The Synod of the Uniting Church in South Australia and UnitingCare Wesley Adelaide have issued an unreserved apology to mothers who may have been forced to give up their children for adoption and to children who may have been forcibly removed from their mothers, through involvement with the Kate Cocks Memorial Babies Home. The apology is included in a recent submission made to the “Commonwealth Contribution to Former Forced Adoption Policies and Practices 2011 Inquiry” which is being conducted by the Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs.
Chief Executive of UnitingCare Wesley Adelaide, Mr Simon Schrapel, and the Moderator of the Uniting Church in South Australia Rev Rob Williams, have made a joint public statement to say that:
“If mothers involved in the Kate Cocks Memorial Babies Home were coerced or forced to give their children up for adoption we unreservedly apologise to those affected. Furthermore, if children involved in the Kate Cocks Memorial Babies Home were forcibly removed from their parents we unreservedly apologise to those affected.”
Click here to read a copy of the joint submission to the Commonwealth Inquiry:
Anyone who was a resident at Kate Cocks Memorial Children’s Home and involved in the adoptions service run by the Home at the time is invited in the first instance to make contact with UnitingCare Wesley Adelaide’s Chief Executive, Simon Schrapel, by:
Writing to:
Mr Simon Schrapel
Chief Executive
UnitingCare Wesley Adelaide trading as Uniting Communities
43 Franklin Street, Adelaide 5000
Telephone: 08 8202 5886
