Friday, December 11, 2009

With Our Best Wishes

It has been a very successful year for us and we are looking forward to 2010 with much anticipation.

February will see the much awaited changes to the Queensland Adoption Laws and the launch of the Post Adoption Support Queensland with Susan Kelly as team leader.

Susan will speak at our February Meeting
Details to come in the new year.

Our Special Thanks to everyone who has helped us through the year.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Christmas celebration


A Christmas Lunch at The Ox at Margate on 28th November was enjoyed by everyone.
It was nice to have some of our Adoptees and Mothers together for our final meeting and to celebrate such a successful year.
It has been a very busy year and we are very proud of our achievements.

Margaret

Friday, November 27, 2009

We believe this to be the very First Apology to Adoptees


Congratulations to members of WASH (White Australian Stolen Heritage) on receiving an Apology for all Adoptees seeking an apology.
Some ladies from ALAS had the privilege of watching Professor Ian Jones, on behalf of the Royal Brisbane Women's Hospital present to Victoria Fitzpatrick and Kerry Saint a long awaited apology. A very disappointed third member of the team, Therese Hawken was unable to attend due to illness.


The letter from the Royal Brisbane Women's Hospital reads,

To The White Australian Stolen Heritage (WASH) group and all Adoptees seeking an apology.

Dear Friends,
Thank you for meeting with me at the Royal Brisbane Women's Hospital and sharing your experiences of being an adopted one. I was saddened to hear how half truths,lies, feelings of abandonment, lack of knowledge of your origins and missed opportunities to grow up and be with your siblings, have and continue to adversely affect your lives, and many other lives of those who are near and dear to you.

Our open, honest and obviously painful discussions have helped me to understand how you have been denied the right to experience the natural relationship between you and your mother, your siblings and extended family because of the practices in place at the time of your birth. Some of you were subjected to many different types of abuse; from being denied contact with your mother and by the family in which you were placed.

In this regard on behalf of the Royal Brisbane Women's Hospital, I acknowledge the hurt and suffering you have described and sincerely apologise for any ill treatment you experienced while in hospital by being taken and denied contact with your mother at the time of your birth.
For similar reasons I have also apologise to those families who have experienced hurt and suffering through the tragic and harmful effects caused by adoption.

Yours sincerely,
Professor Ian Jones
Obstetrician and
Executive Director
Women's and Newborn Services
Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital
12/11/09

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Letter in Courier Mail 14th November 2009

This letter typifies the misguided concepts that were proliferated in the 60's and 70's and still exists today.

Hooray for the proposed national breast milk bank (C-M, November 13). When I was having my children (now in their late 30's) at the Royal Women's Hospital, single mothers were in a special veranda ward away from the other mothers, as they were all giving their babies away for adoption. After every feed we had to express our leftover milk for the babies who were being given away (hepatitis and AIDS were far from anyone's mind).
I am glad to see that babies will once again be given the best start in life they can get.
-----------------------------------------------------------------

This is the response I have written to the Courier Mail. I hope they print it!

Over 30 years ago I was one of the mother's who "gave away" my baby for adoption.
The facts are, we did not give away our babies!They were taken.Our crime was, we were unmarried. Adoption signatures were taken under the influence of strong medication. Most mothers were under age and were kept in isolation in the "special veranda ward" away from "respectable Mothers".
While you were expressing breast milk for our babies, we were given drugs to dry up our milk and had our chest bound to suppress milk. We did not agree to this, in fact we were denied any contact with our babies to make sure adoption practices went ahead smoothly.
Our rights as a mother were violated. My baby was born at the Royal Brisbane Women's Hospital.
The Hospital has recognized the crimes relating to adoption and the never ending trauma mothers have to endure from the loss of their babies.
A public apology by the Royal Brisbane Women's Hospital in June 2009 was presented to mothers who were treated badly while in the care of their hospital.

So you can see that, while breast milk is good, natural mothers milk is best.
Margaret
----------------------------------------------------

IT NEVER FAILS TO AMAZE ME THAT PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT "ALL" MOTHERS "GAVE AWAY" THEIR BABIES, IN EVERY HOSPITAL, IN EVERY STATE IN AUSTRALIA.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Support from Aboriginal Elder

Apology Alliance has received a fax from the much esteemed,
Initiated Yuin Elder, Uncle Max Dulumunmun Harrison offering his support to the Apology Alliance and all member groups in gaining an apology for the White Stolen Generation.

Uncle Max's words,

To Whom It May Concern

As an Aboriginal Elder, I fully understand the pain and suffering that has been done to my people in the past, and the traumatic times that we have endured.

I applaud the Prime Ministers apology to our mob, but what about the White Stolen Generations that has suffered the same fate.

I know many white people who has went through the same pain.

So why can't this government do its healing again, and apologise th the White Stolen Generation to bring closure to all this suffering.

As we walk the same land,
Breathe the same air
Drink the same water.

Signed by
Yuin Elder Max Dulumunmun Harrison

2/11/2009.
Apology Alliance has humbly and gratefully accepted this support from Uncle Max in his capacity as Indigenous Elder.

ALAS, as one of the member groups, would also like to send our thanks and appreciation to Uncle Max.

Christmas Meeting 28th November 2009

Our last meeting of the year will be a Christmas celebration.
It will be held at:
The OX Restaurant,
Oxley Ave., Margate.
Time 11.45am onwards.
Please RSVP by 25th November.
Contact Trish Mob:0417 077 159 or
Marg Mob:0402 336 480


Come along and help us celebrate our achievements of 2009.
All welcome.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

COPY OF A LETTER SENT TO AN ALAS QLD MEMBER

"I am pleased to advise the Adoption Act 2009 was passed by the Parliament on 18 August 2009. The new law will come into effect on 1 February 2010.

The passage of the Adoption Act 2009 heralds the most significant reform to Queensland's adoption law in over 45 years. As Minister for Child Safety, I am honoured to have been given the responsibility of leading the debate and passage of this historic legislation through the Parliament on behalf of the Government.

The Adoption Act 2009 is available for download free of charge from the Queensland Legislation website (www.legislation.qld.gov.au under 'Acts as passed for 2009) and printed copies can be purchased from the Queensland Government Bookshop (www.bookshop.qld.gov.au).

A team is in place to undertake the range of activities that are required to prepare for the delivery of adoption services under the new law. The Adoption Reform Implementation Team is working closely with Adoption Services Queensland to develop the new policies and practice that will support service delivery under the new law.

Now that the Adoption Act 2009 has been enacted, the reform team's priority is to develop information and resources about the changes to the law and how they affect various client groups and other people with an interest in adoption. This information will be distributed through a range of communication activities to ensure as many people as possible are aware of the changes and how they will be affected.

The best source of information about the key areas of change introduced by the Adoption Act 2009 is the department's website (www.childsaftey.qld.gov.au), which will continue to be updated with new information leading up to the Act's commencement on 1 February 2010.

_____


You can also contact the Adoption Reform Implementation Team for information or confidential advice on how the law might affect you. The team's contact details are listed at the end of this letter. Until the new law takes affect in 2010, adoption services will continue to be delivered in line with the Adoption of Children Act 1964.

Yours sincerely,

Phil Reeves MP
Minister for Child Safety
and Minister for Sport
Minister for Mansfield

Contact the Adoption Reform Implementation Team
Postal address:
GPO Box 806 Brisbane, Qld 4000

Phone:
1800 811 810 (Qld only)
(07) 3224 8045

Phone (TTY):
(07) 3012 8655

Fax:
(07) 3235 9422

Email:
adoptionreform@childsafety.qld.gov.au"

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Our next Meeting on the 31st October 2009

Our next meeting will be a south side meeting.
New ladies welcome.
Thanks to all who attended our last north side meeting.
For details,
Contact: Trish Mob;0417 077 159 or
Marg Mob;0402 336 480

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

My letter to Anglician Church

As you see I have requested that my letter be removed from this blog.
To all that commented on my personal letter, thank you.

For all others, shame on you!
If the comments had been on my letter I would not have had them removed.

You have forced me, as a mother to return to the dark times, Silence and Isolation!

It took me a long time to decide to put my very personal letter on this blog.

Keep up the good work fighting, you will achieve NOTHING.

Margaret Hamilton

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Language as part of the Rehabilitation Process

Many years ago, if anyone asked me how I was, I would invariably say,"not too bad." I was not complaining about my lot in life, but I was not propelling my state of being into a positive realm.By answering in the negative, I was sabotaging my own existance, which had already been sabotaged by many negative categories, or the "nons-uns-and ins-, as I came to regard them.

In 1963, the Australian culture enabled itself to take my newborn baby by treating me as non-human. By labeling me as unchaste the N.S.W.Government made laws to "protect"my baby from being mothered by his own mother. By categorising me as unfit because I was unmarried,and uncaring for the well being of my baby if I wanted to keep him, a whole scenario came into play that enabled the Church and the State to treat me in an inhuman manner. I was deemed insensitive to the needs of childless couples and inconsiderate of the needs of those who wanted my baby. I was regarded as ungrateful by a Matron who's paperwork I would mess up by my desire to have my child.

I never recovered from that year. To be on the wrong side of the dominant cultural "ethic" is a totally isolating experience. My personal balance sheet was in the red, with not much hope of getting back to breaking even.

In 1965 I enrolled in English 1 at the Queensland University. Nothing meritorious about my progress, as how well can you do in quantitative terms wile struggling with undiagnosed P.T.S.D.
But in qualitative terms, I had begun to look at the power of the English language, and the psychologically disabling effect of the "negative spin". I determined to intercept my existence in positive terms from then on. My state of being went from "not so bad"to "fine," "great" "terrific".

In the late 1970's the term "birth mother"emerged from the American lexicon. I was horrified, determined that the term must have been devised so that someone else could claim the term "mother." The shift had been accomplished- from mother and adoptive mother, it had become "birth mother"and "mother."
The old labeling switcheroo had returned.

I refused to accept the label "birth mother,"with its connotations of baby farms; it clearly defined temporal role in my child's life, its implications of sheer physicality and nothing more; and its put-down element of servicing the needs of the infertile.I was not, and never would be, a service provider for the infertile.

Initially my complaints about the term were ignored. Again I found myself out of step with the dominant social terminology. In 1979 my world started spinning. I did not stop spinning for 4 years.I determined that only when mothers began to fight back would we be able to assert ourselves and our rights to a decent place of dignity and respect within our culture. We simply had to "come out"- whether it be in our families, our neighbourhood and clubs, so that we could find each other.

AND WE DID!

Even from the start, the path wasn't going to be without its boulders. And some boulders were other mothers. I had heard time and again,
"Wouldn't you think they could all work together without all that undercurrent? "

But when an entire culture traumatise a class of it's citizens, it is very difficult for those citizens to regain trust in anything, let alone their fellow "traumatees." The culture that engages originally in name calling to extract the mother's babies with force and acrimony spawned a sub-class of traumatees who engaged in the name calling at other mothers. Counselling alone does not assist a mother back to "normal life."For a start, she must be able to complete the birthing process. When it is not possible for this to happen, you have a disenfranchised mother fixed at the point of psychological development at the age when she gave birth to her stolen child The resulting damage to that mother, her family, her friendships, her work relationships, is like the ripples of a stone tossed into a pond-concentric and ever widening, until it encompasses the entire surface of the water.

" I CHOOSE TO BE CONSIDERED PART OF THE "WHITE STOLEN GENERATION."

"White" in inverted commas. "White"does not determine colour in this sense; in fact white is total absence of colour. I simply refuse to be called "non-indigenous.""Non-indigenous" is a term devised by others. It is a non-term, which I won't subscribe to. It encompasses negative nomenclature. If I am to stay positive about myself, my life, my well being, I cannot go back to being a "non-anything."

Australia is my place of birth. I am a native Australian. As Tjanara Goreng Goreng says, I, as a native born Australian, am protected by the Rainbow Serpent. The Rainbow Serpent protects ALL those born in this land, without exception. The Rainbow Serpent does not enquire the colour of my skin- by virtual fact that I came into being in this land, guarantees the lessons and obligations must face, as well as the guarantees and deligations of others born here.

When quizzed on the exact nature of Kevin Rudd's apology to the indigenous stolen generations, the indigenous liason officer from Jenny Macklin's office stated that all indigenous people, whether adopted of fostered, were apologised to, whether separation from their family occurred before or after the Protection Board existence. The apology was not intended to include any other class of people. So if a white mother and an indigenous father had a child taken, the child and the father were apologised to. The white mother was not.

The indigenous mothers who had their babies taken after 1969, that is after the Protection Board Acts were extinguished, were taken under the Welfare Act,under which the white women lost their babies. The indigenous women and their babies were separated by the same concent takers who took the white women's babies, from the same hospitals. The indigenous women were apologised to, the white women were not.

In fact, women of any colour or nationality who lost their babies- Greek, Russian, Vietnamese, Philipino, mixed race ( non indigenous) were not apologised to.

I could have used the word "other." It is slowly creeping into the Australian lexicon to mean any other race besides indigenous.

But Kevin Rudd's apology to the Stolen Generation was based on race and ancestry. You will have to verify this by contacting his office yourselves.

Quite simply, the indigenous stolen generation were apologised to, all others were not. I am glad the indigenous mothers and children received an apology, as I know personally the liberating effect an apology from a perpetrator can have on the psyche of the aggrieved person.

We were not apologised to because of the colour of our skin. Most of us who lost our babies were native born Australians. So what should we be called? Ourselves? Others? No thank you. I was not apologised to by Kevin Rudd because I had no aboriginal blood in my ancestry. Kevin Rudd and his office made the distinction. I have no concerns about that.

I simply choose to call myself, "white" instead of " non-indigenous,"or "other."All others are included in the "White Stolen Generation." Those who would not permit me to call myself "white" IN THIS CONTEXT, are themselves engaging in inverse racism.

In a nutshell, all those without any aboriginal ancestry, were not apologised to. And so the Apology Alliance emerged- an inclusive group of all who were not apologised to by the Prime Minister, and who were prepared to work towards receiving an apology.

The Declaration of Profound Loss united us on 21st. November 2008. To us, Adoption Awareness Week was another wound we had to deal with. No cause for celebration, but an experience of renewed grief and loss, of pain and suffering- it was like having to deal with Two Mother's Days a year instead of one.

Some of our mother's are in their seventies and eighties. They need an apology NOW. They need acknowledgement that what they experienced were DARK DAYS in the history of the Australian Nation. In Geoff Rickarby's term, Australia experienced a "blip"in its psychological development.

The practice of systematic child theft must never happen again. Implicit in an apology is an assurance that the culture and our laws will be vigilant in the protection of the mother-child bond now, and in the future.

Our country needs a Senate Inquiry into the nature of child theft, its extent, and an ultimate call to accountability of those who engaged in the process. We do not want a watered down affair like the N.S.W. Inquiry that had many recommendations but has so far achieved a grant for a book of mother's stories, (Releasing the Past) and a grant for post adoption assistance.

We need an Inquiry that gives a forum to the accounts of victims.

PERPETRATORS MUST NOT BE GIVEN A VOICE THIS TIME!

OUR NATION MUST CONFRONT, IN A SPIRIT OF ATONEMENT, WHAT IT DID TO ALMOST TWO GENERATIONS OF ITS DAUGHTERS,WHO WEREN'T INDIGENOUS, BUT WERE 'WHITE'. THE 47,000 INDIGENOUS CHILDREN TAKEN,HAVE BEEN APOLOGISED TO.
the 180,000 "WHITE" BABIES TAKEN, ARE STILL WAITING FOR THEIR APOLOGY.

Jan Kashin
7th October 2009

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Apology from Anglican Church of Australia


The apology reads:
Dear Mrs Hamilton
Thank you for your letter of 12th September 2009 regarding your experiences in St. Mary's Home in Toowong.
I apologise for the delay in replying to your letter.

I was most concerned when I read of your distressing experiences in St. Mary's in 1966 and the sad separation from your baby as he was taken for adoption. As you have so poignantly written, the effects of that separation are still with you and your son even after so many years. These effects may perhaps be only slightly lessened by your knowledge that he is alive and safe.
It is concerning now to be made aware of actions taken in the past which- while often taken with the best of current knowledge at the time- have now caused so much distress and hurt to those persons directly involved.
I sincerely apologise to you for the hurt and distress caused to you by past actions of the Church and those persons employed by the Church at St. Mary's. On behalf of the church, I would like to offer you pastoral support and counselling. If you consider this may be helpful, please contact Mr Rod McLary- Director of Professional Standards- on 3835 2266. Mr McLary will then make the necessary arrangements with you.
I trust that you may be able to commence your journey towards healing as you address the effects of the adoption of your son.
Yours faithfully,

The Most Revd Dr Phillip Aspinall
Archbishop of Brisbane

Margaret Hamilton

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

DECLARATION OF PROFOUND LOSS

We the undersigned

MOURN the loss of our children
TAKEN FOR ADOPTION
MOURN the loss of our families of origin
DENIED US BY ADOPTION
MOURN the loss of our brothers and sisters
CAUSED BY ADOPTION
MOURN the loss of grandparents
DENIED US BY ADOPTION
MOURN the loss of our rightful position in life
DECREED BY ADOPTION


Actions for the Rights of Mothers and Children Organisation(NSW)
:whitestolengeneration@hotmail.com
Adoption Loss Adult Support (QLD): alasqld@alasqld.com
The Apology Alliance (AUST.) Please sigh the petition at:
www.petitions.com/petition/apologyalliance/
Association Representing Mothers Separated From Their Children by Adoption (SA)
ph(08) 8245 8100
Association Representing Mothers Separated From Their Children by Adoption (VIC)
ph (03) 9769 0232
Association Representing Mothers Separated From Their Children by Adoption (WA)
ph (08) 9312 1999
Children of White Stolen Generation (QLD) (07) 5484 5949
Inter-country Adoptee Support Network (ICASN) www.icasn.org/
Jigsaw (QLD) www.jigsawqueensland.com
Mothers for Justice (WA) sue.macdonald@ymail.com
Mothers of the Stolen Generation (VIC) babsrok@hotkey.net.au
Sydney Post Adoption Support Group (NSW) chrissiehancock@hotmail.com
VANISH (VIC) ph:(03) 9328 8611
Voices for Justice Australia (NSW) robinleslie.au@gmail.com
Wollongong Links (02) 4229 2687 www.reunitecards.com.au Mob:0410 422 916

Post Adoption Resouce Organisations:

Adoption Research and Counselling Services Inc (ARCs) WA: (08) 9370 4914
Adoption Jigsaw WA: (08) 9388 1922
Adoption Information Services Counsellor for Anglicare: mia.bieske@anglicarevlc.org.au
NSW Post Adoption Resource Centre of the Benevoient Society (PARC): (02) 9365 3444
Post Adoption Support Services (PASS)Relationships Australia SA (08) 8245 8100
National Alliance of Natural Parent Groups (NANPO): If you are a natural parent, adoptee and/or support our initiative please contact: c.cole@uws.ed.au

All the above are part of the Apology Alliance
Concept: J Kashin (1st Sept 2008)


Sunday, September 20, 2009

Federal Apology

As noted in Jenny Macklin's media release.

Anyone wishing to fill out a survey questionaire for a federal apology, see details listed.
To obtain the form:

Ring:1800 050 011

Email: child.protection@fahcsia.gov.av

Post: Child Polocy Branch JH2
P.O. Box 7576
Canberra Business Centre
ACT 2610
To be sent back by 1st October 2009.

If you need any help with questionaire,
please email alasqld@alasqld.com

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Apology Alliance

Alas is a member of Apology Alliance and as such, we are bought together with other groups around Australia under the Declaration of Profound Loss.

Monday, August 31, 2009

Apology to those abused a "step forward"

The world News 30th August 2009, states in the coverage of the abuse of children in the foster care system, that Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is expected to deliver a formal apology by the end of the year.

At the end of the article, Ms Macklin said, "We have also begun a dialogue with mothers and children separated by past adoption practices which were inappropriate or unethical.
"The government recognises that the pain and suffering of these women also endures."

We would like to sent out congratulations to the generations of children who have suffered while in the care of the foster care system.

Good luck and good on you!

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

To My Birth Mother

MOTHER DEAR, PLEASE BE BRAVE
YOUR DAUGHTER'S TEARS YOU COULD SAVE
ALONE IN THE WORLD, & YET NOT
IS THIS TO BE MY LOT?

YOU, TO SEE, I CRAVE
MY ADOPTIVE PARENTS
IN THEIR GRAVE
DO LIE
THE WINGS OF HOPE
ARE THEY NOW A MERE SIGH?

MY OLDER BROTHER, ADOPTED TOO
WHERE IS HE,
LOST IN RED TAPE
DOES HE KNOW OF ME?

YOUR FEARS ARE MY FEARS
I DO UNDERSTAND
YOUR TEARS ARE MY TEARS
ALSO, A CHILD TO ME WAS BORN
BY ADOPTION TOO, FROM ME
HE WAS TORN.

A poem written by Lorraine



Melbourne Times Complaint.

A letter has been sent by ALASQLD to Melbourne Times with an objection of the use of the term "fallen women in their article titled, "Show highlights mother's sacrifices,"printed 29th July 2009.

This in no way describes single women who lost their babies to adoption.
The media has to be accountable for what they write in their paper.

Friday, July 31, 2009

St Mary's Home Toowong

I was in St Mary's home in 1966 and would be interest in hearing from anyone who was there about the same time to share their experiences.
Margaret

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Show Highlights Mother's Sacrifices

The pain felt by mothers giving up their children for adoption was common only a generation ago, when unmarried women were often pressured to relinquish their babies. But less understood is the emotional legacy these mothers continue to feel.
Jan Russ was one of these mothers and, with playwright Robyn Bishop, turned her pain into a moving play.
The Show Must Go On
Support groups VANISH, ARMS and Alas, which campaigned for an apology for the plight of "fallen women" staged a candlelit vigil before curtain call last week in support of the play.
Pictured are actress Gemma Bishop, play subject Jan Russ, playwright Robyn Bishop and Bella Cole.
reference: Melbourne Times 29th July 2009

Trish, Janice and Margaret from ALAS QLD flew from Brisbane to attend and support the 23rd July performance of the play.
We were very impressed by the honesty and emotion shown.
Congratulations to all. Well done Jan!

We hope to see your play in Brisbane in the future.

We also enjoyed speaking with the ladies from other groups.



Thursday, July 16, 2009

MelbourneTrip

Some members from alasqld will be traveling to Melbourne to attend a play by Jan Russ called "The Show Must Go On."
It will be shown at La Mama, Carlton Courthouse,349 Drummond St., Carlton.
It will be nice to meet some mothers from other support groups to see what progress they are making.
We are very much looking forward to seeing the play.
See you on 23rd. July!

A Mother's Poem

SHE IS SENTENCED FOR THE TERM OF HER NATURAL LIFE.

Words similar to the above were used in the "Old Bailey" centuries ago. However even to this day, Australian women are suffering this fate, for a supposed decision they were forced to make decades ago. The majority were underage, and none had legal representation.

A scandal?

Yes, one that is about to launch a government enquiry.
We have heard about the "Stolen Generation."
We are about to hear about the silent.....until now.....other Stolen Generation.
The Royal Women's Hospital in Brisbane has opened the lid on "Pandora'a Box". It was the main item on channel 7 news on Wednesday 10th. June 2009.
Three women were publicly presented with a written apology from RBWH. I was privileged to have been part of the negotiating team that facilitated this outcome for these wrongly maligned women.
Women have suffered, in silence, decades of sorrow & the stigma of having had a child out of wedlock.
Professor Ian Jones from the RBWH has publicly acknowledged & apologised for the practices of the day. (Apology can be read on our website.)
Professor Jones has issued a challenge to other hospitals whose practices were just as draconian & barbaric, to follow their example with a public apology to those concerned
.
If this matter is regarded as distasteful & disturbing to you, I make no apology.

Queensland is 150 years in the making, we can choose to continue to live in the dark ages, which facilitated these acts of reprehensible cruelty, or acknowledge them.

Silence, in this case, is not golden.

IS NOT PART OF THE FORUM PLEDGE?
I PROMISE NEVER TO BE SILENT WHEN I OUGHT TO SPEAK OUT.

Already, the letter from the Royal Women's Hospital has caused disquiet amongst the community.
Some birth mothers have been threatened with restraining orders should they make contact with their sons or daughters, or in the case of some,their grandchildren.
Many women were so traumertised by their experience, they were never able to have any other children.
For the term of her natural life, means just that.
What a sad indictment on our so called modern society.
The Royal Women's Hospital in Brisbane is the first in the world to grant such an apology to those concerned.
I think it is appropriate, that in QLD's 150th. year, this historic event was facilitated by Professor Ian Jones.
We cannot re-write history, however, by acknowledging the wrongs of the past, we can ensure they are NEVER repeated.

Monday, July 13, 2009

Making comments on articles in this blog

Some readers of this blog are unsure how they can write comments on articles they read in this blog. This is what you do:

1. Click on "comment" at the bottom of the article you are reading.
2. Write your message in the box titled "Post a Comment"
3. Below the message box click on the drop-down menu ("Comment as: Select profile...")and select "Name/URL" if you would like to leave your name or "Anonymous".
4. If you select "Name/URL", just write your name and ignore the "URL" field.
5. Click Continue.
6. Click "Post Comment".

Good luck!

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Boothville Home/Hospital Brisbane

Trish wrote
Calling the mothers from Boothville.
We have mothers in our group who suffered barbaric treatment while in the "care" of this home. We would like to hear from mothers who had adverse experiences or who are suffering trauma due to the loss of their babies to adoption
Contact Trish Mob.0417 077 159. or email alasqld through their website.

Hospital Experience

Did you have a bad experience at an Australian hospital where your baby was taken for adoption against your will?
We would like to hear from you.

Mothers who could not name their babies

Therese asks:
How many mothers were told that they could not name their babies so their original birth certificate has no name listed?
Would like to hear your comments.

Hornsby Hospital

One of our mothers who negotiated the apology for our members from the Royal Brisbane Womens Hospital, has begun negotiating an apology with the manager of the Hornsby Hospital, N.S.W.
Any woman who lost their babies from the Hornsby Hospital, or who were placed in the "Carramar Home" at Turramurra are invited th contact Jan through this blog site or our website alasqld.com via email.

Friday, June 26, 2009

Apology Speech By Professor Ian Jones On Behalf of the Royal Brisbane Womens Hospital
9th. June 2009


Trish, Janice and Margaret were instrumental in creating this ground breaking occasion, where Professor Jones apologized for the past ill treatment of young single mothers during their pregnancy and confinement in the Royal Brisbane Womens Hospital.


With great pleasure the girls accepted the apology on behalf of ALAS.

We believe this is the first time any organization in Australia, and perhaps the world, has officially recognized the cruel practices of the past.


Please click on the play button below to watch the video.

Friday, June 19, 2009

The official apology handover - History in the making!!!

(LtoR) Janice, Trish, Margaret and Professor Ian Jones.

Triumphant trailblazers from ALAS receive the official apology from Professor Ian Jones, on behalf of the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital.

ALAS Qld's Official website


ALAS Qld now have a web presence so that we can be found a little more easily.
Check out our website at www.alasqld.com

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

ALAS Qld Welcomes you to the blog!

Keep checking this space for updates on ALAS Qld progress.

Much more to come!!!!