Senate inquiry into forced adoptions found barbaric, horrific abuses

For anybody interested in news about Forced Adoptions.
Heard on the grapevine
ABC Television 4 Corners are having a program specific on Forced Adoptions and the Senate Inquiry into Forced Adoptions.
Date: Next Monday Evening (7.30pm approx.)
That's 27th February.
If we've been misinformed about the date it would then be Monday night 5th March 2012.
For anybody who can't catch the television show there is IVIEW if you don't know of it, where you can view it on the internet after the show.
Thanks Indy
George

Most of us search for a sense of belonging.
There's only few who have no need for this.
I think it was Noam Chomsky who wrote about Interdependence being of more value than independence.
The mothers who lost their babies at birth to forced adoptions had no voices no choices and no supports so in reality they were belonging to no one.
They had no sense of belonging as they were forced by families systems and structures made by professionals and governments to become "outcasts".
That kind of isolation, not belonging at impressionable ages should have been thought about years ago and now has to be thought about.
The thoughtless notions these girls or women were insensible or insensitive needs to be looked at also.
This is the responsibility of the intellectuals as well as professionals who work in this field and all who claim they care or are in caring roles in our society.
The deceit, degradation and distortions of these unwed mothers and their babies has now been revealed and it has usually shocked all who are sensible.
The hypocrytical moralism of so many in the past was man made to evaluate these mothers as sinful and to make them feel guilt and shame for human losses they never wanted nor were responsible for.
Realising how guilt prevents initiative (Erikkson) and after reading anon "partner" talking about her other half losing a son or a daughter? how the birth mother had previously felt guilt until another birth mother had publicly spoken truths about forced adoptions a light bulb went on. Forced demoralising of an ugly kind happened.
We as a nation can't allow people to stagnate or suffer further from stigma savagely coerced adoptions forced on these mothers, as well as their babies.
Many commentors have spoken about the anguish of losing their babies this anguish doesnt allow authentic growth to happen either. How does that help the affected and the whole country?
Without authentic growth people remain in personal recession cant grow to participate at their potential even as some growth may occur and for some it has as shown.
Counselling is imperative and not in kind that issues counsellors who assume the mothers and their babies ever were pathological, even as their grief may have become so painful and prolonged it may have or does necessitate indepth therapy.
Noam Chomsky again "But the power of the governments propaganda apparatis is such that the citizen who does not undertake a research project on the subject (in this instance Forced Adoptions) can hardly hope to confront government pronouncments with facts."
I'm wondering how many citizenz and professionals have done research on forced adoptions knowing there's quite a few who have outside of the Australian Institute is it, or whoever it is whose been selected to pass judgement of what these mothers need today to repair the damage done them. It cannot be generic as Forced Adoptions arent. They are about individual mothers, certain individual fathers, their individual babies and individual adoptive parents.
I believe lots of facts have emerged from witnesses and contributors that are too similar though not generic for too many to be discounted discarded and denied now.
I want to hear what the intellectuals who are very well known public figures, who write and speak about social injustices have to say about forced adoptions, not a group selected by the Commonwealth government of australia.
The latter would obviously be a conflict of interest in this instance.
Thanks Indy
George

With respect to all politicians here's a quote from one of our best
"Everyone thinks of changing the world but no man thinks of changing himself" Leo Tolstoy

Times have changed since Tolstoy as today many people not only victims of forced adoptions are looking in the mirror.

We ask the victimised to do this for their healing it's as WELA have said in their submission something that may help the grieving mothers. Not forgetting the causes and effects of the lost infants as they've grown up in families not of their kin.

What about the politicians corporations and churchs involved in forced adoptions.
Doesn't everone need to introspect at minimal reflect on just who they are what their true character is and what they're going to do to stop forced adoptions ever happening again.
One of many social injustices we look at to realise "there's better ways of treating our fellow man".

Making the better world we all usually want starts with every individual and develops from there.

Here's to a better world for those who suffer because of causes and effects from forced adoptions.
The submissions show a once hidden dimension of Australia now raised.
We can all do something about this.

In hope the Report is not only truth based, genuinely humanitarian and presented to all Australians but also followed through.

We all usually want a better world.

Intimidation of young girls and women is not on.
Forced adoptions in Auatralia are not on.
The Ibquiry needs to make a hstatement about the wrongs the states did as well as the commonwealth gover-nments.
Choi

There's evidence to prove forced adoptions were sanctioned by the Federal government.
The truth is there and to be read in several docs.
There's also evidence the extreme psychological trauma of losing a child to adoptions deserves the mothers justice via a national apology, counselling and compensation.
After all the media about forced adoptions of babies I'm disgusted with the likes of the benevolent society, who I've given charity monies too, to the Salvation Army, ditto, and the States of Australia all with varying policies that fostered and in fact enacted torturous deeds on pregnant girls women and their babies.
Anything that fosters intolerance, stereotyping and this kind of outright destructive discrimination is wrong and the departments that deal with Anti-discrimination laws should step up their act and look into what is happening with these past injustices and any happening in this day and age.
Disgusting to read some of the comments here and shame on the bully's who did these acts by omission and also by deliberate and extreme hurt.
They pregnant girls were what today are called terrorists to State and territory governments.
Shame, shame, what a screwed up country has been.
Is it still that bleeding disgraceful? Deregulation is one evil in all this, but there's that degregating women in difficult circumstances I find abominable.
We'll see.

A. Hill

The common "flood" of forced adoptions in all the Australian States and Terriroties proves the Federal Government were and now are influential in this mass Australian seperation of mothers and their infants. Governments like the news media influence (or try to) the populations. Forced Adoptions were an extreme amd that was dangerous to the whole of Australa. All extremes are.
The emotional content of this Senate Inquiry can't detract from it's authenticity. The Facts are there.
The people who rhought the mothers didn't care now know they did. The people who bullied and still do the mothers and their infants now stand scrutinised and judged whether they like that or not.
I'm appalled when an elected official says publicly "I don't care about opinion polls" when we're living through a lot of changes that officials today should care about and are being scrutiniosed and judged for.
The comment made doesn't affect how people perceive and act toward better Australian Government Policies and Practices.
We have a school system right now where students are told to refrain from writing their opoinions, views and ideas in their writings.
It's right to stand by facts it's also right to thoughfully examine views and opinions of anyone whose experienced human trafedy such as dorced adoptions to help others understand the implications of the tragedy. i.e. The floods in Queenslandm though not whole county caused effects for those who experienced them.
It's time to move forward with this the only way forward being a National public apology to the Targets from the Federal Government as well as efforts to recoup their lost time and lives.

I hope the Government comes to terms with fact past keeps returning unless until they do something tangible and healing to better Australia's international standing. Presently we look like fools, or the government does.
I believe they're not and will do their best to show this with forced adoptions.

All the very best to each and every one who has suffered through this "flood" of discriminatory practices that betrays the Australian Governmen'ts Human Rights record.

This grass roots news media Indymedia isn't at the bottom of the political pyramid.
Theres too much power in the contents and subjects Indymedia approach, put out there.
Forced Adoptions leave me speechless.
I'm shocked about it all.
Good luck to anybody efected.
I've noticed the National Adoption Awareness Week has nothing about this on their website.
Can only think they don't care about any history of adoptions in Australia because it's absent from their agenda.
Neither is anything much about the birth mums and dads mentioned on their website.
Alright. They are a National Adoption Awareness Week for Adoptive parents only, go figure.
James

James again
Whats big wrong in forced adoptions is the victims or targets whichever you call us were and are scrutinised and judged detrimentally at that.
I was adopted out but didn't know the true story 'till too late, can see I was and my mum was and still are scrutinised and judged all through our seperated lives.
Thats not fair, thats unforgiveable.
Go figure that too.
I sound angry at this juvenile conduct by bullies,
who wouldnt be.
Australia doesnt examine adult bullies just kids at school.
That's another confusing unjust social practice.
Bullies beware no one stands you anymore youre known at sociopaths cause you cant show empathy.

social workers and nurses are either in denial or can't admit accountability

This coming Moday night at 8.30pm 4 Corners are televising
"Given or Taken" The heartbreaking story of forced adoptions.
There will be people who endured the nightmare of these terrible tragedies speaking.
there will also be people who were staff and social workers at the times and as I just read one at least claims no way were they forced to sign. Blatant lie.
One also claims and is possibly the same ex-staffer "The mums said don't show us our babies" again I say as do all the many hundreds of birth mothers I've met by now that's a lie also.
It could have happened for very few, but that's not what the truth unfolded has brought forward.
These social workers and nurses are either in denial or can't admit accountability regarding reality based facts that have emerged.
One Midwife in submissions openly admits "It was difficult" what she had to seek from the mothers,
Lets see what they have to say and everyone can judge for themselves.
My friends and I will be listening and watching the people we know who've no reason to lie and who we care about whove been constantly anguishly looking in the reverse mirror whilst on their stigmatised travels all through their lives after their terrible losses from forced adoptions.
These being the mothers and babies who were wronged.
Thanks
Abigail

Regarding Anon's comment here Wednesday 22/2/2012 @ 10.35am.
Someone has to talk about the "guilt" birth mothers have and do feel. Many don't. It's not guilt for wrong-doing.
Guilmongering, gaslighting, fearmongering are negative psychological ploys used by the bully to manipulate targets to do as others want, and were happening at the time of Forced Adoptions to a degree that is unconscionable.
The woman who lost her baby to forced adoptions and attended an expose of this at Taylor Square said she no longer felt guilt.
I suggest she was not saying she felt she had done any wrong rather she had been for many years indoctrinated to feel/think "I'm guilty" for the loss, as this is one of the psychological methods the manipulators/abusers used who took her baby away from her and into the arms of strangers.
I'll be thinking of every one of the targets on the 29th February 2012 with their best interests in mind.
The best interests of everyone else has been for too long on the agenda and these women were virtually made non persons for far too long.
Social injustices as this are very serious and the Senate Inquiry instigated by the Greens is timely for a lot of reasons.
Best
Abi(gail)

I was born in 1969 at the Royal Women's in Melbourne. My mother was forced to give me up for adoption, but then she managed to get me back some weeks later. This event had ongoing effects for us both. There's no father recorded on my birth certificate even though my mum was in a defacto relationship with him at the time of my birth. Are the events of the first few weeks of life important, this event sort of shadowed my whole childhood. I heard about it when I was young. I grew up in poverty and I often wished that I had actually been adopted into the "better" life, but I felt guilty for thinking this way. I also sometimes doubted my parents were my real parents. My mum also expressed a lot of guilt about nearly losing me, and also confused emotions about denying me a "better" life, especially in times of financial difficulty; she was an invalid pensioner. My father left when I was two. How relevant is my story to this whole debate, I'm not sure. I think it's probably trivial compared to most other peoples forced adoption experience. I don't mean any disrespect. I just wanted to share my story with someone while people are still talking about the issue. Before this came up in the media, I thought mine was an unusual experience.

Your thoughts, feelings and comment are anything but trivial Anon 26/06/2012 at 5.45pm, they're very relevant to the Seante Inquiry into Forced adoptions, and you matter.

You show no disrespect to anyone by contributing your voice and everyone especially people who care are empathic for you and your story is important as you are.

I don't know if you know this but the Royal Womens Hospital in Victoria gave an apology to past sufferers of forced adoptions, it wasn't the most sincere of apologies at all, but at very least an acknowledgement they'd played a significant role in Forced Adoptions. I wonder if this is the same hospital as the one where you were born, at The Royal Women's in Melbourne? Most probably.

Dale Fisher is the C.E.O. of that hospital and you have every right to write to her, if you ever wanted to, to express what you have here and ask why the father's name was not on the birth certificate, and explaining your circumstances.
(I say though with all respect to you they didn't put the fathers name on many if any of the forced adoptions birth certificates and that's terrible.
I have one in a professionals office with no name where the fathers name should be and it shocked the socks off me when I was given this knowing exactly who the father was.)
Dale Fisher has a professional ethical obligation to respond to your letter if you were born at The Royal Women's Hospital Victoria, and may be able to show enough respect for your circumstances to consider you and your natural confusion and give you some answers you may be looking for.
(I can't say for sure she will respond as she may not care enough, I can't speak for her, but others do care, and I am one of them).

What you write about guilt wishing to live in another family can and does happen when anyone is growing up in confusing circumstances. This confusion is hurtful and unkind to a child and I feel with you re. this one.
I know it too.

Without ignoring what you felt or thought growing up (not ever) this wanting to live in another family and feeling guilt about this, could have happened and does, whether someone is brought up in wealth, middle of the road (there's hardly any middle anymore) or poverty.
Also, we each and all matter not because of our material or money wealth but because we all are human, have human rights and are as the United Nations Declaration declares all Born Equal.
No one in the adult world is any bigger nor smaller than anyone else. Some just have an unhealthy need to feel they are bigger and act out that way.

Whatever your place financially you are no less human that anyone else and deserve respect and appeciation for the unique individual you are.
I wish you to have compassion for your lovely self, so respectful and humble self, how refreshing and lovely.
It seems to me and from professionals I talk with having this compassion and respect for self leads to some healing of life's wounds and suffering.

May you have a very fortunate year of the Dragon 2012, from here on in.
(The Dragon in Eastern Culture is not like the Dragon in Western Culture, it's a very wonderful animal in Eastern Culture admired for bringing beneficial fortunate changes to people's lives.)

I was moved by your story and wish you not only surviving from here on in but thriving, you deserve some wonders.
Your humility reminds me of some very well known and acclaimed people who also have such humility, that's a gift of yours, one of them.

Thankyou for sharing your story. I'm sure it will wake up a lot of people and make them think.

Remember, you matter as do your thoughts, feelings and comments. I wish you so well.

Defamation of character, hate speech or hate discrimination (covert and overt) has been enacted on natural mothers as well as their biological sons and daughters lost to forced adoptions.
This has to stop.
Forced Adoptions were Hate(malicious) Acts.
This also demands a National Apology.
That will happen if Australia is a democracy and is non-hypocritical.
These people have every right to voice their individual stories and views and especially at this time when a Senate Inquiry into Forced Adoptions has been proceeding, and is to give it's Report on the 29th February 2012.

Abi

The 4 corners program 'Given or Taken?' did not reflect the title.
It was with a sensitive and informative quality and most of all allowed people from diverse perspectives to talk about forced adoptions.
I apologise for fearing and being rather cynical that ABC may show only negatives and assume they (the babies) were given away. Ut was the title, and I should have thought more.
It was so humanly handled, and I commend ABC for airing this.
I was very glad Dr. Geoff Rickarby was finally able to be aired as he has such a depth of remarkable empathy alongside his many years of observations, coal face facts working with forced adoptions targets.
The Journalist was wonderful also.
Of course it's terribly sad to see and know the women who were coerced to lose their babies, who were unjustly treated, my heart was aching as I watched these people talk of their individual experiences.
The one hospital ABC didn't show was Bethesda Marrickville NSW the Salvation Army's maternity/obstetric hospital (and home) and I did have questions as why this one has been and is always left out of the whole picture. So many forced adoptions happened there.
Possibly because they have not the courage nor empathy to as yet apologise publicly.
Possibly because they were and are such a secretive corporation, I donlt know, we will one day find out.
Thanks ABC and also Indymedia
Abigail

I think the title of 4 Corners show last night is misleading too.
"Given or Taken?"
And the question mark does question or put doubts in the publics minds whether forced adoptions actually happened.
So there were others thinking like you the airing would be different to what it was ms A.
I'd have liked to see more of the targets talking too.
They have the stories that the Senate looked at and are reporting on.
Thats for ABC 4 Corners of course.
The Army of Salvation have a website thats a bit confusing and I don't know about their ethics either.
Churchs (other than Catholic who've now apologised only) and States are with some imperative questions that need answering not just the Commonwealth government.
Yours truly
Mr. G.

Why not take a look at the Mercy sisters at Waitara in the 60's. Unmarried mother's were a production line for them and to satisfy the adoptive parents. I wanted to put my child's father's name on the birth certificate, I was refused by the Social Worker (a nun) and threatened that I would be returned to my family home "to shame" if I insisted. My parents wanted to adopt my child and discussed this option with the nuns. They were threatened by them that "welfare" would be contacted if they pushed this. I gave birth in Hornsby Hospital NSW and was placed in a shared room with married mother's. Two days after the birth of my child, documents were placed in front of me in the Ward to sign my child over to adoption. I was 17 years old. It wasn't legal and they knew it.

Click here to watch the programme, click here to read the transcript (scroll to the bottom).

Over five decades thousands of women gave up their newborn children for adoption. While they were supposed to make their decision freely, many claim they were coerced, bullied and their children were effectively stolen.

It's now a cornerstone of social welfare policy that children should, if at all possible, stay with their birth parents, in particular their mother. Not so in years gone by. Right up to the 1970s, having a child out of wedlock was frowned upon and young women who fell pregnant were actively encouraged to give up their babies for adoption. Authorities argued this was done with good intentions, but now a powerful Senate Committee has heard evidence that tells a very different story.

It now seems many young, single mothers were never given the option of keeping their child. Unmarried mothers automatically had their hospital records marked ready for adoption - even before giving birth. There is evidence that some were sedated. Others were denied access to their babies as they were making crucial decisions about their future. As a result, these women have suffered terrible emotional distress throughout their lives.

there's not that many millions of Australians living in this country but minmal quarter of a million were mothers forced to lose their babies to adoptions.
The stats. could be more, we're yet to know.
ABC are airing a lot of shows about forced adoptions but a lot of people are wandering why Murdoch's news (foxtel etc.) haven't said anything, if anything measly little.
They have the whole cake just about of news media (Foxtel etc.) but don't care about showing news on a subject as serious and newsworthy as Forced Adoptions.
o.k. they've got different values and only care about themselves, whilst Fox displays Fair and Balanced, NOT.
It's not fair and balanced ndew they have as they haven't said anything of consequence about this topical subject.
As far as Churchs, State, Territory and Commonwealth Government they all played their parts in devastating the victims of forced adoptions.
My thoughts go out to the latter.
Johnny
FCo

Could folks contributing to this story (and all other stories) please write their own headings? It saves us valuable time. We've all got busy lives.

A member of the collective

A woman named Lily Arthur (who as one of a quarter of a million other natural mums lost tragically her, and their, own born infants to Forced Adoptions) took over running Origins Inc.NSW and states again and again she .
What will she accept?
Does she think her needs whatever they be are more important than all the many others who would find some solace in a National Apology, as well as probable healing with the follow through of active caring reparations?
We all know the soulless Sorry of people who still repeat their own wrongs, but this time could be a different story.
This has bothered a lot of people as Miss Arthur wont tell all what she actually wants.
All feel compassion for her plight but all feel compassion for all the targets plights.
She's commendable to have worked hard on this social injustice, but many others have too.
What gives Lily?

You never compare or compete artists {some compete them but that's China made mass competition style} however the paintings of the artist on 4 Corners 'Given or Taken?' about Forced Adoptions {and the mothers, and babies extreme trauma} remind me, that is one does, of 'The Scream' by Edvard Munch. The one where she the birthing mum has her hands above her and her face is in severe shock.
That's how I know forced adoption. She's painted it as it is.
It's an amazing portrayal this woman has created about the multi emotions of being terrified, very shocked, confused, frightened to extreme due to the abhorent circumstances totally abnormal, out of order so far away from a regular birth, not saying they are easy at all}.
Arts are always one way where our humanity is shown.
Well done to this woman for showing it as it was for very many, and of course your self.
Healing and best wishes to targets of Forced Adoptions.

There's an article about Forced Adoptions that came out 6 hours ago entitled:
"Re-writing Australia's history of forced adoptions, The Conversation" by Susan Gair.
It's commendable.
I understand she was one of the guests on ABC 'Given or taken' 4 Corners program.

Seperately: the Australian Company or Institute that wants to do further research on forced adoptions asking for the targets to submit this feely and willingly have to think about the *probing of the psyche of traumatised people*.
This is one area of research which is potentially damaging for the persons who are *probed*.
Why? Because of the intense nature of the whole experience, individual and collective as it is.
Altruism played a part in the lives of the girls and women who lost to forced adoptions, for many anyway.
This altruism cannot be yet again exploited by an Institute or Company that wants answers to questions (research material) which are so very personal, sensitive and complex as from a forced adoptions targets perspective.
It's a big ask, and appears like en experiment which could backfire and damage further very many.
What costs would that incur in several ways?
I believe the only people who can authentically *research* forced adoption targets would be highly qualified and very experienced in the actual field (as Geoff Rickarby, however he's done much research, and is now too busy) and only people as this, because otherwise the results on the actual targets could be devastating.
This comes not only from my own mind but that of professionals in psychology, psychiatry and social science and law.

Research such as Margaret McDonald Lawrence's (not to be confused with the Australian Margaret McDonald who worked for Benevolent Society who have now apologised), two very different people) is also valuable as is Geoff Rickarby's.

What is it the researchers hope to gain by *probing targets of immense trauma as this forced adotions*?
There may be people who would be able to do this with cooperative spirit however the damage to their psyche has to be considered very carefully and only those equipped with highest knowledge and expertise in the area doing such research, with coal face knowledge, interest and humanity of highest degree no less.

Yours

Shirlee Swain appeared to be saying she acknowledged forced adoptions were rampant and wrong.
She also spoke of there being no Choices for the natural mothers.There weren't,she perceives and speaks up correctly.
This being one woman who spoke up on ABC's 4 Corners 'Given or Taken?'program.
The images from the artist remind me of images from another artist who has gone public with forced adoptions yet the woman on 4 Corners was expressionist and the two paintings this woman created I found most compelling and disturbing at same time were
of a blonde woman looking in extreme shock and horror with hands up, and another with her wrists tied.
Intuitively I think the programme personnel chose a small field of natural mothers who were fairly weather beaten or should I say naturally anguished to point of very unwell, several anyway; very unwell/unfit even as their stories were genuine, and none were from the 70's and there's questions as to why ABC 4 Corners did this?
There are lawyers, doctors, celebrities, other artists, a multitude of others who lost their babies to forced adoptions. None of them on this program though.
(That was my impression and a colleagues only so far today though it's all being talked about widely everywhere at work as we work in a field associated with psychology.)
If it was to try and show the women were unfit to mother (again) they failed, yet hopefully that wasn't it????
Whatever the ultimate good of this program was there is a tone of there is definitely a need for a National Apology and recompense to the victimised.
I wont call themvictims because too often victims can become tyrants and in this case the natural mothers are anything but.
Their guilt, which they shouldn't feel, yet which debilitates them even as they've done no wrong needs to be looked at by professionals if they so choose or their friends and family.
They don't need to feel any guilt and shouldn't have, but this happens to people who are bullied by guilt-mongers. Their a breed unto themselves those thieves.
It's like the victim of rape feeling this.
Before I go back to work just want to say Dr. Rickarby was excellent and I understood where he was coming from and admire this man as I admire several artists who have contributed a lot of hard yakka for forced adoptions and others I've met who are outstanding in their efforts to betterment of society and justice re. this social injustice.
Let's hope for a Report that respects the truths and heals the women and their babies now growing or grown up who need healing, and no one could survive this without some form of help and assistance.
This time it's needs to be sincerely caring.
Before I go I also say about one comment here, yes agree, the people who do research on targets or victims of forced adoptions should step carefully and have at minimum excellent emotional intelligence. More degrees than a thermometer is not enough for this one as it's about human emotions and psychological trauma in extreme as well as facts of wrong doing.
And if it was the attitude of the time as ABC 4 Corners 'Given or Taken?' appearedto say, that's not worth thinking about except that attitudes as this are created by news media dn governments and put on people and the other matter is empathy was as real an emotion then as now. Where was man's empathy when forced adoptions happened?

All the best
Jack Lee

Not too many people think wise and professional counselling is not a good idea, and especially for peoples affected by forced adoptions or any other very traumatic psychological and physical abuses.
There's one thing we need to understand.
It's a choice to go to a counsellor and as the victimised were not given choices with their own second families, that is were coerced to lose at least one of these, it's not wise to say all should attend counselling (even if all would benefit from counselling).
Coercion is part of the wrongs that happened, the large part.
Whilst writing this I agree with everyone who considers counselling by professionals who have insights and awareness of extreme traumas from any bullying to be advantageous and recommended.
Dr. Scott Peck has written an excellent book called 'The Road Less Travelled' that is written well and encompasses diverse counselling and psychoanalysis.
A few of my friends call it their bible as it;s helped them so much to unravel lots along with professional counselling from a professional of their own choice.
None of what is written here diminishes the pain and suffering targets of forced adoptions have suffered.
I just can;t see it as healthy to ask all who have been through to rigidly attend counselling if they don't freely choose to.
As Dr. Peck said himself there are risks involved, as with every procedure to do with psychological injuries or psychological traumas as well as physical ones needing resolution.

Reunions can't be coerced either as everyone is different.
This has needs to be acknowledged somewhere.

Just as there are those who need and want a national apology there are the few or more than a few? who can't see this as an "acknowledgement" and the beginnings of resolution, that's true to them and so be it. However, for many others a National Apology or a national ask for the victimised to accept the governemts states, territories and commonwealth forgiveness may be in order.

One size doesn't fit all.
This applies to what Lyn Newington has written also.
Her religious views may not be others who like Geoff Rickarby may choose Zen Buddhism or whatever they so choose.
We are all free to comment and all free to queston in a democracy, and Australia still holds a fair enough standard in many respects due to these freedoms and would more so if a National Apology and Recompense were given the victimised. If certain individuals want something else 9and it's non destructive to the victimised again) they need to speak out and say what they need otherwise no one can read their minds to know.

Best wishes to all who suffer from forced adoptions and have pains which all loving people would wish were healed.
Carl

The Report is found in the Sydney Morning Herald of 5.06 this afternoon, under header
"Say Sorry, Cheers and tears as Inquiry ends"
The Report recommendations are the beginning and an acknowledgement well received it appears.
Many people contributed to this Report's outcome not least as she begun it the Australian Greens Senator Rachel Siewert.
The roses go to her and her colleagues who accomplished this beginning by acknowledgement.
with respect to the governments and others involved for their upcoming Apologies and I bet they are all glad the process of Inquiry has ended as it's very much a coplex, sensitive, emotive social injustice that is being addressed now.
Cheers
Carl

All interested parties that's the people have to see if this long awaited "Report" is carried through.
It's not cynicism to understand they have made "Reports" before and not carried them through.
Though, I think this one would be something in the best interests of the politicions to carry through, as well as the best interests of the people whov've been damaged.
After viewing 4 Corners show "Given or Taken" on ABC I think the writings on the wall, yet only time will tell if the "Reports" promises are broken or for real.
I barrack for for real.
Ut's a small acknowledgement the "Report" let's hope it's a growing thing.

Thanks IndyMedia
Abi(gail)

For Lyn Newington to avert confusion.
I wasn't writing you were into Zen Buddhism, but Dr. Geoff Rickarby is as a friend of mine recieved a Zen book from him along with letters,
I don't understand a lot of what you write.
If priests raped young girls I'm thinking this is totally unjust as well as unconscionable, and I know it has happened but it's disgraceful.
Please accept all people n Australia have rights to freedom of speech and anyone who blocks this is also blocking that human right.
Re. religions, don't they all have Love at the Core of all of them? but that love has to be practiced, and if you're saying some religious figures didn't practice them I agree totally, especially "Officials" in the churchs.
I'm personally not into organised religion but have friends who are, and we often agree to disagree on several matters and get on with it.
None of us can speak for all of us yet we can say "This may be how we see things, or is."
Guess some wires crossed as this is a very emotional time for many who have been and still are for so many affected by forced adoptions. A lot of people I know have worked tirelessly for eradication of unjust laws and also for exposure of Forced adoptions and I've edited their work and understand with human compassion and care.
all best to you
Carl

Thanks Indymedia for leaving this post open beacuse even though the Report is out as of yesterday, the Commonwealth Government, State and Territory Govs. and church and other instits. still haven't said any apologies. (this is what the Report recommends.)
There's a Report but it hasn't been enacted yet.
Besides we are all interested in seeing if the Report will be followed through.
Some are shelved.
Doubt they'd now do this with this one though.
It's garnished a great deal of public attention, proven undoubtable truths about falsehoods perpetuated about natural mothers for far too long as well as their sufferings that were previously covered up for convenience of unconscionable.
Best again to the targets and you've made a beginning to acknowledgement, as have the Greens and other Senators.

Carl

important topic associated with other social injustices happening in the present

4 Corners program "Given or Taken?"
This is what a friend of my close tie said in an email after watching that show:
"Many still seem to be using the Nazi excuse that they were just doing their job and that they felt they were doing the best for the child".
I have to agree it's "nazi syle" and so wrong.
That distorition and especially on ABC Television leaves me dumbstruck. Though ABC have shown some sincere journalism. Why this type of program.
The poor weather beaten as one commentor said women seemed to have been scarred for life, that's shameful and totally unjust. There were others who are now professionals as that commenter said also, but I know two such and they admit openly they do their jobs just, as have immense emotional problems with relationships and family.
One attends therapy on a regular basis in order to get it together to have meaningful relationships and work better professioanlly.

How could ABC 4 Corners air these kinds of unconscionable staffers that's the ""Nazi excuse" ones.
That's for 4 Corners to consider.
The Report cam out nonetheless and overrides that "nazi" garbage.
Thankyou Indy
Keep this going it's an important topic associated with other social injustices happening in the present also.

Indy and also Green Left Weekly the only two websites where anyone can have a say have been sidelined to the 11th or 12th (sometimes further out and hard to find) lot of posts when we go to look up news about Inquiry into Forced Adoptions from you guys.
Admittedly all want to know what the very latest news media is, but we also want to know what the people think. You often tell us what the governments are doing more readily than the government it self at times.

Some mainstream media it's good they're reporting uptodate news if it's factual and not distorted but some other sites less truth media and informative than your own are near the front. makes us wonder.
How will we know if the Report on Wednesday 29th from the Senate is being followed through as promised without you and your readers having input?
You should still be easy to access, that's all I'm saying about your new positioning.
You should also be credited for having over 4,000 readers who have accessed your informative site. That's a lot of readers who want to hear what you've got to say along with your readers.

Best again to the victimised.
Glad the Report was tabled finally and yes as someone said, let's all hope it's not put on the shelf, the recommendations and all in that welcomed Report.
If it is there'll be public outcry we reckon

The people's voices do matter and you and G.L.W. are all who allow us to have any creative input that goes to the Australians. Comments to other posts are not able to be read by everyone.
That's unfair, unjust and biased in a way.

Abi(gail) and husband
(not Left or Rights but we want truth news media only)

Hey Abi(gail) it's nearly 4 and a half thousand readers actually checking Indymedia out on Forced Adoptions.

Pretty cool for victimised of Forced Adoptions that shouldn't ever have happened and you too Indymedia as there's lots of varied and different writers having their say.

Cheers

The Minister who has had a lot to do with the scandalous Northern Territory Intervention "has to consider the Report before the recommendations are carried through".
This is not the right woman to be considering this very different social injustice.
Outrageous to say the least.

Carl

I agree with the commenter Carl the minister who has done what she's done up north it's not fair play she and her colleagues consider anything to do with forced adoptions.
They're out of her league.
She's aware is she there's an election coming up???

My best wishes got to the victimised heal and get well you're all deserving of respect, dignity with all round apologies and reparations.
You always were deserving of respect and dignity how dare they ever have tried to take that away as they did to you all and not excluding those who haven't submitted.
There were close to quarter of a million of you, outrageous.
Everyone thinks so.

Viviana (V.V.)

No one wants anything less than what the Report is recommending where it is addressing every target of forced adoptions.
I'd have to say the Minister Nicola Roxon isn't entitled to consider this Report for various reasons.
One of the most pertinent being the N.T. Intervention.
However, these are two very different topics.
One is about Babies being taken without consent by coercion under extreme obstetric circumstances form birth Mums, and some dads who admitted paternity, and that's vastly different from what Nicola Roxon was meant to be looking at in N.T.
She blundered in Northern Territory, she and her Advisors blundered at their costs ultimately.
There will some day be a Senate Inquiry into that blunder as one lecturer at UTS well known for being a spokeswoman for Aboriginal Affairs has said that being Lorissa Berendt.

These forced adoption victimised people who suffer from forced adoptions social injustices sufferings and many are calling them breaches of law, have every right to be considered by people with qualifications and expertise in humanities.

The government is presently in turmoil so we'd expect some messy happenings.
What I admire is the Report's basic recommendations and Senator Rachel Siewert's integrity.
The Report will eventuate.
Neg thinking won't help this happen.
It's written in history now and that is something already healing for many families who were once torn apart, not all we know, but a beginning.

I want to send the victimised a large congratulations for reclaiming your voices.
What the officials did was unconscionable by any normal thinking man's standards.
Cheers
John

It seems at least one kind of journalist wants to have her say, and has, and makes out Forced Adoptions are all the same.
The "journalist" has written something in The (Aussie) Punch Newspaper that smacks of bias and neglects individual circumstances with forced adoptions.
Her name escapes me but she's one of a few who will raise this kind of distortion no doubts.
She neglects to tell the reader the mothers (many) had to pay hospitals for their "care" or at very minimal their parents had too. When truth is they weren't "cared for".
That excludes of course the girls and women in Maternity Homes, but not those in Maternity hospitals.
Not only did parents of the damaged and degraded birth mums pay sums to doctors and hospitals including places like Royal Women's and Salvation Army's Bethesda but they also paid emotionally as did their loved daughters and babies.
Some media have tunnel vision and appear to be on the side of whomever is presently in government power.
That's a bit sad. Many can see through this kind of political media it's bias and inexcusable ignorance.

Malcolm

Hear hear Malcolm I thought the same thing.
I remember having a mind like that though.
I would be focused on how to measure things financially so much I lost what the plot was all about.
The Journo. is an amateur, yet she's allowed freedom of speech.

V.V.

Actually to whoever wrote about Pamela Bridgefoot (Pan Melos Galerie) and her first solo exhibition that was to turn out to be multir-arts happened in 1992, not late 90's.
It certainly draw a huge crowd as said, there was standing room only as well as standing ovations afterwards.
I know this she was the first to openly discuss this on air on several radio stations, singing her songs written for the exhibition whilst being interviewed.
The interviewer said publicly he hadn't heard anything about this now aware it had been kept secret from the world.
I remember Pamela telling us she became sick during the exhibition yet carried on regardless and I expect her illness was not only because of the ominous nature of the contents and what she was showing the world but because she did too mcuh for one person, even though people were supporting her exhibition such as the band and the curator.
The time [many years] and energies she put into making this available to the public is absolutely commendable.
My wife and I attended hearing and seeing for our selves one woman with not only a strong sense of justice, humanity but a truth seeker who wouldn't stand distortions of reality that hurt people.
Neither could she allow her fellow peers or anyone being anguished and stereotyped so unjustly again by anything like coerced adoptions.
We also still have the flyer from "Natural Mother" and one paragraph is poignant and touching to us.
"The act of signing a sheet of paper (under duress) had rendered me no rights as a mother, yet all my physical being (and emotional)knew I'd given birth. I had lost you to adoption but there wasn't a day without thought of you.
The natural need to touch you, see you, know how you were -I pushed this under as no one listened to this need until ..."

As far as my wife and I are concerned this public forum was one of the most moving we've ever attended, and I wish Pamela and her family today in some place better than when she went public with this topical social injustice, despite its success in awakening people to truths.
It aired on SBS, though only the soft sculptures and music.
That was a preamble to the show.
Pamela spent enormous costs in time and money to make this all happen, and made no money from the exhibition, at a loss to be exact, actually had to pay for the space too.
She's an innovator with imagination and has gifts which lay dorment until it was worked at for many years to create what a crowded house found awe inspiring.

To all who paid the tragic price of losing as Pamela did my wife and I send out heartfelt condolences and very best wishes for your healing and voices to keep coming out, from the bottom of our hearts.
This has brought back a lot of memories.

I hope the Report does justice for the Senate Inquiry Forced Adoptions'. Truths such as this need people to speak up and out and not only people like Pamela all people.
She came from a fairly privileged background, and found her autonomy in another world, belonging to no one grouping and mingling with diversity with discernment to her credit.

Who stands by when others do terrible things to people without asking for justice to stop the wrongs.
Only yes to any wrong men and women. My wife and I steer clear of these people.

Alistair

The pain that adoptees feel is impossible to describe. Although many of us made submissions to the inquiry, we have barely been acknowledged. My submission and probably many others were made confidentially in order to respect our natural parents' privacy. I watched the handing down of the report in tears. We face a lifelong struggle for identity, acceptance and belonging. We fear abandonment so much that we push away all who may care for us. We also feel guilt, for we were the reason the lives of our mothers and fathers were destroyed. My real mother remains silent and keeps the secret of my birth to herself and a select few. I selfishly hope to know her and to not be a secret. Her story, pieced together in my mind from conversations and files, plays like a movie in my head. I hope an apology will bring healing for us all. One of the recommendations is for integrated birth certificates and it would change so much for me to have one certificate instead of two. The cruel and permanent separation of us from our kin will never be forgotten.

I'm unsure if the news media have said enough about adoptees but I believe the Senate Inquiry Forced Adoptions has lots of understanding the Mothers, fathers when they were there as in admitted fatherhood, and infants all suffered and adoptees are not left out.
My understanding is the submissions were more from Adoptees, correct me if this is wrong?
I'm with you in wanting justice for you and your mother.
I believe usually everyone has been rightly concerned you knew finally you were are loved and cherished by your mums.
I too think a new Birth Certificate is good recommendation and hope they follow that through too.
Don't be disheartened Adoptee because everyone thinks of the child often long before they thought of the mother.
It's admirable you made a submission as an adoptee.
You've found a voice to begin with.
It's admirable you speak out against the injustice to yourself and that hasn't gone unnoticed.
Adoptees are central concern to all usually especially the biological mums I seem to read and hear of.
Anyone who cares can read the mothers submissions and all the articles about them and see they want you to know how valued and really wanted to raise you were and are.
We can all hear and read also what tragedies the mums had to go through and that must be heartbreaking news for you and other adoptees.
It's sheer disgrace "In the best interests of the child" has been deceitfully abused used inappropriately by many orgamisations and governments.
Here's to your healing, gaining what you want from the inquiry and report.
I thought your voice was saddening, though also think there was lot of acknowledgement though true enough not enough interviews on television or radio from adoptees granted. I thought about that my self.
From my data a lot of adoptees have vetoed their mums when the mums wanted a reunion, and I can see your not one of them for sure.
Hoping for you healing, good health, more acknowledgment and healthy identity you seek.
Your a very unique young man.

I'm so sorry I wrote young man at end, because you might be a young woman.
I wrote that because the only two adoptees I know are men.
My regrets for that especially if your a woman.
You cetainly are with every human rights to your healing and justice whatever gender you are.

My family and I are ashamed of the way ABC handled 'Given or Taken?'
The whole program was vetted.
We've watched footage from Nuremberg Trials - War Trials from 1945-1949 and that same process happened with these also.
There were only one or two if any saying I, they were all saying they, and that's to cover up their wrongs.
I'm disillusioned with Senator Rachel Siewert for not having the guts to speak as one person when all the victimised did this, and continue to.
Shameful program except for Dr. Rickarby and the victimised and the latter are in our thoughts as we file this program and see what happens next.
Deplorable vetting.
Vetting is the act of thugs who can;t speak for themselves.
We're all admiring and respecting the victimised of Forced Adoptions, where massive wrongs did happen, truth.
No such thoughts and nor credibility to the government and ABC's dictators.

The Stewarts

Truth is there were coercions so extreme as to be illegal with all coerced or forced infant adoptions at the time the Senate Inquiry into Forced Adoptions has been looking at..
These illegal actions are now on files.
This government has a lot to answer for as the Nuremberg Trials and Forced Adoptions do have that basic premise Vet.

The Stewarts

Forced adoptions have these basic premises of "cover-ups" "Secrecy from perpetrators" and as "Given or Taken?" showed people who say ...".but, and then continue on to say it all didn't happen really, after all the adolescents did sign the papers." She needs to own her role in what she did.
It's the condition they were coerced into when they signed these that makes them illegal.
If by vetting you mean another meaning that they were doing what was ordered without conscience or humanity I totally understand this.
The problem with always following orders when their unjust well noone does what they're odered as The Stewarts justly say, when what they're asked to do illegal, criminal, unethical or unconscionable, even if it means they have to move on and find another workplace.
Who sticks around when people are corrupt, abusive and chaotic, not thinking people because they know they are part of the problem not the care in this case.
The face and name all blanked out woman on "Given or Taken?", what an overt 'cover-up' as this unseen woman was speaking truth in defence of the targets of Coerced/Forced adoptions. That's apeaks lots to all that there is a lot of fears about legal ramifications, and those fears tell the public these people know they abused, acted illegally, contemptously mistreated and debased the birth mothers and their babies.
I think Chisholm was trying to say the right things.
Is there freedom of speech on ABC television because it certainly wasn't shown like that to air.
The other doctor aside from esteemed Dr. Rickarby, was so obviously guilty and his cover up all I can say is utter shame on him. He didn't want a bundle of litigations obviously.
When you have the targets baring their souls and telling the truth to air, that's autonomy and accountability; then you'd expect some reciprocal truths, autonomy and accountability from the authorities who caused them grief, litarally.
I easily see how the Trials on Nuremberg 1945 to 1949 relate to that program about forced adoptions (they do) all the perpetrators trying to defend their own reputations or self interests by lies and more lies.
How many more lies are these sorts of perpetrators going to dump on the public airwaves. It's too dopey and now pointless. You can't get away with multitudes of birth mums
and their babies being exiled and tortured the way these people were. The numbers boggle me.
Thankyou
Elizabeth

The program "Given or Taken?" about Forced Aoptions on ABC Television 4 Corners 25th March 2012 was very much *Vetted.*
The Nuremberg Trials also *Vetted* until the time came for a dramatic and honest change there.
The Stewarts meant this.
The *Vet* was a shortening only. Vetting another way of saying *Vetted*.
It's true, the show was *Vetted* and came across sensitive toward the targets of forced adoptions and then again insenstive toward them, double message, off the air because of that.
We're all learning about this atrocity and 4 Corners usually shows some reasonable programs.