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COURAGEOUS VOICES UNLOCKED – Book Launch

What a perfect book title for my adoption journey, especially after finding my box of Nowra News and South Coast newspaper cuttings from 1988 – 1991.
This sample of newspaper articles reminded me of the extraordinary support The Shoalhaven Adoption Support Group received from Nowra News, South Coast Register, Radio 2ST, and the Nowra Neighbourhood Centre (forever grateful for the wonderful support and friendship of Pam Arnold) whilst we were still advocating for the changes to the NSW adoption laws – which was achieved in 1991.
Adoption Support Groups were established in Kiama, Batemans Bay, and Canberra.
The outstanding success came because we dared to bring adult adoptees, birthmothers and birth fathers together to share their search and adoption journeys – long before contact between adoptees and birthmothers (birthfathers) was legalised. Closed adoption laws stated “No contact ever, in your lifetime!)
We invited anyone affected by adoption laws to join us.
This included adult children finding out their father’s adoptee status when he apologised with his last breath on his death bed.
Men and women learning of their adoptee status in their 50’s and 60’s.
Birth fathers grieving the loss of their adopted child.
Adoptive Parents supporting their adopted children to seek and find their birthparents.
The heart-warming integration of the adoption community into our Support Group proved the importance of sharing the adoption grief journey, the extraordinary level of emotional and psychological support available, when we have each other to lean on. – and learn from.
The newspaper cutting I am holding delights me, because my BirthMum, Beryl Rayner, stands next to me. She was an integral part of The Shoalhaven Adoption Support Group whenever she visited Nowra from New Zealand – a gifted Christian Counsellor, Mum would focus on the birthmothers attending the group. I loved her presence in our group. I love my memories of her contribution to the Shoalhaven Adoption Support Group. We were blessed with 33 years together,after being separated 40 years. Mum passed away in April, 2022, aged 93 years old.
I am forever grateful for our 1988 reunion. Amidst great controversy, NZ changed their adoption laws in 1985 – 10,000 of 88,000 registered adoptees applied for reunion in the first twelve months – validating the change of law completely.
THIS IS A PERSONAL INVITATION TO ANYONE WHO WAS PART OF THE SHOALHAVEN ADOPTION SUPPORT GROUP FROM THIS ERA TO JOIN ME AT THE CVU BOOK LAUNCH
AND
THIS INVITATION INCLUDES
ANY PERSON PRESENTLY AFFECTED BY ADOPTION, WHO MIGHT WELCOME A CONVERSATION ABOUT ADOPTION AND IT’S IMPACT UPON THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILY,
Join me at the Courageous Voices Unlocked BOOK LAUNCH
Saturday 1st February 2025 (11am)
Nowra Public Library
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Date

Feb 01 2025
Expired!

Time

11:00 am - 1:00 pm

Location

Nowra Public Library
10 Berry Street, Nowra New South Wales 2541
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