Difference between revisions of "Albert Stanhope and Adoption"

Latest revision as of 20:17, 14 May 2014

Biography

Stanhope was a Child Migrant to Australia. Born to an unmarried woman in England, he was placed in an orphanage because she was unable to work and care for him, having no family back-up. During the following four years she gradually saw less and less of him, but married a well-to-do man who wanted Albert to be part of their family. In the meantime, however, the orphanage had shipped him to Australia, without her knowledge or consent and contrary to her specific written instructions when she placed him in care. He was then seven years old and spent the rest of his childhood being emotionally and physically abused in institutions.

He was reunited with his mother in 1993 with the help of the Child Migrants' Trust. Stanhope later married, had a family, and became a wealthy estate agent.

References

Humphreys, Margaret. Empty Cradles. New edition. (London: Corgi Books, 1995)