Thursday, February 20, 2014

ONE OF MANY COMPLAINTS FOR LOVE CHILD.


I tuned into the the first episode of 'Love Child' during this week.



I was, first of all, disgusted that true experiences worthy of a Prime
Minister's apology, a Premier's apology and several Archbishop's apologies
could possibly become a topic / plot for a soap opera - how disgustingly
insensitive!!



I believe this television series sets about portraying the girls at the home
for unwed mothers as  'rebels' & promiscuous (since the early scene shows
the main actress having sex in a car while reading a book!!) - this I could
not believe could be the introduction to the first episode - what a picture
that paints of any birth mother!!.



The series is set in 1969 - which is referred to many times as the 'sexual
revolution' - I could not help noticing scenes with couples huddled in
corners kissing, throughout in subways, on street corners etc which only
shabbily re affirmed the obviously generalised picture they sought to
portray to their television audience of general promiscuity.



How dare they be soo careless and totally insensitive I thought!  How dare
they take such a traumatic time in the lives of so many people choose to
judge and generalise and summise and then whatsmore press 'send' so to
speak!



Does ALAS  Qld have any idea if any formal research has been carried out in
relation to this series?  Has there been any other feedback from birth
mothers/children? ( God forbid),  has this television company had access to
our personal submissions?


(Name supplied)

ALAS has had many complaints about this program and for all the reasons you have mentioned. Our submissions can be found on line if you agreed to make it public.
You may look at the website from the inquiry and send them an email direct.
ALAS was not contacted about this program and sent many emails and members rang to even make channel 9 aware of their duty of care fo their viewers. Their reply about the program was, "it is fiction".
ALAS also believes that many mothers and children will be re-traumatised by this series.
You could also email channel 9 yourself to voice your complaint.
Many, myself included did not watch the program but I must say, personally, I wondered if I would have been better to watch as, while I knew this was showing, I relived my own personal experience instead.
Thank you for making contact with us.

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

PM Gillard delivers apology to victims of forced adoption - Full Speech

With the first anniversary of the apology fast approaching, 21st March 2014, here is the then  Prime Minister Julia Gillard's speech.
We are still waiting to hear how Prime Minister Abbott will acknowledge and remember this historic apology of illegal forced adoption. We will keep you updated if we hear how this special date will be remembered.

Sunday, February 16, 2014

Federal Apology for Forced Adoption in Australia 21st March 2013.

21st March 2013, Prime Minister Julia Gillard gave this heartfelt apology to victims of Forced Adoptions. Opposition Leader Tony Abbott also gave his apology to these same victims.

PLAY IT FORWARD TO DECEMBER 2013.
We have to ask how sincere was Prime Minister Abbott's Apology?
Even before the 1st Anniversary of our Apology, there seems to be a change of direction now, to promote adoption!

This is part of an article in the Women's Weekly.

With more than 18,000 children in foster care and only 70 adopted last year, Furness described the Australian situation as "critical" and vowed to help lead the charge for "real solutions". She hopes to meet with Prime Minister Tony Abbott later this week.

"Our goal is to double the number of children adopted in Australia and halve the time it takes during this term of government," she said.

"Australia has one of the lowest rates of adoption in the world."

Since talking to Furness about adoption at a dinner event, casino billionaire James Packer has agreed to fund the organisation’s development of a new prospective Australian adoption policy.
 
 
Our now Prime Minister Tony Abbott, seems to have a change of face!
We believe, $2 million is the amount James Packer has provided.
 
Our questions to Prime Minister Abbott are;
Who is receiving this money?
And who is running this country?
Does the prospective Australian adoption policy, come from Furness, Packer or Federal Government?
 
With 2 million dollars It certainly does not appear to be The Federal Government!
We are confused.
 
All affected by forced, illegal adoptions in Australia know the ongoing and  devasting trauma from separating mothers and their children is at birth. The loss of identity for the children and their genetic history that has been lost forever. Adoption changes their ancestry history for themselves and for our and their future generations.
While we have been informed that ,"in the best interest of the child"  adoption will be different this time, it will still be at the discretion of the State run Child Protection Dept to determine who is an unfit mother.
 
WE HAVE ASKED MANY PROFESSIONAL PEOPLE WHAT THEY DEEM, AN UNFIT MOTHER TO BE?
As yet no one can give us an answer.
 
 

Thursday, February 6, 2014

St John's Cathedral service 9th February 2014. 9 30am.



         The Very Revd. Dean Peter Catt.
        ALAS member, Trish, Marg and Glenda.
The special rose,"The Children's Rose" and the plaque.

These photos were taken at the Liturgy held at St John's Cathedral 12th February 2013. They represent a special event for all effected by forced Adoption and for the women who were in Church homes in Queensland.The plaque is the only memorial in Queensland to be a permanent display  for the victims of these terrible polices and practices.
Members of ALAS Australia, along with the then team leader of PASQ, Susan Kelly, worked with St John's to achieve the first ever service dedicated to Forced Adoptions.
We are very proud of this achievement. There will be special mention  of forced adoptions at this Sunday's Services, 9th February 2014.
We hope the people never forget the traumatic practices that took new born babies from their mothers at birth and permanently separatedf families.
We hope that Queensland's Government follow the lead of the church and agree to a permanent memorial in Brisbane to help with the healing process. A place to reflect.