to the remaining charge of making a false declaration and was fined $5,000.

==Religious claims==
The Family taught an eclectic mixture of [[Christianity]] and [[Hinduism]] with other Eastern and Western religions, on the principle that spiritual truths are universal.<ref>Johnson, R. (1972) ''The Spiritual Path'' (Hodder & Stoughton: London) {{ISBN|0-340-15852-2}}</ref>{{page needed|date=August 2020}} Children raised in the group studied the major scriptures of these religions as well as the works of [[guru]]s including [[Sri Chinmoy]], [[Meher Baba]], and [[Osho (Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh)|Rajneesh]].<ref name=sarah/>{{page needed|date=August 2020}} One adopted daughter, [[Sarah Hamilton-Byrne]], later described the group's beliefs as a "hotch-potch" of Christianity and Eastern mysticism.<ref>Hamilton-Byrne, Sarah. (1995b) pp.115–129</ref>

The basis of The Family's philosophy was that their founder, Anne Hamilton-Byrne, was the reincarnation of [[Jesus]] and a living god. Within the group, Jesus, [[Buddha]], and [[Krishna]] were regarded as enlightened beings who came down to Earth to aid humanity, with Hamilton-Byrne being put in the same category as these teachers. On the basis of this belief, members of her inner circle claimed to be the [[reincarnation]]s of the original [[Twelve Apostles]].<ref>Hamilton-Byrne, Sarah. (1995b) p.27</ref>

== History==
===Beginnings===
Beginning around 1964, Anne Hamilton-Byrne led a religious and philosophical discussion group at Santiniketan, the home of [[parapsychology|parapsychologist]] [[Raynor Johnson]], on the eastern outskirts of Melbourne in the [[Dandenong Ranges]] suburb of [[Ferny Creek, Victoria|Ferny Creek]]. The group purchased an adjoining property which they named Santiniketan Park in 1968 and constructed a meeting hall called Santiniketan Lodge.<ref name="supreme">{{citation|title=Judgement in Kibby v. Registrar of Titles and Another|url=https://www.ato.gov.au/law/view/document?docid=JUD/*1999*1VR861/00002|year=1999|publisher=[[Supreme Court of Victoria]]}}.</ref>

The group consisted of middle-class professionals, a quarter of whom were medical personnel recruited by Johnson via Hamilton-Byrne's [[hatha yoga]] classes.<ref>{{citation |publisher= Think Big Productions |chapter-url= http://www.thinkbigproductions.com.au/pre-production/the-family.html |chapter= Notes |title= The Family |access-date= 1 July 2007 |archive-date= 20 March 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120320083745/http://www.thinkbigproductions.com.au/pre-production/the-family.html |url-status= dead }}.</ref> Members mainly lived in the suburbs of Melbourne and in townships of the Dandenong Ranges, meeting each Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday evening at Santiniketan Lodge, at Crowther House in [[Olinda, Victoria|Olinda]], or another property in the area known as the White Lodge.<ref>{{citation |title= The Family prays together, but no longer stays together |newspaper=[[The Age]] |date= 11 June 1993 |place= AU}}.</ref><ref name=sarah/>{{page needed|date=August 2020}}

By the 1980s, police estimated that Hamilton-Byrne's fortune was as much as [[Australian dollar|A$]]50 million.<ref name=HeraldSun>{{cite news |url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/payout-for-the-family-sect-victims/story-e6frf7jo-1225761971643|newspaper=Sunday Herald Sun|first=James|last=Campbell|publisher=The Herald & Weekly Times|date=2009-08-16|title=Payout for The Family sect victims|access-date=2011-12-19}}</ref>

===Newhaven===
During the late 1960s and 1970s, Newhaven Hospital in [[Kew, Victoria|Kew]] was a private [[psychiatric hospital]] owned and managed by Marion Villimek, a Family member; many of its staff and attending psychiatrists were also members.<ref name=sarah>Hamilton-Byrne, Sarah. (1995a) ''Unseen, Unheard, Unknown: My life inside the family of Anne Hamilton-Byrne'' (Penguin Books: Ringwood) {{ISBN|0-14-017434-6}}. [https://web.archive.org/web/20210815162951/http://www.leavingsiddhayoga.net/unseen.htm Extract available online].</ref>{{page needed|date=August 2020}}<ref>{{citation |title= Inquest on death in cult hospital |newspaper=The Age |date= 13 March 1992 |place= AU}}.</ref><ref>{{citation |last= Middleton |first= W |title= Reconstructing the Past: Trauma, Memory and Therapy. Background paper for the seminars "Trauma, Dissociation and Psychosis: Metaphor, Strategy and Reality" |publisher= The Delphi Centre in collaboration with The Cannan Institute and the Trauma & Dissociation Unit, Belmont Hospital |place= Sydney |date= 4–5 May 2007 |page= 97|url= http://www.delphicentre.com.au/MiddletonConference2006/Reconstruct_thePast-WMApril06.pdf |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070829014939/http://www.delphicentre.com.au/MiddletonConference2006/Reconstruct_thePast-WMApril06.pdf |archive-date= 29 August 2007}}.</ref> The Family recruited some of the hospital's patients into the group, and administered the [[hallucinogen|hallucinogenic drug]] [[lysergic acid diethylamide|LSD]] to both patients and members under the direction of Family psychiatrists John Mackay and Howard Whitaker.<ref>{{citation |last= Hamilton-Byrne |first= Sarah |year= 1995b |title= Hierarchies of organisation within cults |journal= [[Australian Skeptics#The Skeptic magazine|The Skeptic]] |volume= 15 |issue= 3 |page= 26 |url= http://www.skeptics.com.au/journal/1995/3.pdf |access-date= 1 July 2007 |archive-date= 17 December 2008 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081217182527/http://www.skeptics.com.au/journal/1995/3.pdf |url-status= dead }}.</ref> One of the original members of the Family was given LSD, [[electroconvulsive therapy]], and two [[lobotomy|leucotomies]] during the late 1960s.<ref name=supreme/>

Although Newhaven Hospital had been closed down by 1992, an inquest was ordered that year into the death of a patient in 1975 that was alleged to have been due to [[deep sleep therapy]]. The inquest heard evidence concerning the use of electroconvulsive therapy, LSD, and other practices at Newhaven, but found no evidence that deep sleep had been used on the deceased patient.<ref>{{citation |title= No sleep therapy – coroner |newspaper=The Age |date= 25 August 1992 |place= AU}}.</ref> The hospital was later reopened as a [[nursing home]] with no connections to its previous owner or uses.

===Kai Lama property===
Hamilton-Byrne acquired fourteen infants and young children between 1968 and 1975. Some were the biological children of members of The Family; others had been obtained through illegal [[adoption]]s arranged by lawyers, doctors, and social workers within the group who could bypass normal protocols. The children's identities were changed using false [[birth certificate]]s or [[deed poll]]s. All were given the surname "Hamilton-Byrne" and made to dress alike, even to the extent that most had their hair being dyed uniformly blonde.<ref name=sarah/><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Sinnott|first1=N.H.|year=1997|title=Anatomy of a cruel cult|journal=The Skeptic|volume=17|issue=2|page=45|url=http://www.skeptics.com.au/wp-content/uploads/magazine/The%20Skeptic%20Volume%2017%20(1997)%20No%202.pdf}}</ref>

The children were kept in seclusion and [[homeschooling|home-schooled]] at Kai Lama, a rural property usually referred to as "Uptop", at Taylor Bay on [[Lake Eildon]]. All were told that Hamilton-Byrne was their biological mother and knew the other adults in the group as "aunties" and "uncles".<ref name=sarah/>{{page needed|date=August 2020}} They were denied almost all access to the outside world, and subjected to a discipline that included [[starvation diet]]s and frequent, unprovoked beatings.<ref>Middleton, W. (2007) p.96</ref>

Doses of the psychiatric drugs [[fluphenazine]], [[diazepam]], [[haloperidol]], [[chlorpromazine]], [[nitrazepam]], [[oxazepam]], [[trifluoperazine]], [[carbamazepine]], or [[imipramine]] were frequently administered to the children.<ref name=sarah/>{{page needed|date=August 2020}} On reaching adolescence they were compelled to undergo an initiation process involving LSD; while under the influence of the drug the child would be left in a dark room, alone, apart from visits by Hamilton-Byrne or one of the psychiatrists from The Family.<ref name=sarah/>{{page needed|date=August 2020}}<ref>Middleton, W. (2007) p.97</ref>

===Siddha Yoga===
For several years, Hamilton-Byrne developed a connection to the [[Siddha Yoga]] movement, receiving ''[[shaktipat]]'' initiation from Swami [[Muktananda]] and taking the [[Sanskrit]] name Ma Yoga Shakti. In 1979 and 1981 she took some of the children to stay with Muktananda at his [[Shree Muktananda Ashram|ashram]] at [[South Fallsburg, New York]], United States, and purchased a nearby property as her own base in America.<ref name=sarah/>{{page needed|date=August 2020}}

Sarah Hamilton-Byrne later recalled how Muktananda would give a private audience (or darshan) once a week to The Family. He once asked the children if they would like to leave The Family and live with him at his [[Gurudev Siddha Peeth]] ashram in India. The children all gave an enthusiastic yes but were later punished by Hamilton-Byrne for disloyalty. According to Sarah, Hamilton-Byrne eventually caused a lot of trouble at the South Fallsburg ashram and some of Muktananda's devotees defected to The Family. Sarah was present when Swami Tejomayanand was initiated into The Family, later saying that she could not understand why he would want to join a sect where everyone was so miserable when it seemed that everyone around Muktananda was so happy.<ref>Hamilton-Byrne, Sarah (1995b), pp.94–95</ref>

===Police intervention===
In 1987, Hamilton-Byrne expelled Sarah from the group because of arguing and rebellious behaviour. With the support of a private investigator and others, she then played an instrumental role in bringing The Family to the attention of the [[Victoria Police]]. As a result of her efforts, a raid took place at Kai Lama on 14 August 1987, and all children were removed from the premises. Sarah later went on to study medicine and became a qualified doctor. She learned about her adoption and eventually met her biological mother.<ref>Hamilton-Byrne, Sarah (1995b), pp.175–195</ref>

After the raid, Hamilton-Byrne and her husband, William, left Australia for a period of six years. Operation Forest, an investigation involving police in Australia, the UK, and the US, resulted in their arrest in June 1993 by the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] in New York.<ref>"Australian Sect leaders arrested", ''[[The Sun-Herald]]'', 5 June 1993.</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article127230967 |title=Guru of a 'family' based on mysticism Anne Hamilton-Byrne, arrested in the US to face conspiracy and fraud charges in Australia, has been the centre of controversy for 30 years.|newspaper=[[The Canberra Times]] |volume=67 |issue=21,236 |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=6 June 1993 |access-date=14 June 2019 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article132155285 |title=Britain alleged Australian sect leader now on UK farm |newspaper=[[The Canberra Times]] |volume=61|issue=18,954 |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=26 August 1987 |access-date=14 June 2019 |page=5 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> This followed admissions by former members of The Family, including the group's [[solicitor]] Peter Kibby, that the group had engaged in adoptions scams, including acts of [[forgery]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/a-twisted-controller/story-e6frf7kx-1225761983408|title=A twisted controller|publisher=[[The Sunday Herald Sun]]|first=James|last=Campbell|date=16 August 2009|access-date=5 January 2012}}</ref>

Hamilton-Byrne and her husband were [[extradition|extradited]] to Australia and charged with conspiracy to [[fraud|defraud]] and to commit [[perjury]] by falsely [[civil registry|registering the births]] of three unrelated children as their own triplets, charges that were later dropped.<ref>"Sect couple face court in Melbourne", ''The Age'', 17 August 1993.</ref> Elizabeth Whitaker, the wife of Howard Whitaker, was their co-defendant.<ref>'Three face charges of conspiracy' ''The Age'' 16 November 1993</ref> Hamilton-Byrne and her husband [[pleaded guilty]] to the remaining charge of making a false declaration and were fined $5,000 each. The conspiracy charges against Whitaker were dropped, but she was convicted of falsely obtaining nearly $23,000 between 1983 and 1987.<ref>"Sect leader registered three babies as her own", ''The Age'', 23 September 1994.</ref><ref>"Family group founder, husband fined", ''The Age'', 27 September 1994</ref>

Other members of The Family were also tried at court. Margot MacLellan, aged 64, was convicted of falsely obtaining $28,000 between 1978 and 1988. Joy Travellyn, aged 56, was convicted of falsely obtaining over $38,000 between 1979 and 1988. Helen Buchanan, aged 49, was convicted of falsely obtaining almost $15,000 between 1980 and 1987.<ref>Hamilton-Byrne, Sarah (1995b), pp.172–173</ref>

===Litigation===
In August 2009, two individuals received financial compensation from Hamilton-Byrne after suing her. Her granddaughter, Rebecca Cook-Hamilton, had sued for alleged psychiatric and psychological illnesses, alleging [[malnourishment]] and "cruel and inhuman treatment" by Hamilton-Byrne and her followers. Her award was estimated to be $250,000.<ref name=HeraldSun/>

Another former member of The Family, Cynthia Chan, alleged that she paid the sum of $352,115 to Hamilton-Byrne for real estate in Olinda, but the property was never transferred to her. She also alleged that she paid the sum of $70,400 to Hamilton-Byrne for another property, but this too was never transferred to her. Hamilton-Byrne said she had no memory of the transaction. Chan's judgement was estimated at $250,000.<ref name=HeraldSun/>

==Aftermath==
Hamilton-Byrne's husband died in 2001; she attended the funeral in her only public appearance following her conviction.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/creating-the-family-tree/story-e6frf7jo-1225761971530|title=Creating the family tree|date=16 August 2009|publisher=[[The Sunday Herald Sun]]|first=James|last=Campbell|access-date=4 January 2012}}</ref> In later years it was reported that Hamilton-Byrne was living in a Melbourne nursing home and suffering from [[dementia]], and that an internal [[succession crisis]] for leadership of the group was unfolding.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/battle-for-control-as-cult-leader-deteriorates-20130721-2qcoc.html|title=Battle for control as cult leader deteriorates|publisher=[[The Age]]|first=Chris|last=Johnston|date=22 July 2013|access-date=25 July 2013}}</ref> In an interview with [[ABC Local Radio]] in [[Ballarat]], Ben Shenton, a former adoptee of The Family, said the group had become a "toothless tiger".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2013/07/23/3809241.htm|title=Ben Shenton, survivor of the cult The Family|publisher=[[ABC Local Radio]]|first=Elizabeth|last=McKenzie|date=23 July 2013|access-date=25 July 2013}}</ref>

Sarah Hamilton-Byrne died in 2016, aged 46.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefamilysect.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/The-Family-PresskitFinal.pdf|title=The Family documentary Press Kit|publisher=Big Stories|access-date=22 October 2016|archive-date=29 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221229093719/https://thefamilysect.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/The-Family-PresskitFinal.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> Anne Hamilton-Byrne died on 13 June 2019, aged 97.<ref name="theage2019">{{cite news|url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/anne-hamilton-byrne-leader-of-notorious-cult-the-family-dies-at-97-20190614-p51xs7.html|title=Anne Hamilton-Byrne, leader of notorious cult The Family, dies at 97|first=Tom Cowie, Zach|last=Hope|date=14 June 2019|newspaper=The Age|access-date=14 June 2019}}</ref>

==Media==
In 2016, a documentary on the sect entitled ''The Family'' was released at the [[Melbourne International Film Festival]]; it was produced by Anna Grieve and written, directed, and co-produced by Rosie Jones.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/programs/hack/the-family-cult/7686506/ |title='Evil, Wicked': What it was like to grow up in one of Australia's most notorious cults |work=[[Hack (radio program)|Hack]] |publisher=[[Triple J]] |date=3 August 2016 |access-date=4 August 2016 |author=McCormack, Ange |author-link=Ange McCormack}}</ref> It has been published on DVD by Label Distribution Pty Ltd, designated LAB005.
A companion book, ''The Family: The Shocking True Story of a Notorious Cult'' (2017), was written by Chris Johnston and Jones and published by [[Scribe (publisher)|Scribe]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/feb/13/the-family-great-white-brotherhood-australia-melbourne-cult-anne-hamilton-byrne|title=Inside the bizarre 1960s cult, The Family: LSD, yoga and UFOs|work=The Guardian|first=James Robert|last=Douglas|date=13 February 2017|access-date=23 July 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=The Family: The Shocking True Story of a Notorious Cult|first=Chris|last=Johnston|first2=Rosie|last2=Jones|publisher=Scribe|year=2017|isbn=978-1925321678}}</ref> Jones later released a three-episode miniseries, ''The Cult of the Family'', in March 2019.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/mar/12/the-cult-of-the-family-review-the-definitive-history-of-a-notorious-australian-cult|title=The Cult of the Family review – the definitive history of a notorious Australian cult|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=12 March 2019|first=Luke|last=Buckmaster|access-date=23 December 2020}}</ref> The 2019 novel ''In the Clearing'' by J. P. Pomare is a fictionalised account heavily based on The Family. It was turned into a 2023 TV series, ''[[The Clearing (TV series)|The Clearing]]'', which was produced for [[Disney Plus]] and stars [[Teresa Palmer]], [[Miranda Otto]], and [[Guy Pearce]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/may/24/the-australian-cult-that-fed-children-lsd-guy-pearce-on-the-disturbing-true-story-behind-the-clearing|title=The Australian cult that fed children LSD: Guy Pearce on the 'disturbing' true story behind The Clearing|work=The Guardian|first=Katie|last=Cunningham|date=24 May 2023|access-date=23 July 2023}}</ref>

==References==

{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*{{cite news|url=http://sixtyminutes.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=870619|title=The Family|publisher=[[60 Minutes (Australian TV program)|60 Minutes]]|date=2 October 2009|first=Karl|last=Stefanovic|author-link=Karl Stefanovic|access-date=4 October 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091009081805/http://sixtyminutes.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=870619|archive-date=9 October 2009}}
*{{cite news |url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25934639-661,00.html|title=The Family Cult's Secrets Exposed|publisher=[[The Sunday Herald Sun]]|first=James|last=Campbell|date=16 August 2009|access-date=4 September 2009}}
*[https://drsarahmoore.blogspot.com/2009/08/why-i-see-anne-by-dr-sarah.html "Why i see Anne" by Dr Sarah Moore/Hamilton-Byrne]
*[http://www.rescuethefamily.com Rebuilding Family after Life Behind the Wire in 'The Family' by Ben Shenton formerly Ben Saul Hamilton-Byrne]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090918100155/http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/photo-gallery/gallery-e6frf94x-1225761998430?page=1 Anne Hamilton-Byrne Gallery]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20161123224622/http://www.thefamilysect.com/ Website for the 98-minute documentary by Rosie Jones world premiere at MIFF July–August 2016]
*[https://cultofthefamily.com/ Website of ''The Cult of the Family''], Rosie Jones's expanded three-episode miniseries
*Episodes of ''Let's Talk About Sects'' podcast about the Family: "[https://www.ltaspod.com/1 The Family]" (featuring Ben Shenton), "[https://www.ltaspod.com/family-bonus "The Family Update]" (featuring Chris Johnston), and "[https://www.ltaspod.com/family-bonus-DF David Freeman –&nbsp;Former child member of The Family]"

{{DEFAULTSORT:Family}}
[[Category:New Age communities]]
[[Category:New Age organizations]]
[[Category:Yoga organizations]]
[[Category:Religious organizations established in 1961]]
[[Category:Religious organisations based in Australia]]
[[Category:New religious movements established in the 1960s]]