Thursday, June 28, 2012
Saint Thenew,Scotland's first recorded Rape victim,Battered Woman and Unmarried Mother.
In 2009, during our negotiations with Professor Ian Jones for his apology from the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital to the mothers for the ill treatment received at the hospital through the 50’s 60’s 70’s and 80’s, we were made aware of a circumstance that befell the mother of St. Mungo, patron Saint of Glasgow.
One of our members bought to our attention the legend of the mother of St. Mungo. Saint Thenew (pronounced by my Glaswegian grandfather as “The Noo”) was betrothed to a man whom she did not wish to marry. Thenew was the daughter of Loth, (by her father) King of the Lothians. She was cast out of her father’s house because of her disobedience to his will, and she became a swineherd. Pursued and raped by her rejected suitor, she became pregnant. When her pregnancy became obvious, her father ordered her to be stoned to death. She was thrown from the top of a mountain, but was miraculously saved.
Her father’s anger was not abated, so he ordered her execution. The executioner could not carry out the orders, but put her in a boat without a rudder, and with no oars, and set her adrift in the Firth of Forth.
Shoals of fishes guided her boat to the shore at Culross where she gave birth to Kentigren in 518. She and her son were befriended by St. Serf. Kentigrern was later called “Mungo”.St.Thenew is “Scotland’s first recorded rape victim, battered woman and unmarried mother”.
The story resonated within in all members of the ALAS Committee, so we unanimously decided to take Thenew, as our patron Saint.And no, we are not becoming “religious”, we have always been “women of spirit”. We simply take strength from those who have gone before us, who have displayed steadfast strength, and remarkable courage to endure the wrath of paternal displeasure.
St Thenew’s day is 18th July in the Scottish Calendars. We will be thinking of all those in Glasgow who remember St.Mungo’s mother, on her day.
Jan Kashin.
Thanks to our ALAS member.
Story Elspeth King,Glasgow Museums and Art Galleries.
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Govt to apologise over forced adoptions
June 23, 2012
The federal government will make a formal apology to parents and children separated by forced adoption.
Between the 1950s and 1970s, about 150,000 unwed mothers had their babies taken against their will by churches and adoption agencies.
A national apology was one of the recommendations made by the Senate community affairs committee following an inquiry on forced adoption practices which concluded in February.
Ms Roxon said the apology would be delivered on behalf of the nation and would be a ''significant step in the healing process for those affected''.
''The government recognises the pain and suffering of parents whose children were forcibly removed, and children separated from their parents,'' she said. Ms Roxon said the reference group would include birth parents and adoptees affected by forced adoption and would be chaired by Nahum Mushin, a former Family Court judge and adjunct professor of law at Monash University.
The convener of the Apology Alliance, Christine Cole, which represents people affected by forced adoption, said last night she was ''extremely pleased'' to learn of the apology. Ms Cole, who has been campaigning for an apology for almost 20 years, had her daughter taken from her immediately after giving birth as a 16-year-old at Crown Street Women's Hospital in Sydney in 1969. They were not reunited until 18 years later.
''I know many, many women will be absolutely thrilled because they didn't expect to see this happening in their lifetime,'' she said. ''It will be of great healing to them to have the government acknowledge that it was through their policies … that this was allowed to happen. It will be a great relief.''
The Senate community affairs committee argued the Commonwealth should apologise partly because its denial of social security benefits to unmarried women increased pressure on single women to have their children adopted.
''It was a national phenomenon, and calls for a national response,'' the committee wrote.
The West Australian government apologised for its role in forced adoptions in 2010, and the South Australian government will apologise next month. The Catholic Church and Uniting Church and Melbourne's Royal Women's Hospital have also apologised.
Social Affairs Correspondent
Dan Harrison
Between the 1950s and 1970s, about 150,000 unwed mothers had their babies taken against their will by churches and adoption agencies.
A national apology was one of the recommendations made by the Senate community affairs committee following an inquiry on forced adoption practices which concluded in February.
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Attorney-General Nicola Roxon will today announce the establishment of a reference group to advise the government on the timing and nature of the apology.Ms Roxon said the apology would be delivered on behalf of the nation and would be a ''significant step in the healing process for those affected''.
''The government recognises the pain and suffering of parents whose children were forcibly removed, and children separated from their parents,'' she said. Ms Roxon said the reference group would include birth parents and adoptees affected by forced adoption and would be chaired by Nahum Mushin, a former Family Court judge and adjunct professor of law at Monash University.
The convener of the Apology Alliance, Christine Cole, which represents people affected by forced adoption, said last night she was ''extremely pleased'' to learn of the apology. Ms Cole, who has been campaigning for an apology for almost 20 years, had her daughter taken from her immediately after giving birth as a 16-year-old at Crown Street Women's Hospital in Sydney in 1969. They were not reunited until 18 years later.
''I know many, many women will be absolutely thrilled because they didn't expect to see this happening in their lifetime,'' she said. ''It will be of great healing to them to have the government acknowledge that it was through their policies … that this was allowed to happen. It will be a great relief.''
The Senate community affairs committee argued the Commonwealth should apologise partly because its denial of social security benefits to unmarried women increased pressure on single women to have their children adopted.
''It was a national phenomenon, and calls for a national response,'' the committee wrote.
The West Australian government apologised for its role in forced adoptions in 2010, and the South Australian government will apologise next month. The Catholic Church and Uniting Church and Melbourne's Royal Women's Hospital have also apologised.
Social Affairs Correspondent
Dan Harrison
Read more: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/govt-to-apologise-over-forced-adoptions-20120622-20u1b.html#ixzz1yXGJsrxB
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Our Next Meeting will be our First Annual General Meeting 16th June 2012.
Our next meeting will be held on Brisbane north side.
It will be held at a private home.
All committee positions will be up for re-election.
Date;16th June 2012
Time; 12 o'clock onwards
Please bring a plate.
Please phone; Trish Mob 0417 077 159 or
Marg Mob 0402 336 480
It will be held at a private home.
All committee positions will be up for re-election.
Date;16th June 2012
Time; 12 o'clock onwards
Please bring a plate.
Please phone; Trish Mob 0417 077 159 or
Marg Mob 0402 336 480
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