Clova Publications

Scotland’s apologies for past forced adoptions

jarka — Thu, 04 May 2023 06:33:35 +0000

The first country to apologise for past forced adoptions was Australia.

The Australian adoption apology was given by Julia Gillard and took place in Canberra on
the 23rd of March, 2013
Scotland’s apology for past forced adoptions was given by Nicola Sturgeon and took place in Edinburgh on
The 22nd of March, 2023
Evelyn was present at both apologies.
Between these two events Evelyn had been urging the Scottish parliament to follow Australia’s example and issue their own apology and had sent copies of her books to Ms Sturgeon and other Scottish politicians.
………………………………..

Ms Sturgeon contacted Evelyn, thanked her for her books and invited her to attend the apology in Edinburgh with her son, Stephen, from whom she had been separated by adoption.

Evelyn with Monica Lennon (MSP) at the Scottish Parliament in Holyrood, Edinburgh,22^nd March 2023

Stephen with Nicola Sturgeon, (First Minister) at the Scottish Parliament in Holyrood, Edinburgh,22^nd March 2023

30Nov2018 – Letter from Jay Weatherill, MP, former Premier of South Australia

evelyn.admin — Sat, 01 Dec 2018 05:56:19 +0000

On the 30th of November, Evelyn received a letter from Jay Weatherill, MP, who was the Premier of South Australia in 2012, when the state apologised for past adoptions. Premier Weatherill had invited Evelyn to meet with him in his office prior to the apology and consulted with her on its wording. He expressed a thoughtful and concerned interest in her experience of adoption loss and in her views on a future without adoption.

In November, 2018, after completing the 21st century edition of her first book, Adoption and Loss – The Hidden Grief, Evelyn sent a copy as a gift to Mr Weatherill. This letter was his response to receiving and reading the book. He wrote:

Thank you for taking the time to send me a letter and a copy of your book, Adoption and Loss.

I found your book to be moving, and am grateful to people like yourself for sharing deeply personal insights for the good of children everywhere.

Thank you for helping to inform South Australian adoption policy and I wish you all the best in the future.

The post 30Nov2018 – Letter from Jay Weatherill, MP, former Premier of South Australia first appeared on Clova Publications.

Informed Planet Radio

jarka — Sat, 10 Nov 2018 21:54:00 +0000

In August, 2015, Evelyn was interviewed by Informed Planet Radio, about how she researched her family history and discovered her connection to past kings of Scotland –

In May, 2015, Evelyn was interviewed about her adoption work on Informed Planet Radio –

The post Informed Planet Radio first appeared on Clova Publications.

Sunday Mail in Scotland

jarka — Mon, 05 Nov 2018 21:57:10 +0000

On the 26th of April, 2015, an article was published in the Sunday Mail in Scotland, in which Evelyn called on the Scottish Parliament to follow Australia’s example and apologise for past adoption separations.

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/real-life/scots-mum-who-made-aussie-5586403

The post Sunday Mail in Scotland first appeared on Clova Publications.

“Without Consent”

jarka — Sun, 04 Nov 2018 21:59:21 +0000

In March, 2015, Evelyn was invited to attend the launch of the National Archives exhibition entitled “Without Consent”. The exhibition was launched by former Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, on the second anniversary of the National Apology for Forced Adoptions. Evelyn was introduced to Ms Gillard at the launch.

The post “Without Consent” first appeared on Clova Publications.

Meg Hale’s book, Mothers in ARMS

jarka — Fri, 02 Nov 2018 22:22:35 +0000

Meg Hale’s book, Mothers in ARMS tells the story of how mothers in South Australia who had been separated from their children by adoption formed a support group which was responsible for a ground-breaking change in legislation. The passage of the1988 Adoption Act made South Australia the first place in the Western world to give mothers and adults who had been adopted as children equal rights to identifying information about each other. Mothers in ARMS is now available from Wakefield Press (http://www.wakefieldpress.com.au/). It will also be available soon as an e-book. Meg has written a book which is interesting and engaging and which celebrates the way in which mothers supported each other, empowered themselves and brought their issues to the attention of politicians and the community in general.

Evelyn has fond memories of the positive aspects of the self-help experience and is very glad that Meg has produced this historical record of an organisation which brought about the legislation in South Australia which has set an example to the rest of the world.As a result of her association with ARMS,Evelyn has gone on to assist many people around the world and to advise politicians on adoption-related issues.

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