25/01/2023
As this page keeps coming up and I haven’t figured out how to get back to my personal page, I’ll write here. Birthing Rites Australia was started on my kitchen table in Bondi Junction in 1987. I’d relocated from Melbourne where birth and what was needed, was way ahead of Sydney…..to my dismay! So I started talking to the hospitals about birth centres and families needs at birth. Some were very interested others weren’t. I had the priveledge of being around fantastic mentors that were ahead of their time. The first homebirth doctor in Melbourne, Dr. John Stevenson, Dr. Peter Lucas, Dr. Bruce Sutherland, Dr. John Spensley and the psychiatrist Dr. Graham Farrant. All had vision and sensitivity to what was needed. Birth Without Violence written by Dr. Frederick Leboyer had a huge impact world wide. Spiritual Midwifery written by Ina May Gaskin also was a major influence on birth. Many more in that era, Dr. Michele Odent supporting and advocating water birth. Late 60’s into the early 70’s. I became pregnant with my first daughter so forearmed with knowledge I got what I wanted …. Being in water , dim lighting, delay cutting if the cord, skin to skin, no other hands to touch our baby except family. And so the documentary was made called ‘Your Only Born Once.’It went to air on channel 2, what an uproar it caused! Yet , was requested to be replayed the following week. So I felt women were now being educated on the fact they had choices now. My daughter is 47 this year. My second daughter was born at home with beautiful Pauline McCabe as my midwife. We are still friends…..the midwife and I. I’m now going to be 79 this year I’m very proud of my two daughters, they carry within themselves great wisdom and kindness and I’m still their often eccentric, neurotic , and always their loving Mum. Despite difficulties of being a single parent , the other reason I started Birthing Rites Australia was so I could work my own hours, in order to be with them, as they grew into adulthood. Amen♥️🙏
