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Helen Grasswill

Biographical Notes from The Walkley Awards website for 2005

Television: Feature, Documentary or Broadcast Special (more than 20 minutes) Winner

Helen Grasswill , Australian Story, ABC TV, "The Gathering Storm"

A previous Walkley finalist, Helen Grasswill has more than 30 years of experience as a journalist, author, editor and television program-maker. She is Australian Story's longest serving story producer and was part of the program's foundation team.

Her story documented the involvement between a priest and a schoolgirl and his rise to become Australia's most senior Anglican bishop. The case notoriously led to the resignation of Governor-General Peter Hollingworth. Grasswill spent years sourcing documents to verify every claim made by the victim, Beth Heinrich, most not on the public record.

Heinrich also revealed some 300 letters never before seen that were written to her by Donald Shearman. Convincing Heinrich and Bishop Richard Hurford, a close associate of Shearman, to go on the record were major achievements.

Following the broadcast of the program, the Anglican church finally offered an apology and a six-figure settlement to Heinrich. The story has led to a major rethink by clergy and other authorities about how to deal with sexual abuse.

Judges' comments

This is a story of immense public importance. It shows journalistic commitment towards public understanding of a major issue and has contributed to justice being done.