Footy legend Rod Silva has revealed how being emotionally and verbally abused by his drunken father left him scarred for life.
Now a police officer, the former Sydney Roosters and Canterbury Bulldogs fullback said his tough childhood left him determined to stop domestic violence.
Silva, 50, said the experience made him stronger, but said he and his siblings are still affected by what they went through as children.
Footy legend Rod Silva (pictured, middle, with his daughters) has revealed how being emotionally and verbally abused by his drunken father left him scarred for life
Now a police officer, the former Sydney Roosters and Canterbury Bulldogs fullback (pictured, left, with wife Deb) said his tough childhood left him determined to stop domestic violence
The 1993 Dally M winner said his dockworker father, John, would regularly return home drunk, having gambled away the family’s money, The Daily Telegraph reported.
John would then become abusive and yell at his wife and kids in outbursts Silva assumed at the time were normal.
‘I remember as a young child being in the room with my siblings and waiting for it to stop,’ he said.
‘I knew if ever I was going to get married, my wife would never have to go through that and my children would never have to go without.’
Silva (pictured in 1998), who joined the police force after playing in the NRL, is now a White Ribbon Ambassador working to end male violence against women
Silva, now married to wife Deb and with daughters Keely, 20, and Marlee, 22, joined the police force after playing in the NRL and is a White Ribbon Ambassador.
Working to end male violence against women, Silva said he does not want to anyone to experience what he did, and now hopes to help others in need.
While his tough childhood still affects Silva to this day, he said it also made him into the person he has become.
‘I think it made me stronger as a man but it was tough going through it,’ he said.
Silva (pictured, right, with wife Deb), 50, said the experience made him stronger, but said he and his siblings are still affected by what they went through as children
Silva also paid tribute to his mother Alice, 77, who raised six children while working in community services and earning two degrees.
His father John died in 1998. His parents did not divorce, despite the abuse Alice was subjected to.
Silva said his mother felt isolated during her 30 years with John, staying with him because she had no one to help her.
Her experience helped motivate Silva to join the New South Wales Police, where he regularly attended the scenes of domestic violence incidents.
Silva said many men do not realise how their behaviour affects their whole families, often thinking it was ‘only an argument’.
Silva (pictured in uniform) said many men do not realise how their behaviour affects their whole families, often thinking it was ‘only an argument’