By Katherine Chatfield
Pictures: Brigitte Seiwert
Once a normal housewife, Jane Stork found herself embroiled in the frightening “Orange People” cult. Here she shares her story of escape with Woman’s Day.
Jane Stork stared into space as the judge gave his verdict — 10 years behind bars for attempted murder.
She was shell-shocked. She’d once been a teacher, married to her geologist husband, Roger — just a normal couple in WA. Jane could never have imagined herself ending up in prison.
“People commented on what a nice couple we were,” recalls Jane, now 64. “When we became parents to Peter in 1968, then Kylie in 1971, our family seemed complete.”
But although everything appeared blissful, things at home weren’t perfect.
“Roger had a nervous breakdown, which we didn’t recognise,” she says. “We just carried on as normal.”
But bottling up her emotions took its toll on Jane. After making an appointment with a psychologist, Jane began taking part in his group meditations.
“Soon Roger and I were regulars at the class,” she says. “The psychologist was a ‘sannyasin’, meaning ‘seeker’. He followed the teachings of an Indian man called Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh. He played tapes of Bhagwan’s speeches … he preached about throwing off guilt and having fun. I’d never met him, but I felt Bhagwan understood me.”
Overawed by Bhagwan’s “wisdom”, the couple joined the group known as the “Orange People”. They began dressing in orange like other followers, and went to India to meet Bhagwan.
For the full story, see this week’s Woman’s Day (on sale April 6).
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