Why would you come all the way from Queensland to hear this apology?

Janice Kashin

Why would you come all the way from Queensland to hear this.pdf

It was a question from the ABC journalist, on the steps of the magnificent West Australian Parliamentary building. History is being made today. I want to be part of that history. I was one of the women who negotiated the apology
from the Chief Executive Officer, Professor Ian Jones of the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital. I know first hand the effect that apology had on women who hadn’t even given birth there. I expect this apology will have a similar effect. It will free thousands of women from the stigma of “not having been quite good enough” to parent their own babies. It will give them a sense of freedom at last. They will be equal.

In my mind, the parliamentary building, the place where laws governing the wellbeing of a country’s (or State’s) citizens are enacted and because of the sacred trust voters pass on to those who represent them the onus is on those
elected to get it right. This was the first elected parliament in Australia to say:

“We got it wrong. We apologise.”

Why would I not want to be there for such a profound moment?...............

Australian Journal of Adoption Vol 2, No 3, 2010

* To read the complete article, please check out the attached file