Greek, Actually Disentannglisng Adoption Deceptions

All I’ ve ever wanted is the deep sense of belonging associated with knowing and being connected with who and where I’ ve come from. Penny Zagarelou-Mackieson always knew she was adopted. But she didn’ t know she was swapped at birth. After a lifetime grappling with issues of identity and belonging, outlined in her earlier book Adoption Deception, Penny discovered that her natural mother, according to her adoption records, is genetically unrelated to her. Penny’ s family reunion of two decades was based on falsehoods. Her ancestry is Greek, not Celtic-Anglo as she was led to believe. So begins Penny’ s new quest to learn about her origins. She confronts a shocking legacy of babies misidentified in the heyday of Australia’ s forced and closed adoptions and appalling medical record-keeping – meaning many adoptees may never know their true origins. Penny’ s quest leads her to court seeking legal recognition of her true identity, involving her ‘ de-adoption’ – termination of the Adoption Order imposed on her in infancy. This remarkable story of one woman’ s determination to uncover the truth and restore her dignity reveals human rights violations inherent in adoption. Penny questions continuing laws and practices that cement stigmatising secrecy and harm adopted people, arguing for wide-reaching reforms. We share Penny’ s rollercoaster of emotions as facts are revealed, court orders made, records sought and corrected, and travel planned and thwarted. We see Penny persist in the face of numerous hurdles and learn about those who help her. This inspiring, heartfelt book is gripping to read and impossible to ignore. “ it is neither logical nor fair that the natural identity and name of a child adopted in Victoria is legally cancelled and replaced with fictitious kin relationships years before they are in a position to make an informed choice about their preferred identity and the ramifications for their descendants.”

Penny Mackieson was born in Melbourne in 1963. Placed with her adoptive family as a newborn, she was raised in the Buchan district of eastern Victoria. Penny completed Bachelor (1983) and Master’ s (1989) degrees in Social Work at Melbourne University, and has since worked primarily in the children and family services sector, including child protection and intercountry adoption. For much of her career, Penny was employed by the Victorian government. She also successfully co-founded and operated a human services consultancy with a close friend and former colleague for five years. After 12 years in intercountry adoption, Penny resigned at the end of 2013, dismayed by the re-popularisation of adoption and popularisation of overseas anonymous donor IVF and commercial surrogacy practices. She subsequently joined VANISH, the Victorian Adoption Network for Information & Self-Help, which assisted and supported her in 1997-98 to search for and contact her maternal family of origin. Penny has been serving on the VANISH Committee of Management since 2014, and is currently in the process of enrolling to undertake doctoral studies on permanent care. Penny resides with her partner, now married for 26 years, and their 20-year-old son in inner Melbourne. They are currently renovating a house within walking distance of the iconic MCG. Penny is passionate about Australian football and especially about Melbourne Football Club, of which she has been a lifelong fan and hardcore member since 1998. Penny co-wrote her first non-fiction book, Real Women Love Footy published in 2003, with another friend passionate about football. Dr Penny Zagarelou-Mackieson is an Australian author who lives with her husband and their son in inner Melbourne. Penny attained social work qualifications from the University of Melbourne and worked for three decades primarily in the child and family services sector. Penny’ s PhD research explored Permanent Care Orders for children in Victoria’ s child protection and out-of-home care system. Penny was adopted in Victoria as a newborn in 1963 and ‘ de-adopted’ in 2022. Penny served from 2014 to 2019 on the board of VANISH Inc., a community-based organisation providing search and support services Penny Mackieson was born in Melbourne in 1963. Placed with her adoptive family as a newborn, she was raised in the Buchan district of eastern Victoria. Penny completed Bachelor (1983) and Master's (1989) degrees in Social Work at Melbourne University, and has since worked primarily in the children and family services sector, including child protection and intercountry adoption. For much of her career, Penny was employed by the Victorian government. After 12 years in intercountry adoption, Penny resigned at the end of 2013, dismayed by the re-popularization of adoption and popularization of overseas anonymous donor IVF and commercial surrogacy practices. Penny co-wrote her first nonfiction book, Real Women Love Footy published in 2003, with another friend passionate about football.

Introduction 1 Chapter 1: Adoption, Deception, and DNA Questions 7 Chapter 2: Through the DNA Looking Glass 15 Chapter 3: Piecing Penny Together Again 39 Chapter 4: There’ s a Greek Story Behind Everything 109 Chapter 5: Chronology since 2015 129 Postscript 161 Abbreviations 165 Glossary 169 Appendices 175 Appendix I: Invitation to the celebration, May 2022 175 Appendix II: My speech at the celebration, May 2022 176 Appendix III: Letter to Monash Health Board seeking apology, September 2022 184 Appendix IV: Letter of apology from Monash Health, November 2022 186 Appendix V: Speech at VANISH AGM, November 2022 187 Bibliography 195