We approach the story of the death of Mrs. Rose Waddell with the greatest respect for her family. We have received permission to tell the story of Rose through the use of a press article that appeared at the time. We reproduce it in full.
SECT ORDER LED TO WOMAN’S DEATH
The Sydney Morning Herald
November 30 1968
WOLLONGONG, Friday
An order by the Exclusive Brethren had culminated in the death of an Austinmer mother of five, the District Coroner, Mr W M Sherley, S.M. said today.
He said the harsh directive by the sect had broken up a family and caused the woman, a sect member, seven years of emotional distress.
Mr Sherley made the remarks at the conclusion of an inquest into the death of Rose Waddell, 49, of Wigram Road, Austinmer, in September.
He brought in a finding of suicide by strangulation.
Mrs Waddell had been found by her husband hanging from a rafter in an outside toilet near their home.
Mr Sherley said the woman had been in a state of depression before her death.
“She appeared to have no interest in the future.” He said.
Her condition had stemmed from the departure from the family home of three of her five daughters seven years ago.
A directive had been given to the daughters by a religious sect known as the Exclusive Brethren.
TRAGIC
Mrs Waddell had been admitted to Gladesville Psychiatric Centre for treatment last April.
Her husband requested that Mr Sherley withhold details of the inquest from publication.
But Mr Sherley said he felt the public should be made aware of the tragic results of the case.
He said: “Following from the harsh directive given by this sect, it had an effect not only of interfering in and breaking up the family unit, but also caused the deceased to go through seven years of severe emotional distress.
“It culminated in her suicide.”
Those who remember this sad story recall their feelings at the time:
Mrs Waddell’s suicide was about the time I left the EB and it made a big impression on me. I distinctly remember being shocked and being told that it was somehow Mrs Waddell’s fault because she wanted to see her daughters who had been excommunicated.
“It’s an example of how the hierarchy of the EB have literally got away with murder over the years.”
Read the full article on the Memorial Pages
