SYDNEY // Christine Cole was pinned to the bed by three nurses as her newborn baby was taken away in 1969. She was not allowed to see her daughter, let alone cradle her in her arms.
Ms Cole was one of an estimated 150,000 Australian women forced to give up their babies for adoption between the 1940s and 1980s. Now the federal government is poised to apologise to them, in the nation's latest attempt to atone for the shameful episodes in its past.
The women were young single mothers, often from poor or fractured families, whose babies were taken from them at birth and given to middle-class married couples. The aim of the policy - pursued by state welfare agencies and church organisations - was to assimilate illegitimate children into "respectable" society and absolve the state of financial responsibility for their upkeep.
After a long campaign by the women, a parliamentary committee held an 18-month inquiry and, last week, it tabled a report recommending a formal apology be given to the mothers and their children.
If that happens, it will be the third set-piece apology in five years. In 2008, the then prime minister Kevin Rudd apologised to the "stolen generations" of aboriginal children forcibly removed from their families. The following year, it was the turn of British child migrants sent to Australia and abused in church and state-run institutions. Lawyers say the mooted apology will strengthen the grounds for legal action by the women, some of whom are considering a class action.
Women were pressured, threatened or deceived into signing adoption consent papers, according to Ms Cole, who was 16 when she gave up her daughter. "I never saw my baby," she said. "Three nurses held me down as they took her out of the room."
Ms Cole was among nearly 400 women who made submissions to a Senate (upper house) committee chaired by Rachel Siewert, an Australian Greens politician. Ms Siewert was almost in tears as she tabled the report. Another committee member, Claire Moore, called the adoptions "a horror of our history".
The inquiry heard that young pregnant women had their file marked "BFA" (Baby for Adoption) months before the birth, but were never consulted. Some babies were adopted by doctors or social workers. The practice went on in hospitals run by the state and by religious organisations.
Lily Arthur gave birth to her son, Tim, while tied to a hospital bed in Brisbane. It was 1967, and she was 17. She was allowed to cradle him in her arms for five minutes - but only after signing adoption papers.
Ms Arthur had been planning to marry her boyfriend, the father of her child. While pregnant, she was arrested on a charge of "being exposed to moral danger", and taken to a girls' home run by the Sisters of Mercy, a Roman Catholic order. She had to work in the laundry until the day she went into labour.
The birth was a nightmare. "I was placed in a sideways running position, with my left leg tied up in a stirrup and my right leg pulled behind me. My face was pushed into a mattress, and they were leaning on my shoulder. They took my son from behind and whisked him out the door."
Ms Arthur was threatened with incarceration in a high-security children's home unless she agreed to give Tim up. Three decades later, she tracked him down. At first, he refused to see her.
Ms Cole, who has researched the subject for a doctoral degree, believes that the authorities "preyed on" the most vulnerable women - orphans, wards of state and those without family support.
She gave birth in a women's hospital in Sydney. "She [the baby] didn't cry, so I tried to get up to see if she was all right. But they had placed a pillow on my chest to stop me seeing what was going on. The nurses threw me back on the bed. The midwife was at the end of the bed and she said to me: 'This has got nothing to do with you.'"
Then, Ms Cole said: "They gave me drugs to dry up my milk. I was taken to a hospital annex and held there for five days, and told I couldn't leave until I signed the adoption consent." Feeling befuddled from drugs including mind-altering barbiturates - she has seen her medical file - she eventually agreed.
Catholic Health Australia, which operates many hospitals, has already apologised for past adoption practices, as have the Uniting Church and the Western Australian government.
Ms Cole eventually managed to trace her daughter. But their reunion was far from blissful. "She had grown up believing that her mother didn't want her," she said. "We've tried to build a relationship as best we can, but it hasn't been easy." Ms Cole, who married and had two sons, says she "always had a terrible fear that another of my children would be taken away". She continues to work on her doctorate and runs the Apology Alliance, an alliance of support groups.
Like many of the women, she suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. "We didn't know where our children were, whether they were dead or alive, whether they were suffering. We find Mothers' Day very difficult, we find Christmas very difficult, because we always think about our missing children.
foreign.desk@thenational.ae
MATCH INFO
New Zealand 176-8 (20 ovs)
England 155 (19.5 ovs)
New Zealand win by 21 runs
Disclaimer
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville
Rating: 4/5
Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha
Starring: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shantanu Maheshwari, Jimmy Shergill, Saiee Manjrekar
Director: Neeraj Pandey
Rating: 2.5/5
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale
Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni
Director: Amith Krishnan
Rating: 3.5/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
Company%20Profile
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Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Developer: Treyarch, Raven Software
Publisher: Activision
Console: PlayStation 4 & 5, Windows, Xbox One & Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
MATCH INFO
Sheffield United 3
Fleck 19, Mousset 52, McBurnie 90
Manchester United 3
Williams 72, Greenwood 77, Rashford 79
Company%20Profile
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COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
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Going grey? A stylist's advice
If you’re going to go grey, a great style, well-cared for hair (in a sleek, classy style, like a bob), and a young spirit and attitude go a long way, says Maria Dowling, founder of the Maria Dowling Salon in Dubai.
It’s easier to go grey from a lighter colour, so you may want to do that first. And this is the time to try a shorter style, she advises. Then a stylist can introduce highlights, start lightening up the roots, and let it fade out. Once it’s entirely grey, a purple shampoo will prevent yellowing.
“Get professional help – there’s no other way to go around it,” she says. “And don’t just let it grow out because that looks really bad. Put effort into it: properly condition, straighten, get regular trims, make sure it’s glossy.”
The specs: 2017 Maserati Quattroporte
Price, base / as tested Dh389,000 / Dh559,000
Engine 3.0L twin-turbo V8
Transmission Eight-speed automatic
Power 530hp @ 6,800rpm
Torque 650Nm @ 2,000 rpm
Fuel economy, combined 10.7L / 100km
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Why the Tourist Club?
Originally, The Club (which many people chose to call the “British Club”) was the only place where one could use the beach with changing rooms and a shower, and get refreshments.
In the early 1970s, the Government of Abu Dhabi wanted to give more people a place to get together on the beach, with some facilities for children. The place chosen was where the annual boat race was held, which Sheikh Zayed always attended and which brought crowds of locals and expatriates to the stretch of beach to the left of Le Méridien and the Marina.
It started with a round two-storey building, erected in about two weeks by Orient Contracting for Sheikh Zayed to use at one these races. Soon many facilities were planned and built, and members were invited to join.
Why it was called “Nadi Al Siyahi” is beyond me. But it is likely that one wanted to convey the idea that this was open to all comers. Because there was no danger of encountering alcohol on the premises, unlike at The Club, it was a place in particular for the many Arab expatriate civil servants to join. Initially the fees were very low and membership was offered free to many people, too.
Eventually there was a skating rink, bowling and many other amusements.
Frauke Heard-Bey is a historian and has lived in Abu Dhabi since 1968.
UAE v Ireland
1st ODI, UAE win by 6 wickets
2nd ODI, January 12
3rd ODI, January 14
4th ODI, January 16
'I Want You Back'
Director:Jason Orley
Stars:Jenny Slate, Charlie Day
Rating:4/5
Honeymoonish
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The low down on MPS
What is myofascial pain syndrome?
Myofascial pain syndrome refers to pain and inflammation in the body’s soft tissue. MPS is a chronic condition that affects the fascia (connective tissue that covers the muscles, which develops knots, also known as trigger points).
What are trigger points?
Trigger points are irritable knots in the soft tissue that covers muscle tissue. Through injury or overuse, muscle fibres contract as a reactive and protective measure, creating tension in the form of hard and, palpable nodules. Overuse and sustained posture are the main culprits in developing trigger points.
What is myofascial or trigger-point release?
Releasing these nodules requires a hands-on technique that involves applying gentle sustained pressure to release muscular shortness and tightness. This eliminates restrictions in connective tissue in orderto restore motion and alleviate pain. Therapy balls have proven effective at causing enough commotion in the tissue, prompting the release of these hard knots.
Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill
Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)