TV
“Where were his children?” Scott Cam’s devastating family discovery
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He’s known throughout the country as the quintessential Aussie larrikin, but on the tenth season of SBS’ Who Do You Think You Are? Scott Cam was on the receiving end of some heartbreaking news.
The 56-year-old became overwhelmed with emotion after learning that his second great-grandfather Benjamin Lifely, passed away due to dementia, while alone and bankrupt at the age of 83.
The Block host journeyed to the South West of England to find out more about his great-grandfather’s legacy.
Speaking to historians and professors, Scott quickly discovered that Benjamin had a true rags-to-riches story, starting off as a traveller before transitioning into becoming a horse dealer.
Scott said: “I admire his efforts to change his luck in life. He made a decision to create a new life for him and his children at the same time.”
But unfortunately, Benjamin’s luck went downhill once horses were no longer a necessity.
The TV personality paid a visit to the Lifely’s family home where he met with a professor. It was then he discovered that Benjamin was bankrupt in the '70s.
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The professor insinuated that Scott’s great-grandfather was lonely, possibly due to having a fallout with his family over his bankruptcy.
With nowhere to turn, Benjamin died with no one by his side at a “nasty” and “brutal” institution.
“The Workhouse came in as an institution in the '40s … where no one else would take you in,” he said.
The professor then mentioned that the late horse dealer received zero support from his family during his final moments.
“No one offered him somewhere else to go than The Workhouse, no money, no support, no companionship,” he said.
Tearing up, Scott failed to understand how Benjamin’s family could abandon him in such a vulnerable state.
“His wife has obviously passed away, but where is his children?” he asked.
“His children must not have been there for this to happen, to a man that did very well,” he added.