Jennifer Kaeshagen - courtesy of The Stringer - http://thestringer.com.au/the-prime-ministers-apology-to-victims-of-forc...
On Thursday, 21 March, Prime Minister Julia Gillard delivered a national apology on behalf of the Australian Government to all Australians affected by removal policies and practices from 1932 to 1982 which resulted in forced adoptions. The exact figure of how many children were removed remains unknown but it is estimated that as many as 225,000 babies were removed throughout this time. Many adoptees may still not know this to have been the case.
The forced removals and adoptions were driven largely by religious groups, churches and ultimately conservative social morays during the 1900s post-war period, when it was widely considered in the best interests of children to be raised by well to do, white, married couples.
In a 1973 journal article Dr. Ferry Grunseit, from the Children’s Department at the Prince of Wales Hospital in Sydney, wrote:
“In New South Wales most unmarried mothers… are more likely to be poor, undernourished and of low intelligence, if not actually retarded.”
In 1959 Dr Donald Lawson of the Royal Women’s Hospital remarked during an address that:
“The prospect of the unmarried girl or of her family adequately caring for a child and giving it a normal environment and upbringing is so small that I believe for practical purposes it can be ignored. I believe that in all such cases the obstetrician should urge that the child be adopted…The last thing that the obstetrician might concern himself with is the law in regard to adoption.”
The removal policies and practices born from attitudes such as these, according to Prime Minister Julia Gillard “created a lifelong legacy of pain and suffering.”
“To you, the Mothers who were betrayed by a system that gave you no choice and subjected you to manipulation, mistreatment and malpractice, we apologise,” said Prime Minister Gillard. “We say sorry to you, the Mothers who were denied knowledge of your rights, which meant you could not provide informed consent.”
“You were given false assurances. You were forced to endure the coercion and brutality of practices that were unethical, dishonest and in many cases illegal.”
The decision to provide an Apology from the Government came after a Senate inquiry into Forced Adoptions which found as many as 225,000 babies were removed. Many anguished Mothers, Fathers and their now grown children gave evidence to the Senate inquiry which focused on the removal of infants between 1951 and 1975.
It was a period in Australia’s history of social stigma for unmarried mothers. Young women who fell pregnant were often sent away to halfway houses run by churches. Many were intimidated into signing away their babies for adoption even before they were born. Others who hadn’t signed had their babies taken regardless.
The Senate inquiry found women were forced to sign and also that in many cases signatures were faked. Mothers who fought back were sometimes institutionalised and others held down while authorities took their newborns away. Some were drugged immediately following the birth of their child only to wake and find their baby gone.
In many cases adopted babies had their birth certificates issued in their adoptive parents’ names.
Many women were reunited with their children but after decades of anguish, the journey to find their children a brutal one.
On February 29, 2012, the Senate Community Affairs References Committee released its report into the Commonwealth Contribution to Former Forced Adoption Policies and Practices. The report includes twenty recommendations, several of which related to a national apology that identifies and acknowledges the experiences of those affected by forced adoption practices.
According to this report many adopted people suffered ongoing negative effects due to their adoption, including struggles with identity, self-esteem and intimacy mental and physical health.
One recommendation prescribed that “official apologies should include statements that take responsibility for the past policy choices made by institutions’ leaders and staff, and not be qualified by reference to values or professional practice during the period in question.”
Indeed, today there is no doubt that forced adoption was a Government-endorsed violence which inflicted profound suffering on a great many Australians, hundreds of whom submitted their testimonies to the inquiry.
“As a direct result of adoption I have found difficulties with trust of others, self-esteem, confidence, relationships and being a mother myself. I have sought counselling or therapy at six times though my adult life, roughly once in each decade. However there is no counselling available specifically for adoptees, to assist them with the issues of adoption which involves more than loss.”
“I still to this day struggle with expressing and understanding what adoption means for me. A few years ago I was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and I have recently, since doing my submission, had panic attacks and believe that I now have general anxiety disorder.”
“To strip a mother of her baby is a cruel, cruel act. But to leave a baby alone is another. And that’s how I am, alone. Feeling as if I do not have the capacity to love, because it took me a long time to learn it.”
“My life has been a rollercoaster ride of emotional trauma; indescribable fear; uncertainty; anxiety; self-sabotage in so many ways; physical ill-health; alcoholism; depression; anger at a level of rage at many points in certain phases; inability to deal with many aspects of disappointment; a feeling of abandonment within friendships and work relationships (far too often); and a variety of other emotional challenges which never made sense at a conscious level.”
“I believe that being an adoptee has profoundly affected my life in negative ways. I believe that all choices I have made in my life have been directly influenced by my primal wound that I have carried for my life and have only just begun to recognise.”
For many adoptees, developing a sense of personal identity has been extremely difficult. And many have experienced great difficulty connecting emotionally with others due to profound fear of abandonment.
“As for me, being separated from my parents and being brought up by strangers left me with identity confusion, a sense of not fitting, of being a fraud, an inability to maintain relationships and a belief that I was unlovable.”
“Given away at birth, I was stripped of my innate identity, my intrinsic heritage and formally given a new name and family. I grew up with a profound sense of duality—of being part of a family and yet very much separate from them.”
“Being removed from my mother’s body after birth traumatized me. Having my identity removed—my entire story about who I was—shattered my sense of self. Having a partial and meagre false identity attributed to me kept me in a state of traumatic confusion throughout my childhood to the current day.”
One submitter to the senate inquiry described the difficult experience of learning of her adoption as an adult.
“I found out I was adopted when I was 46yrs old. The pain of rejection was strong and so was the pain of finding my mother only to be rejected again. This rejection was caused by the great stress and trauma she had suffered in losing me as an infant. No longer was I the baby she remembered but a fully grown woman whom to her was a complete stranger. All of the memories she had hidden in her subconscious were brought to her mind and she was in great distress. I almost lost her because of this but somehow through great determination we have managed to have a relationship. I cannot stress enough how it is to lose one’s identity at such a late age and then find family most of whom rejected me. If I had not been taken from my family I would have known my grandparents ,my aunts and my uncles and my cousins.”
Many adoptees report having experienced difficulties in their adult lives which they relate to the trauma of their adoption.
“I believe these circumstances have affected me in my life. I have been an anxious person during my life and continue to be troubled by what happens around me personally. My Story will never have closure for me if I cannot meet my birth mother or have a picture or something more than I have now. Who do I look like? What were the influences in my mother’s life? What was she passionate about? What sort of person is she? What sort of family did/does she come from?”
There is no doubt that the experience of being adopted has long-term effects.
There is no doubt that the experience of being the parent of a newborn taken by force has long-term effects.
“I always felt different from everybody else. I thought I was the only one this had ever happened to. I could be in a roomful of people and be so alone and upset. I would leave the room, go to another room where I was in private and bawl my eyes out, and then I would walk back into the room as if nothing happened, because it was my private pain that I was not allowed to speak about. I was silenced, told to go home and forget it ever happened. By jingo, you cannot do that.”
Indeed, according to Ms Charlotte Smith, “A mother whose child has been stolen does not only remember in her mind, she remembers with every fibre of her being.”
Today the following words of the Apology were moved in the Senate and the House of Representatives:
Today, this Parliament, on behalf of the Australian people, takes responsibility and apologises for the policies and practices that forced the separation of mothers from their babies, which created a lifelong legacy of pain and suffering.
2. We acknowledge the profound effects of these policies and practices on fathers.
3. And we recognise the hurt these actions caused to brothers and sisters, grandparents, partners and extended family members.
4. We deplore the shameful practices that denied you, the mothers, your fundamental rights and responsibilities to love and care for your children. You were not legally or socially acknowledged as their mothers. And you were yourselves deprived of care and support.
5. To you, the mothers who were betrayed by a system that gave you no choice and subjected you to manipulation, mistreatment and malpractice, we apologise.
6. We say sorry to you, the mothers who were denied knowledge of your rights, which meant you could not provide informed consent. You were given false assurances. You were forced to endure the coercion and brutality of practices that were unethical, dishonest and in many cases illegal.
7. We know you have suffered enduring effects from these practices forced upon you by others. For the loss, the grief, the disempowerment, the stigmatisation and the guilt, we say sorry.
8. To each of you who were adopted or removed, who were led to believe your mother had rejected you and who were denied the opportunity to grow up with your family and community of origin and to connect with your culture, we say sorry.
9. We apologise to the sons and daughters who grew up not knowing how much you were wanted and loved.
10. We acknowledge that many of you still experience a constant struggle with identity, uncertainty and loss, and feel a persistent tension between loyalty to one family and yearning for another.
11. To you, the fathers, who were excluded from the lives of your children and deprived of the dignity of recognition on your children’s birth records, we say sorry. We acknowledge your loss and grief.
12. We recognise that the consequences of forced adoption practices continue to resonate through many, many lives. To you, the siblings, grandparents, partners and other family members who have shared in the pain and suffering of your loved ones or who were unable to share their lives, we say sorry.
13. Many are still grieving. Some families will be lost to one another forever. To those of you who face the difficulties of reconnecting with family and establishing on-going relationships, we say sorry.
14. We offer this apology in the hope that it will assist your healing and in order to shine a light on a dark period of our nation’s history.
15. To those who have fought for the truth to be heard, we hear you now. We acknowledge that many of you have suffered in silence for far too long.
16. We are saddened that many others are no longer here to share this moment. In particular, we remember those affected by these practices who took their own lives. Our profound sympathies go to their families.
17. To redress the shameful mistakes of the past, we are committed to ensuring that all those affected get the help they need, including access to specialist counselling services and support, the ability to find the truth in freely available records and assistance in reconnecting with lost family.
18. We resolve, as a nation, to do all in our power to make sure these practices are never repeated. In facing future challenges, we will remember the lessons of family separation. Our focus will be on protecting the fundamental rights of children and on the importance of the child’s right to know and be cared for by his or her parents.
19. With profound sadness and remorse, we offer you all our unreserved apology.
Read more on this at http://thestringer.com.au/the-prime-ministers-apology-to-victims-of-forc...
Hansard transcript of what was said in parliament: http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/chamber/hansardr/7d2bdc3b-3..., scroll down to page 39.
Transcript of the Prime Minister's speech to 800 people in the Greal Hall of Parliament, as posted on her website: http://www.pm.gov.au/press-office/national-apology-forced-adoptions
Click on the three IMG's below for angry comment on the Labor leadership fiasco stealing the media attention from the apology.
Comments
Miserable ones need to dominate the "gentlewomen"
I totally agree with whomever wrote "Gentleness is the antidote to cruelty".
The suffering from forced adoptions is not a flippant social issue at all.
There were too many gifted and sensitive (gentle by nature) mothers who had their whole lives turned upside down because of others barbaric practices and total lack of human empathy.
What is further surprising that today we know when we're being targeted by bullies.
They just love "gentle" people and think we are so very meek we have no rights whatsoever.
Truth is there is even a magazine out now entitled "Gentlewoman" and the title says it all.
We need more gentleness.
We need healing for these mothers.
I know of one mother who is so gentle and gifted; who is up against a medical lot who are treating her as if she were an object to be medicalised. She doesn't count, their pay packet is all that does. They sit in their corporate medical centres and "abuse the gentle" whilst fulfilling their needs to dominate and control.
This is not on.
They did this once and will not do it again.
Don't allow any inept or insensitive doctors or health workers to ever place you in yet again precarious circumstances.
I wish all who've suffered forced adoptions true healing, and with the aid of "gentle" "empathic" "caring" people who are not simply maintaining their own littles patches.
How sad and empty for these miserable ones who need to doinate the "gentlewomen". Too sad.
Thank You Indy
The churches have to start a dialogue about all this
I see your point about the sensitive ones here.
This would be a mindbender if anything was.
I only know two women who lost this way and both are amazing people to know.
Their stories weren't easy to listen to when I found out about all this.
Here's to real resolutions and that means the churchs have to start a dialogue about all this.
Thanks
Re: The Prime Minister’s apology to victims of forced adoption
Julia Gillard factually disempowered again the biological mothers by saying they were/are vicrims.
This is all about the survivors of horrific, barbaric practices and policies.
Gillard was wrong to say victims.
Making these mothers and their children victims disempowers them.
Isn't this all about empowering these people, our fellow citizens.
Australia can do better than this.
Cheers
Karla
Re: The Prime Minister’s apology to victims of forced adoption
These women were not victims so much as they were totally mistreated and abused.
It's wrong for any politician to call these women victims.
I know one who isn't a victim even though she went through horriific abuses at the hands of the Salvation Army and others more close.
This is not an end though victims, not.
These women deserve respect now.
And more than apologies.
Frank
Re: The Prime Minister’s apology to victims of forced adoption
Dr. Rickarby was and is correct.
A lot of the mothers suffer from anxiety disorders or injuries.
We haven't heard how the government and those responsible outside government are going to help heal these women and their anxieties.
Good on the previous government for apologising. That's a start.
Adoption and Foster Care need a lot more careful planning and administration.
Thanks
Roger
All Australians should read the book "Nasty people"
There is a good book available about the perpetrators of this vile social injustice.
It's titled "Nasty people: How to stop being hurt by them without stooping to their level".
By Jay Carter.
I recommend this to anyone whose been invalidated to the degree these mothers have been. What a sad history this is.
It's a spcecific book about the "nasty" and "trying to break the will" of others format.
By becoming a very young mother in very harsh circumstances you may find you are sent away and as one woman said "sent to hell" in the name of christian rightness, or stigma on the family's name (Hogwash) - that's nasty - for purely being pregnant and alone.
I think the whole of Australian society should read this book and those who invalidate others should look within and see how terrible their behaviour is and WAS.
This apology is just a further invalidation as it suggests all the birth mothers were and are "Victims" when that's not truth.
The survivors of this horror show deserve more than an apology.
I can't see or hear about any 1.5million$ exhibitons or the rest of what was promised - has anyone found suitable counselling - etc?
This is not a closed social issue.
Nasty people are too often accepted as the "norm" when they are anything but.
Forced Adoptions is open for discussion and a whole lot of honesty coming forward.
I recommend "Nasty People" by Jay Carter to the mothers as a priority. It's not a christian based book so that dogma doesn't get in the way.
I uphold the decent, civil christians, where I find them.
These perpetrators weren't that they were NASTY and took away what wasn't theirs to even have an opinion about.
No mother loses their infant by INVALIDATION - except it DID HAPPEN AND EN MASSE. We have to ask why?
Outcasting the mothers was the cruellest fate for such vulnerable ones as I know some of these women were.
How dare any government, church, religion or person do this and think they are not known for their evil nastiness.
Stand tall all you tall poppies - you are greater than your cruellest suffering.
Re: The Prime Minister’s apology to victims of forced adoption
This is the key thing here.
Healthy people don't go around shaming others.
These mothers were shamed outright.
How healthy is Australian society as we have so many who are so quick to shame the most vulnerable and often the most humane.
We need to ask ourselves about the health of our nation as we have made some huge mistakes with forced adoptions, as one example of social injustuces in our own country.
Not being nationalistic, as this is also a universal social injustice.
Re: The Prime Minister’s apology to victims of forced adoption
So many of the natural mothers were teenagers here.
The one I know very well was so young and guileless with an innocence there.
"Primum non nocere -
first do no harm -
do not deny your teenager's perception/s -
do not argue her/his experience -
do not disown her/his feelings"
By Haim Ginott
Son can't give mother time of day, thinks he's superior to her
My guess is that Julia Gillard learnt only too well what being a biological mum without a wedding ring meant re. forced adoptions.
Because status is relative.
So for someone to rise in status/influence another person must fall, or so it goes with "politics".
It also went this way with the older adoptive parents gaining their "benefit" of beloved infants who were not of their own creations, whilst the loving natural parents were forced to suffer such tragic losses so early in their lives.
Too many grown adoptees show insidious signs of "resentment" toward guess who: the biological mothers, because in their world it's all about who "bought" "had the status then" "could afford" a baby, themselves.
This is sick; forced adoptions needs to be examined further until it's out in the open what hatred went on with these.
The only mum I know has a son who can't give her the time of day and thinks he's superior to her.
She is far more aware and together than this "son" will ever be unless he changes his mentality.
He's told his biological mother what society told all of them: "Don't you feel shame". She is too bright and influential to let that sway her.
Her love remains unconconditional for this hopeless "man?". That's the thing. Guess we can hope he might see reality some time?
He's bought the middle class bourgoise nonsense wholeheartedly.
He's twisted and bent all out of shape from his misguided Canberra upbringing.
Status above and beyond character means nothing to those who really have genuine ability, as in the natural ability to conceive and birth babies, and the personal traits to be mothers of great love and character.
This is all too abusrd that forced adoptions wern't out in the open a lot sooner than this.
What about the parents of these vulnerable mothers.
Why did they disown their own flesh and blood.
Too many questions here.
What gives with forced adoptions?
Roger
How do we as a society compensate that kind of loss?
Social Workers anxious to meet their ADOPTIONS TARGETS are out there, so are the lawyers and all government agencies associated with adoptions.
This is capiatlism gone wrong.
When a mother who has done no harm to her newborn baby has this baby taken from her at birth it is nothing less than a crime against humanity.
These mothers who have spoken out did nothing wrong to their babies yet lost them for too often life, it appears.
How do we as a society compensate that kind of loss?
Forced adoptions is a national disgrace
Like all losses which arise from tragic circumstances there should now be compensations from all involved in forced adoptions.
These will happen again and again until this is implemented.
These people seek money at any cost and will betray these healthy mothers time after time if it suits their budget's needs.
Forcd Adoptions is a national disgrace. It isn't just in Australia.
USA make out like it's the norm these days.
When do countries become civilised.
Mothers and babies are not exploitable goods.
Patrick
We make the authorities involved accountable
We make the authorities involved accountable.
These profits above people need to know Australians don't accept the breaking up of families of blood.
Lest we do this all over.
Time will tell.
An apology wont suffice.
It's as the comment said an appeasement only.
Look at the lives shattered because of forced adoptions.
Whose doing anything constructive to stop these ever happening again.
So many want to adopt another person's baby.
Let them adopt those babies whose parents have passed only.
Forced adoption sucks.
Should be more done with this.
Tally G.
This needs to have laws reviewed and changed
Mothers and babies are not businesses.
The way we're going with corporatisation of almost everything we're headed for trouble.
You can't abolish the past to create a quick future somebody wrote.
I think that sums this up.
We're making businesses out of what is family, culture, creative growth and that's bad for any civilised society.
Business is not as usual for mothers and their babies.
This needs to have laws reviewed and changed.
These mothers and fathers were'nt allowed any identifying information about their own children all through the time until that law changed.
How about Australia leading the way and saying we don't think profits and gung ho C.E.O.'s and their corporations wages are right.
There's this problem with forced adoptions, the absolute denial of all knowing how and where the mothers and fathers childrens were.
We never did this with Foster Care.
Who was really culpable with Forced Adoptions?
JJ
We have a lot of little Hitlers we have to learn to deal with
To Roger from Wed, 23rd October 2013
What you wrote about your friend's child shows the following:
A person whose not accepting his or her own behavior and is using it to shame your friend (his mother) to justify his own nastiness.
I've met a lot of adoptees with chips on their shoulders.
Let's face facts no one in this forced adoption scenario needed to feel shame back then nor do they now.
Yet no one should further create shame where it doesn't belong.
These people can't own their own behavior and are saying it's all the mothers fault the forced adoptions happened, all over again.
Bloody cruel and unconscionable.
Let the little Hitlers get their just deserves.
Peace and Justice for the mums.
If your friend's son or daughter try to make your frined feel shame (which is the blame game) ignore their hostile attempts to control.
We have a lot of little Hitlers as Jay Carter calls them in NASTY PEOPLE book.
We all We have a lot of little Hitlers this type.
It's far too widespread where it shouldn't be say in Human Services.
Don't let another's shame be put on your friend when all they did was fall pregnant at a very vulnerable young stage in their lives.
You can be a very supportive friend here.
Good luck to all involved and for those who choose to blame the mothers, the shame boomerangs back onto you, not them.
They've lived through a lot of shame-making Hitlers, and survived, they're not victims at all.
I admire these people immensely.
Jake
Website left out all this forced adoption history
Thanks to woever for recommending "Nasty People" by Jay Carter.
My family are involved in Forced adoption.
Thiis author writes about "Invaliadtion" and Invalidaters" those who try to invalidate say a mother actually being a mother.
The crime and inhumanity of forced adoptions is writhe with "Nasty People" and they keep on coming on with their ignorance and shameful abuses.
Deborah Lee Furness has a website called National Adoption Awareness, It comes up in November.
Everybody should know this woman deliberately and consciously ignores all the HISTORY of adoptions in Australia.
This woman is promoting her one sided agenda.
I'd add I'm all for quite a lot of what Deborah writes about except this "unwanted babies and children".
There's something wrong when a fully grown adult who has some influence makes out there are these many babies and children "unwanted".
Look at the movie "The Corporation" and see the truth behind countries like India and China and the so called "unwanted babies and children".
For what it's worth I support adoptions in Australia but only when the parents are not alive or are unconscionable and cannot raise any children in safe and secure home environments.
I acknowledge Deborah Lee efforts in the media if she would humanely claim that there would be quite a few motherless and fatherless babies and children who need caring safe and supportive families.
This is such a huge social issue.
What I think about National Adoption Awareness Week website is it's exclusive.
It's left out all this forced adoption history and all the history of adoption in Australia prior to this.
Just like big corporations who don't take history into account.
If we had no books or history where would our real "awareness" be?
Mel
Intolerably exclusive
Wholeheartedley agree with Mel.
D>L>Furness has one agenda and that's herself.
She has left out the whole history of adoption.
As an adoptee I see she wants to include the likes of me but not my biological parents.
Shame on her for being so intolerably exclusive.
This is a social issue in and of itself.
The government and media promote d.b.Lee's scams
J
Stop this devaluing the rightful parents
In defense of the single mothers who lost to forced adoptions.
I recommend Heritage (and humanity) Josh Bernstein
"....civlizations have always devalued & destroyed the accomplishments of those they've conquered".
"The stories of our ancetsors matter. Heritage matters. Our challenge is to recognise this before it's too late." Josh Bernstein.
Heritage and Humanity go together.
History does matter Dewborah Lee Furness, despite your attempts to sidetrack all and sundry with your post about adoption awareness.
If you had a heart you'd stop this devaluing the rightful parents.
Chrsitopher
Stop devaluing the rightful parents
In defense of the single mothers who lost to forced adoptions.
I recommend Heritage (and humanity) Josh Bernstein
"....civlizations have always devalued & destroyed the accomplishments of those they've conquered".
"The stories of our ancetsors matter. Heritage matters. Our challenge is to recognise this before it's too late." Josh Bernstein.
Heritage and Humanity go together.
History does matter Dewborah Lee Furness, despite your attempts to sidetrack all and sundry with your post about adoption awareness.
If you had a heart you'd stop this devaluing the rightful parents.
Chrsitopher
Information on mothering
I'm a well known ballet dancer.
I know a woman who lost her baby to forced adoptions.
She's one of the most remarkable people I've ever met.
Her whole life she's been altruistic and selfless in the most profound ways.
She keeps giving evenb when others have put her down for being the "fallen woman"
As if these girls and woman were "fallen women" they were exploitted.
Their bodies were used as vehicles for others benefits.
This is very cruel and very inhumane.
My friend and I saw these websites and recommend to all who think Deborah Lee Furness is on the right track.
MOTHER BABY SEPARATION: IS IT JUST A MATTER OF MILK? by Jan Hunt
See also Dr. James Kimmet's book
"Whatever happened to mother".
See as well" The Natural Child Project by Jan Hunt M. Sc. Author of The Natural Child : Parenting from the heart.
Here's another one we found: Science News: Keeping mother and baby together after delivery by WHO/UNICEF.
This whole matter of taking kids off their parents when they were good decent people shocks my family and I.
Everyone I know.
I think this apology is one step only to healing the terrible tragedies of mothers forced to lose their babies to strangers.
My whole life I've fought against people who feel an entitlement to things like this because of wealth.
I'll continue that fight.
Good luck to all the mothers you have my blessings always.
J.S.
We don't allow mothers to be mothers in our corporatocracy
One of the worst aspects of Corporatocracy is the outsourcing of mothering. How did civilization come to this.
We don't allow mothers to be mothers.
They're shoved into the workforce because the economy needs the mothers more than the society needs healthy children???
In defense of Deborah Lee Furness I think there should be unified laws and regulations in Australia for adoptions.
I think gay and lesbians should be able to adopt, and they have in Australia. I commend these people as they appear to parent very well.
We have to see diversity and understand.
Deborah Lee does appear to lack empathy for the natural mothers and fathers. I think her website should be updated to include Forced Adoptions.
Also think that outsourcing mothering the way it is now is as above the most heinous aspects of corporatocracy.
We all need families. The corporations are setting the agenda's as well as people like Deborah Lee trying to.
The latter has some merit, the former none.
There are a lot of people who don't have a family. Consider that at Christmas 2013.
We can all have healing with the right communication with this topic.
No put downs and stop outsourcing mothering.
Let the mothers mother.
Forced Adoptions says a lot about Australian society.
We've got a lot to learn collectively.
Forced adoptions, scandalous.
Thanks
Carmel
A whole lot of very 50's-thinking ignorant people
J.S. it's not just people with wealth who are making out the mothers are wrong, it's a whole lot of very 50's thinking ignorant people.
We put Deborah Lee in that bracket and tell her to stop championing her own cause.
Does this woman feel guilty for taking others children away from them? Is that why she has to champion her exclusive cause.
She's promoting herself and wants an order of Australia for Community Services maybe??
These types really are ignorant.
As if the biological parents (hertiage and humanity too true) doen't matter Deborah.
Did you have a loving mum?
VV
They felt entitled because they were married
They didn't just feel entitled because of wealth, some didn;t have that, they felt entitled because they were married.
The apology is not enough for any of the survivors.
One extreme is the Furness's who want to open the flood gates for infamt adoptions, the other wants no adoptions at all.
Any civilised society doesn't need extremes.
I know there are kids out there needing a home.
I know there are parents out there suitable and who'd do well raising these children.
Without the extremes.
We have to respect history, lineage and heritage of we're in trouble.
All the best for the survivors of forced adoptions. It wasn't as a lot have said what was the recognised right thing to do back then and neither is it today.
Ai9
Medical profession and pharmaceutical companies answerable
Deborah Lee Furness and Lily Arthur have a lot in common.
They both want recognition for what they really haven't done.
Who wouldn't think an apology was in order.
Who would think they have the solutions to this really difficult social issue.
I'm amazed at the way it still hasn't been raised that the mothers got DES.
The medical profession and pharmaceutical companies have this to answer to.
Debra
Deborah Lee and Lily are both wanting the limelight
Yeah Deborah Lee and Lily are both wanting the limelight.
There's no other motive for their actions.
I found the websites for both of these women appalling.
Howard
Biological father of 4 granparent of 2
I'm happy there's been this apology for my family
It's healing time not time to make out this or that person is right or wrong.
This whole social issue needs healing and allowing the parties concerned some compensation for their losses.
Leave well enough alone with personalities.
We all know a lot of these matronly forceful figures are sadly lacking in character.
That's the American notion of Personality versus Character.
We all know character is far more important than any personality whos to pushy.
These mothers and fathers were forced/pushed to adopt.
Let's not talk about all the bullies involved as they don't deserve any attention or respect after all this has been shown.
Forced adoptions were all about bullies getting away with murder. I'm happy there's been this apology for my family.
Chelsea
Friend and Family (adoption)
What would just compensations be for this Australian horror?
It's extremely hard reading this site as I am a survivor (not a victim) of forced adoptions.
The National Archives (Australian History) now want the survivors to give freely their stories of forced adoptions.
If it weren't difficult enough to submit to a Senate Inquiry, how hard it is to regurgitate all this depressing and more depressing stories.
It's not reasonable to ask the survivors for their stories unless they are paid for these.
Who else gives their stories for no payment.
I too think Deborah Lee Furness should have something about Forced Adoptions on her website.
It's not "National Adoption Awareness Week" without the history of Adoptions in Australia, including these forced adoptions.
I don't know who Lily Arthur is however if she is like Deborah and only promoting her own agenda, shame on her too.
For my family who've supported me through this reliving what I never ever wanted to relive I am so grateful.
To the government for asking for part of my life, a big chunk of my soul, I say Back off, you're way out of line.
There will be those without feelings who can offer their stories and without knowing if the government will edit them as will please their agenda, and I am not one of these.
It's all about finding peace with Forced Adoptions. This can't happen until there are just compensations, and what would just compensations be for this kind of Australian horror story.
Bron
Constantly having babies and leaving them on DOCS doorsteps
I find this depressing too.
I have been to see Philomena with my husband and think it's worth a look see for all survivors even as it's before the timeline of Audtralian Forced Adoptions.
Philomena is about a simple woman, not a complex one, so it's not indicative of a few forced adoptions mothers my husband and I have met.
It's worth a look see because it shows how power was abused and how the loss was lifelong and profound.
I feel the apology was a good one.
I feel to that there's en explosion of anger about forced adoptions happening all over the world.
Re. Deborah Lee Furness. I feel she's not an oaf, she's gone to the trouble to make a family with adoptions.
She's trying to make it reasonable for others to adopt in Australia.
Beleive it or not, in Australia today, if your gay like a friend of ours, you only get to adopt a "damaged child" i.e. Downes Syndrome or Mongoloid.
That's prejudice of the most horrific kind.
You can, however, go overseas and adopt. It's true what Deborah says, it's made far too difficult to adopt children in Australia and shouldn't be this way.
I've seen some mothers who are constantly having one baby after another and leaving them on DOCS doorsteps to deal with, these mothers have been on hard drugs.
It's a sad sight to see these mothers without souls having kids when so many adoptive mothers wants a kid and are with what someone here said character.
Prudence.
Good luck to all the forced adoptions survivers, I'm glad you got an apology.
There should be more and as the climate internationally is showing us there will be.
No more forced adoptions in Australia? Do we know whether there are or not, with government departments so secretive about so much.
Sylvia and family
When you find your son or daughter you may find no one at all
Philomena found me audfibly sobbing through much of it,
The fact we have had forced adoptions in Australia should warn us of what religious power can do.
We already know about religious wars.
Philomonena reminds us all that when you find your son or daughter you may find no one at all.
I can't stand hearing more of these terrible stories.
What are the international authorities doing to stop women and girls being exploited and abused.
This is a big social issue.
Men make the rules and they are responsible for forced adoptions.
Thanks
B. Howard
A lot of people need to compensate, not just churches
The bad part of forced adoptions is how the whole adoption market has become just that, a business.
The customer is always right and gets the baby or child when the actual creater loses and lives with that.
Babies are not products or consumer goods. They're not toys to play with.
This forced adoption is one hell of a mess.
A lot of people need to compensate not just churchs.
An apology here, that's tokenism.
Sammi
Aussie society doesn't know how to raise fine adults
Why is there no mention of the compensations to these survivors.
Why is there no mention about the specialised trauma counseling services?
What gives with this government.
What gave when forced adoptions were rampant?
There's a lot more to answer to.
I feel depressed about forced adoptions because it placed women and girls in a no win situation.
Their tragic losses were others benefits the joy of raising a child.
I'm a partnered woman and can see the truth about men making the rules.
The chruch is very patriarchal.
There's more to research with forced adoptions.
We have to educate the masses about what it is to have a baby inside and to lose this baby.
That kind of loss I can't imagine.
The loss that adoptive parents face I see that too.
They should be given more information.
Parenthood is one heck of a role and our Aussie society dosen't understand how much it takes to raise fine adults.
Bring in laws that are for the benefit of the mothers and commenserate to their losses.
If we continue in the inhumane way we're going with adoptions and surrogacy there will be costs no country can afford.
Julz
Apology and facing her loss again very traumatic for aunt
I'm saddened by forced adoptions.
My aunty is a survivor of this abuse, corruption and chaos.
I reckon the non for profit organisations have to compensate.
They're like doing all these terrible things and getting away with all.
Salvation Army manages to "lose" files so complainants can't have the needed paperwork.
This is one heck of a miserable "charity" that looks after it's own and the rest be damned.
My aunty is finding it hard to resolve her loss.
We're a tight knit family and all we want to do is know our aunty's child is doing well and our auntie can get on with life.
She's found the apology and having to face her loss again to be very traumatic.
There's no records from those who should have them like the Salvos.
The government are'nt the only ones who should apologise.
It's time for the non for profit companies to be exposed for what they are; multinational corporations with stakeholders and money as their bottom line.
If life is only about economics and business as usual with or without babies we are a very sorry nation.
If all my family could understand why the churchy non for profits did what they did there might be some resolve.
It's hard to understand why they treated mums and babies so dreadfully.
With adoptions and the adoptive parents.
I reckon it's better to have open adoptions.
Then again what if it causes further trauma to the mums and their babies.
I don't think an apology is enough.
When does saying sorry without showing that your sorry count?
Malcolm
No apology will make right these wrongs
There's quite a few very well known women who lost their babies to forced adoptions.
They have every right to resolutions and compensations.
All the survivors have every right to have supports available to help them heal.
Good luck all of you
No apology will make right these wrongs.
Gail
Don't ever seperate a baby from its mother
Don't ever seperate a baby from it's mother.
If there is one principle learned here it's this.
There are reasons why mothers and babies need to be spared lifelong seperation anxiety.
I'm not so sure the apology was said in the right way.
It wasn't to glorify the PM.
Hopefully every target of forced adoptions will gain resolution.
I'm all for families staying together and not being bullied apart by religious, corporate or political means.
Joe
I had a pretty terrible time when I found my real mum
I'm adopted and I had a pretty terrible time when I found my real mum.
It isn't like on television where it's all smiles and warm cuddles of reunion.
There's so much I want to write about with forced adoptions.
Meanwhile I'm in therapy cause I can't handle the distress I feel when I have to think about this.
One measley apology when there were so many in on this.
Give me a break.
Ted H.
People didn't use their minds and were soulless
The thing about forced adoptions is this.
If ever there is force or "control" there is unethical behaviour.
What we learn apart from the obvious from these atrocities is that people didn't use their minds and were soulless.
That is without feelings most importantly empathy and compassion, that which makes us most human.
We read about these "businesses" trying to convince all and sundry that dominating, force and control is virtuos.
It's plain wrong.
This propaganda to make out like all the good people dominate. force and are brazenly immune to others lives has become a big Australian problem.
You see it everywhere.
The real truth lies where it all began.
These mothers, fathers and babies were ripped apart with "god on the side of the demons who did this" makes anyone look at secular virtues rather than the "exclusive" and "only the few are chosen" religious right wing.
What's an apology to do with anything.
They've done this before and if they who are soulless can do it again they'll try it on.
This time we've got history and a host of horror to stop this.
I don't think a lot of people realise what kind of loss forced adoptions losses were.
You have to be in contact with somebody whose been there and I'm married to an adored wife who was.
For her an apology hasn't helped her with anxiety and depression.
She's got every right to a just resolution.
Anon
About time Australia faced up to its prejudices
Forced adoptions was all about one dominant theme: unmarried therefore unable to keep the child you gave birth to.
There's something so Dickensian about this.
I don't for a minute think it was widespread belief these mothers were "unworthy".
I think the news media and other political as well as monarchical pressures were at play.
It's a horror story reading the accounts of the many losses.
About time Australia faced up to it's prejudices and the monarchy faced up to it's previous prejudices regarding single mothers and divorces etc.
This is not a social cause that will just go away because there was a "sorry".
We've heard this all before.
My heart goes out to all who suffered because of others hatred and ignorant assumptions. My friend who lost this way has our full support always had this.
Mun of four wife and O.T.
What an unjust country we are
Forced Adoptions are all about Bullying in it's most horrific manner.
All bullies should be excluded from all/any workplaces where we serve our fellow man.
Bullies wreak havoc on everyone. The whole of Australian society is writhe with bullies.
Look at those head honchos who get the jobs because they neck tread others. What an unjust country we are.
I think we can heal the survivors with empathy and support.
I really pity the pathetic bullies who want to strip others of their very own choices in life.
This is a sad post. Who takes anybody's choices away from them like this. It's a dangerous thing to have that kind of terrifying power.
No apology goes far enough for my liking.
Rebecca
The apology didn't help my mum with the horrific reunion
Hear hear Rebecca,
I've been following this post because my mum lost her first child to this.
Good on you for being aware.
This awareness of bullies is a start to stopping them taking over with their dictator/dominater ways.
Good talk.
What's an apology, I have no idea except it didn't help my mum with the horrific reunion.
Thanks
M.S.
All our family are there for my sister to help her heal
The sheer vulnerability of being a mum with a tiny baby I know.
It's not like any other time in my life.
I felt so vulnerable and I didn't lose my baby.
My sister was not so lucky.
She's one of the survivors of forced adoptions.
I'm glad there was an apology.
That's not enough though it's a start.
How does my sister heal, I've got a family who are supportive and we are there for her when all others left her so tragically.
Brene
Australia does a lot of mean spirited things
The apology seems to have left it at that.
I hear they are trying to collect stories for the Archives so if anybody wants to do that they can.
The thing about this horrific social evil is the judgements made then and now of the biological mothers.
I think everybody should see Robert Altman's "Gosford Park" to gain insight into the tragedy of adoptions from very enlightened film makers.
I couldnt stand anybody except my husband and I touching my baby let alone taking her away when she was just born. I am her mother for life.
As are these mothers.
How do we get through this one without judgement of the people whose lives were altered so tragically because of others prejudices?
These have to stop.
The other thing is lechs have to learn the value of life.
"Gosford Park" rocked our boat and I was in tears.
Knowing it crosses all socioeceonomic boundaries doesn't make adoptions alright unless they are done benevolently.
It was all manevolent before.
We all have to wonder also what L'Wren Scot lost when she grew up adopted by strangers.
It looks so cosy in the photos who in their right mind wouldn't question the trauma such a beautiful woman might have experienced stoicly.
Adoption - you wander about it. My family and friends do now. Australia does a lot of mean spirited things. I can't believe the social policies and how many are homeless or without basics here. Everywhere we've travelled in Australia we've seen abject poverty. What gives.
People from others countries seeking asylum are basically asking Australia for assistance.
Since when does giving assistance mean these people are criminals. It's the same kind of evil thinking associated with forced adoptions.
Who would make money from babies. Australia does very well in this. Shame on those who partake of such horrific social injustices as forced adoptions.
Healing to the survivors - may you flourish with benevolent support.
An apology this needs a lot more.
Repair the social fibres so there's awareness includng self awareness and end of this kind of flagrant abuse of people's choices and individual voices.
Jacqui (Geneva)
Bullies seem to thrive in many parts of Australia
Theres a lot about bullying here.
In Sweden they have criminalised bullying, and it looks like other European countries may follow.
What about "down under".
Bullies seem to thrive in many parts of Australia.
They had the vulnerable by the horns with forced adoptions.
How dare this happen and if it's happening again.
Bullies are not able to understand the damage they do.
Worse still they don't care.
Caring has to come back into Australian minds. It's an international issue.
We don't want to be the only country not addressing bullying and it's causes and effects.
Norway may already have an anti-bullying policy, not sure about this one.
Jacqui, I agree with you "Gosford Park" was a good flik.
Because I work with rather than an one of the survivors I think it says a few things others don't consider.
Though it's an Agatha Christie kind of flik, not for those who don't like detective stories.
What a bully as patriarch in there hey.
Best of good fortune to all who had to go through with forced adoptions.
My focus is on your healing well.
Chelsea
My adopted husband has vetoed his mother - I'd like to meet her
Regards L'Wren Scott that's suicide tragedy.
All I know are with deep sadness and heartfelt sends to Mick Jagger and all closest to her.
That's not the same as the tragedies of forced adoption except where there were suicides.
Too many of these.
You have to ask why werent the teenagers or older mothers with parental care and support.
Parents are usually all of us making sacrifices for our children.
Not that helping a vulnerable young one is actually sacrificing.
Humanity we need it now.
I have two children and my husband was adopted.
He has vetoed his mother I'd like to meet her.
Families like this it's difficult.
Wendy
No to orphanages, children need a community to grow and love
Gosford Park was set in 30's England.
This is about the 89's and 70's mainly.
I haven't seen Gosford Park but know well there were royals who had children out of wedlock and sent them to orphanages.
This was part of another horrific past in lots of countries.
Lechs are out and so are orphanages.
We as a community ought to looo after out children.
I say no to orphanages. Children need a community to grow and love.
I'm all for compensations for the survivors of forced adoptions.
It's totally barbaric what was done here.
Churchrun places have to change or keep on getting exposed like the Catholic priests.
Bron
My adopted brother has become a very angry young man
Trauma can be a bridge however we have to know how to make it like that.
This takes a lot of courage and introspection and therapy I feel.
What good an apology when you see how so many adeoptees and so many mothers have suffered.
With all good intentions "in the best interests of the child" is false.
My brother was adopted and he's become a very angry young man.
Who knows what it takes to mend this messy situation.
Forced adoptions were very, very wrong.
An aplogy is only a beginning to acknowledge all the wrongs in Forced Adoptions.
Prejudices and bulling like these suck.
A.Howard
Ignorant redneck people are the shame of Australia
I've come to this a bit late as I've been in UK for a time.
The apology is a first I think so that's to the governments credit.
It's not credible the government exploited the apology with self agrandisation.
We have a country where rednecks are tolerated. My family and I are always sent aback when we come across these ignorant people who don't "understand".
This is the shame of Australia.
What about the cruel injustices past against Gay and Lesbian peoples?
What shame we carry for the tragic way we've allowed "authorities" to judge these wonderful people as not o.k.
A healthy society doesn't comply with unjust regulations and rulings which stigmatise or traumatise any of it's citizens.
When I was in the UK I saw some things which were encouraging regarding changes to people's attitudes and values.
It's not all fair dinkum over there either.
The writings about L'wren Scott I think the whole world is feeling sad for Mick Jagger and all L'wren's closest family.
Didn't know she was adopted.
Yes adoption is not all such a neat package of social issues, there are many wrongs that can go unchallenged with these.
Who know, L'wren's mother might be an Australian if the forced adoptions went that far back.
These invisible mothers in forced adoptions what do we collectively do to genuinely compensate these individuals (and that's what each one is) for the lifelong traumas they've had to endure and still do? Don't ask the rednecks, ask the conscious and conscionable.
The government want stories from the survivors of forced adoptions. As with every giving of your experiences the government have to pay the people for these. Nothing like human stories are free.
Who has that amount of trust in Australian or any other government to just open up without credit and financial receipt.
The government can't just take, take all the time. This has to change.
They make out like so many others just take when that's pure projection.
They took babies away from unmarried girls and women. Shameful.
John A.
Apparently my sister's child was sold to an infertile couple
The last to know
I've recently found out my younger sister lost her baby to this forced adoptions.
We don't have a father but my mother and sister told me.
I'm more than shocked as I read what my sister wrote to me in a lettr.
It explains so much why she's been depressed and not always with her usual sense of humour.
.
Why didn't the adoptive parents want to know about the actual mother?
Were they so selfish it was only their needs that were acceptable that's how it was. So callous.
This is something i would immediately ask.
I've babysat for children so often the mothers are needing to know how their kids are going.
My oldest child now knows about forced adoptions and she's the sensitive kid in our fa,ily, wants to help everyone.
How do we help my sister heal?
Why would one of the survivcrs want to tell all to a government that netrayed them brutally.
Not saying they did it without the churchs and medical professionals assistance.
A fe people talk of how they made money out of adoptions and apparently my sister's child was sold to an infertile couple who I hear went overseas with the kid.
Forced adoptions are wrong.
My sister is a good woman she deserves something more tangible than an apology that was over political.
Greer
Cruel and UNCARING church minister
I've just been contacted by a longterm friend and ex neighbour.
She is one of the survivors of forced adoptions that happened in a church setting.
This time the church are turning her away for no reason nor christian ethos.
She is sick from the relived trauma of forced adoptions and it's taken a toll on her physically.
Off she went to a minister Brad Kemister at Church she has volunteered at.
What for? Just to ask if the minister would collect her from hospital after several tests which apparently will leave her bit needing a care person to go home.
Nothing more. No drama, no fuss and very close by to all.
I'm working days as are all this woman's social capital.
One has offered yet may be in Ireland on hols.
This woman is not old, she's not frail she's not a hypocrite as she has shown time and again.
However, Brad Kemister told her point blank without even reading her request properly "Can't do".
One of his duties in his church is doing hospital visits and things like she has asked.
I don't know as yet who I'll take this to however I've had enough of the ongoing hypocrisy and ill treatment of these mothers.
They didn't choose to have forced adoptions.
They didn't choose to be healthy sensitive wise. They don't today choose to feel all that trauma all over again, it's as it is.
What gives with churchs like this one mor to point what gives with this man.
I'm very glad Porters Lawyers are looking at clergy as they need a big overhaul.
I know this is about the apology and all I can say is the apology did make sense to my close friend.
She found it easier to have compassion for herself. She's a very gifted woman and I admire her courage and sincere faith.
She's a real gem.
Porters we're all hoping you give these mums and adoptees their justice, finally.
As for ministers who "cop out" and are hypocrites it's even in the bible to expose them and turn away from them.
I hope my friend doesn't have to go through any further indignity with this cruel and UNCARING man.
Blessings to all who suffered from forced adoptions.
Clara
Churches and benevolent society should compensate survivors
I confess a new trust in the government.
Not only did they apologise on the National level as well as states.
They are going to do what they said they would
viz Exhibition and stories from those who want to be archived as part of forced adoptions.
Following through with what a gov. says it will do isn't common.
I'm not sure the apology was written with the survivors at the core however it was an admission of guilt that is appropriate.
I don't know about a lot of others but the churchs and benevolent society should be compensating these survivors. They have the money as the Royal Commission has shown us.
Give these survivors tangible and humane justice.
Thanks and hope this doesn't ever happen again.
Josh
The only way to rectify this is for the bullies to compensate
Forced adoptions was enacted by bullies.
All the apologoes in the world wont take that truth away.
The only way to rectify this id for the bullies to compensate.
We all know the bullies are the pushy ones who neck tread to gain their financial clout.
This is a scandal.
B. Chevvy
This is not going to go away until there is justice
I like the way the government has a dig at the survivors of forced adoptions.
A mere apology and some kind of exhibit isn't going to heal anyone.
Your stories all of them should be paid for and the gov. act an the agent to get those funds.
The one story I know about is horrific and I know none of those concerned with that forced adoption would hand over their personal memoirs for Archives only.
For those who don't value their suffering and lives that's another issue.
This is not going to go away until there is justice.
Ingrid