Our Story - A Family Secret
Written by Mike Stacey
All of my life until 1999, I believed that I had just two brothers, these are David and Ron. It was through a chance meeting with someone in 1999, and a slip of that persons tongue, that alerted me to the possibility that we may have other siblings. In the beginning I could not believe that it could be true. How could it be possible that in 53 years no one in our family had told us of the existence of other children. In spite of my doubts, and with the encouragement of my wife and daughter we decided to try and find the truth. I had no idea at that time that our search would take us to the other side of the world, and that we would discover a sister who had died in Adelaide, South Australia.
Our Story - A Family Secret
Written by Mike Stacey
All of my life until 1999, I believed that I had just two brothers, these are David and Ron. It was through a chance meeting with someone in 1999, and a slip of that persons tongue, that alerted me to the possibility that we may have other siblings. In the beginning I could not believe that it could be true. How could it be possible that in 53 years no one in our family had told us of the existence of other children. In spite of my doubts, and with the encouragement of my wife and daughter we decided to try and find the truth. I had no idea at that time that our search would take us to the other side of the world, and that we would discover a sister who had died in Adelaide, South Australia. The photo to the left is of Valerie's unmarked grave in South Australia, marked by the pink bunch of flowers. The 2 women are Pat and Jessie, friends of Valerie from her days in the Orphanage.
We found our brother Roy living in England. He wrote:
"You can be very proud indeed of your sister. It was my fortune that our paths crossed. I loved her dearly and will treasure what we shared. It was Val who coloured all our lives, sometimes quite black and at other times with every colour in the rainbow. She lived life at 100% and did in her short 44 years what most don't do in a long lifetime. Your sister was no saint, she was our Val and even as she was dying she was true to herself"
We found our brother Roy living in England. He wrote:
"You can be very proud indeed of your sister. It was my fortune that our paths crossed. I loved her dearly and will treasure what we shared. It was Val who coloured all our lives, sometimes quite black and at other times with every colour in the rainbow. She lived life at 100% and did in her short 44 years what most don't do in a long lifetime. Your sister was no saint, she was our Val and even as she was dying she was true to herself"
VALERIE ANN STACEY
The following account of our sister’s life was written by Roy.
Born 7th September 1934 in Eastbourne, East Sussex, England.
Died 9th May 1978 in Clare Hospital, Adelaide, Australia.
Stolen from her brothers Roy, Michael and David in 1946 and exported to Australia in 1949 by the British Government and the Roman Catholic Church.
19th April 1933 William Joseph Stacey married Jean Queenie Lewis at the Registry Office in Eastbourne, Sussex, England.
7th September 1934 Valerie Ann was born at Saint Mary's Hospital, 123 Church Street, Eastbourne. The family home at this time was 77 Pevensey Road, Eastbourne. Valerie was baptised at Saint Agnes Roman Catholic Church on 21st October 1934.
11th December 1936 Valerie's brother Roy was born at Saint Mary's Hospital. The family had moved to 17 Leslie Street, Eastbourne.
25th February 1940 Jean Queenie Stacey died at Saint Mary's Hospital. Cause of death was Uraemia and incomplete abortion.
Once of school age Valerie Ann att ended Saint Joseph's Roman Catholic School, Whitley Road, Eastbourne. She was joined there by Roy.
Sometime after the death of Jean Queenie, william met and entered into a relationship with Gladys Rooke, who already had a son' Ronald The family now lived at 13 North Street, Eastbourne.
28th January 1943 a son' Michael, was born to William and Gladys. A short while after this the family, William, Gladys, Valerie, Roy, Michael and Ronald, moved to 26 Beach Road, Eastbourne.
13 June 1946 Joseph William died at Saint Mary's Hospital, Eastbourne. Cause of death was cerebral embolism and valvular disease of the heart. He was 35 years old at his death.
12th July 1946 Gladys gave birth to David.
At about this time Valerie and Roy were taken into the care of the East Sussex Authorities. Apart from one brief meeting soon afterwards they never met again. Valerie was put in a school at Bexhill, Sussex, and from there was sent in October 1946 to Nazareth House Convent in Plymouth, England. Roy was sent initially to a school in Orpington, Kent and from there to the Salesian College in London.
"We were asked by Mother Rose at Bexhill to take this girl to enable her to attend Notre Dame High School with two of our girls. Father and mother are both dead." (Mother Superior, Nazareth House Convent, Plymouth). This testifies to Valerie"s high intelligence and her ability to learn, as Notre Dame was a school of very high standards.
In 1946 Brother Conlon, who was due to visit Britain from Australia, was asked by the Archbishop of Adelaide to "get him some girls to fill the Orphanage in Adelaide".
The wheels were set in motion under the Child Migration Scheme approved by the British Government and taken over by the Catholic Church. Valerie was in the most unfortunate position of being in the clutches of the Catholic Church at the time. She was chosen for Migration under Group Nomination SG10. There is no reason for believing that she was aware of this at the time.
The required Migration Documents were obtained over a period of months.
Certified Copy of Birth Certificate
Consent Form signed by Stepmother
Child Migration Form completed by sponsoring
Organisation, Catholic Child Welfare Council
Approval by Australian Migration Branch
Medical Examination carried out 25th August 1948
4th October 1948
21st October 1948
25th October 1948
11th March 1949
Some time between 11th March 1949 and 17th March 1949 the date of birth was altered on the Migration Form to bring Valerie within the age limits for the Scheme - a criminal act. At this time Valerie was under the jurisdiction of the Sisters at Nazareth House. This Form also shows Valerie's educational standard as "Very Good".
On Wednesday, 13th April 1949, the Notre Dame High School closed for the Easter Holidays. This was the last day of Valerie"s attendance at the School as she was then told she was to be sent to Australia. She had no opportunity to bid farewell to her school friends or make any last contact with her family.
On 28th April 1949 Valerie left from Tilbury Docks on the S. S. "Mooltan" bound for Australia. She travelled as part of a group of 16 girls of whom 8 were from Nazareth House, Plymouth.
Evelyn Brown 15, Jessica Caines 14, Harriet Cander 10, Margaret Douglas 6, Jane Dye 15, Rosemary Green 6, Patricia McGourty 5, Carol Mclvor 6, Agnes Neailly 12, Sarah Neailly 12, Grace Nicholas 14, Vera Pascoe 13, Valerie Stacey 14, Catherine Walsh 11, Maureen Walsh 12 and Monica Williams 13. The Group was escorted by Reverend John B Briffa, Sister Malachy McSweeney and Sister Frances Mary Buss.
Prior to this 28 girls had been sent on the S.S. "Ormonde" sailing from Tilbury on 17th December 1948. Therefore the combined total was 44 girls. This was as part of a requirement for 50 girls submitted on behalf of the Saint Vincent de Paul"s Orphanage, Adelaide.
Valerie arrived in Adelaide on 31st May 1949, and together with the rest of the girls was delivered into the hands of the "Sisters of Mercy" at Goodwood Orphanage. She was 14 years and eight months old and the Orphanage policy was not to allow girls of 14 years and over to attend school. Quite obviously Valerie had been sent from a very good education in England to a total lack of education in Australia purely to make up the quota of girls demanded by the Archbishop of Adelaide. The treatment of the girls at Goodwood, from the moment of their arrival, was horrifying. This treatment has been the subject of a Senate Enquiry following the number of complaints received from ex-inmates over the years, and TV documentaries on the subject.
On 12th August 1949 the 'Boarding Out Officer" was telephoned by Father Roberts of the Catholic Social Service Bureau to say that Valerie had been examined by a Miss Mary Smith (a psychologist who stated that Valerie was above average intelligence, with a high emotional rating and needing love and affection. A home was offered with a Mrs Cavanagh, a hairdresser, who said she was prepared to teach Valerie that trade. A Mr Parker, the Vocational Guidance Officer, considered the work suitable.
22nd August 1949 Valerie was placed with (1) Mrs Rita Cavanagh at Birkenhead, Adelaide. Mrs Cavanagh had two sons, both younger than Valerie. Valerie was paid a messenger's wage of £1-17- per week, of which 10/- was deducted for board.
24th December 1949 the Inspector reported on a visit to Valerie saying that she was doing the housework at the Cavanaghs as Mrs Cavanagh already had an apprentice hairdresser who would not complete the training for a further two years. Only one apprentice was allowed at a time.
12th January 1950 Valerie was advised she was to be taken on by (2) Mrs O.J. Barrv of Mount Gambier. Her wage was to be 30/- per week plus board and lodging, with an increase of 5/- per week at the end of six months provided her work and conduct was satisfactory.
A report from the Catholic Social Service Bureau in June 1950 stated that the Barrys were very satisfied with Valerie that she was well dressed and seemed happy and was an active member of the Catholic Girls Club. She was arranging to learn shorthand and typing in order to seek an office job later. Some worry was expressed about her staying out late in the evening.
6th July 1950 a report from the Inspector stated that Mrs Barry was in hospital and that Valerie was housekeeping, she was well dressed with a good taste in clothes and had started sewing, though she gave away one blouse she made. She said she might want to be a nurse later.
30th November 1950 report was very critical of Valerie. She had ceased the dressmaking classes and had very few friends in spite of Mrs Barry introducing her to various girls. Valerie told the Inspector that she had been told her stay in the 'country' would only be for a few months and she had in fact been there a year. She wanted to go back to Adelaide and then on to Sydney. She thought she would do much better if she did not have 'a thousand people' telling her what to do. The Inspector told Valerie he did not like being spoken to in such a manner! He also said that Valerie would not be able to leave the State without the consent of the 'Chairman'. On 28 April 1951 Mr Barry wrote to the Children's Welfare Department asking if a arrangements could be made to transfer Valerie as Mrs Barry had decided she no longer needed her. This was after a 15-month period. Mr Barry wrote "I would like to thank you for placing the girl with us at a time when domestic assistance in our home was so urgently needed".
On 14 June 1951 Valerie called the Department to say that she had obtained a position with a (3)Mrs Landen at a wage of £3/10/- per week. Arrangements were made for Valerie's transfer on 18 June 1951. However a Report from the Inspector On 6 August 1951 advised that Valerie had left Mrs Landen's, and was working in the Hyde Park area, Mrs Landen stated that Valerie was a nice girl in many ways, was clean, worked well, and was quite a good cook, but her main fault was that she was very stubborn. Valerie hated the Department and everyone connected with it. Valerie was subsequently placed with a (4)Mrs A.S. Walker in Hyde Park being employed as a 'domestic' at a wage of £5/10/- a week. On 8 February 1952 When the Inspector visited Mrs Walker was very resentful at the visit. She said Valerie was out till midnight virtually every night and with different boys and she was not prepared to take responsibility for her. The Inspector talked to Valerie who told him that her social life was no concern of Mrs Walker's as her work finished at 7pm. The Inspector told Valerie she was not yet 18 years old, but Valerie's reply was that she was 'years older than her years'. On 26 November 1952 the Boarding Out Officer reported that Valerie was living with another girl (not named in the report for reasons of confidentiality) at Rose Park. She had been working at the Strathmore Hotel and various other places, Valerie had also lived at Kensington Park, St.Mary's Hostel and the YWCA.
On 30 April 1953 The Boarding Out Officer reported that a Woman Constable had found Valerie at a house in Hilton with another girl (not named). The two girls had been missing for some time and had been reported as 'Missing Persons'. As Valerie could not go to Goodwood Orphanage it was recommended she be sent to 'The Pines'. Eventually she was put into the 'Fullarton Refuge' in Adelaide. The Inspector's Report of 2nd November 1953 noted that Valerie was pregnant and expecting her child at any time. He also commented that she was 'a rather attractive girl'.
On 12 November 1953 Valerie gave birth to Lorette May Stacey at Fullarton Refuge. She made it clear that she intended to keep her baby and that she would not be seeking maintenance payments. To this day the identity of the father is unknown to any of Valerie's family.
Valerie's next, and probably happiest, home was with the (5) Faulkner Family at Mintaro, South Australia. An Inspectors Report of the 23 September 1954 confirmed that Valerie was happy at that house, with her baby, and was of good behaviour. Mrs Faulkner also had young children.
As Valerie was still of an age to be in the control of the Immigration Ministry she was obliged to get written permission in order to marry. This was given, and on 14 May 1955 she married Leslie Garrard of Watervale South Australia. It is not known how or where the couple first met. Leslie was quite a few years older than Valerie, but a kind and considerate man. The family home was a vineyard at Watervale, which Leslie ran with his brother.
Over the next few years Valerie and Leslie had three children. Vicki Anne born 14 October 1955, David Leslie born 14 July 1959 and Susun Valerie born 19 March 1964.
The only information about Valerie's life after marrying Leslie comes from her own children.
In her early forties Valerie was diagnosed with a rare physical disorder affecting her blood circulation and her lungs. She died of this disorder in Clare Hospital, South Australia on 9th May 1978.
In her lifetime Valerie saw two of her daughters married, Lorette to Keith Smart and Vickie to Peter Moyle. They in turn each had two children who came to know and love Valerie and be loved in return.
In 1980 Valerie’s youngest daughter Susun began a search for the British uncle that her mother had mentioned to her, and with the help of the Salvation Army in Australia and the U.K. found her uncle Roy - Valerie's brother. This was the first time that Roy knew anything about Valerie's journey through life after being split from her in Eastbourne. Contact was established with all the Australian relatives and a year or so later Susun visited Roy and his family in Britain. Unfortunately none of Valerie's children knew anything about her experiences before she married Leslie Garrard.
In April 2000 Roy was contacted for the first time in 53 years by his brothers, Michael and David, who had not even been aware of having a brother or sister until a few months previously. Whilst Roy had been aware of their existence he had been discouraged from trying to contact them. The three brothers and their wives then began a quest to search out information on Valerie's life and movements between being removed from the family at Eastbourne and marrying Leslie Garrard in Australia. Michael showed (and still shows) tremendous persistence in rooting out information, a lot of it by way of the Web and e-mails but the rest by letters and telephone calls both nationally and internationally. The bulk of the information in this story about Valerie's early life came through Michael's efforts.
Documentary evidence was quickly produced at Michael's request by various Australian Authorities and by the East Sussex County Council and the National Council of Voluntary Child Care Organisations in Britain. It has to be said that the organisations sheltered under the Catholic umbrella were much less forthcoming, and in some cases refused to give information. In light of the findings of the Select Committee Hearing in 1998 in the U.K., and the Senate Inquiry in 2001 in Australia it is obvious why the Catholics were so hesitant. During his researches Michael contacted Pat Carlson in Adelaide. Pat had been in the Plymouth Nazareth House with Valerie, and in Goodwood Orphanage in Adelaide, and was able to supply a good deal of information and insights. She, in turn' put Michael in touch with other people in the area who might be able to help.
One of the pleasant features to come out of this sort of search is the kindness shown by certain individuals. One such is Bernadette (Bernie) Holder of the Notre Dame Association in Devon, England. Bernie supplied a photograph of a school group in which Valerie was included.
With Susun's help Monica Cavanagh was located and she wrote to the brothers "You can be very proud indeed of your sister. It was my fortune that our paths crossed. I loved her dearly and will treasure what we shared. It was Val who coloured all our lives, sometimes quite black and at other times with every colour in the rainbow. She lived life at 100% and did in her short 44 years what most don't do in a long lifetime. Your sister was no saint, she was our Val and even as she was dying she was true to herself".
Valerie's daughter Susun recently wrote: "I will be of limited help to you re: Mum as I barely knew her. She died when I was 14 although had she lived to be 1001 doubt that I would have known her any better. I believe her early years affected her profoundly which in turn had ramifications for us, her children. Had she more love in her young life many things would have been different. The Church and the Government should feel the deepest shame at their handling of children like mum".
As a direct result of his searches for information on Valerie, Michael learned more and more about the whole Child Migrant Scheme. His contact with Pat Carlson continues on an almost daily basis. Through investment in the latest databases and search technology, and with the assistance of contacts world-wide Michael has been able to find long lost relatives for a number of former Child Migrants. Valerie's brothers and their wives and families hope that with the knowledge of these ongoing efforts Valerie might look down and smile that at last something is happening to try to right some of the wrongs suffered by her and her fellow Child Migrants. We thank Mike for the use of this material. All content and photographs are copyright Michael and Nita Stacey, 2001-2007 and may not be reproduced without their express consent. Please visit their website (FamilyFinding.co.uk) and pass along their information to those who may be searching without luck for their family members sent via the child migrant scheme.
Died 9th May 1978 in Clare Hospital, Adelaide, Australia.
Stolen from her brothers Roy, Michael and David in 1946 and exported to Australia in 1949 by the British Government and the Roman Catholic Church.
19th April 1933 William Joseph Stacey married Jean Queenie Lewis at the Registry Office in Eastbourne, Sussex, England.
7th September 1934 Valerie Ann was born at Saint Mary's Hospital, 123 Church Street, Eastbourne. The family home at this time was 77 Pevensey Road, Eastbourne. Valerie was baptised at Saint Agnes Roman Catholic Church on 21st October 1934.
11th December 1936 Valerie's brother Roy was born at Saint Mary's Hospital. The family had moved to 17 Leslie Street, Eastbourne.
25th February 1940 Jean Queenie Stacey died at Saint Mary's Hospital. Cause of death was Uraemia and incomplete abortion.
Once of school age Valerie Ann att ended Saint Joseph's Roman Catholic School, Whitley Road, Eastbourne. She was joined there by Roy.
Sometime after the death of Jean Queenie, william met and entered into a relationship with Gladys Rooke, who already had a son' Ronald The family now lived at 13 North Street, Eastbourne.
28th January 1943 a son' Michael, was born to William and Gladys. A short while after this the family, William, Gladys, Valerie, Roy, Michael and Ronald, moved to 26 Beach Road, Eastbourne.
13 June 1946 Joseph William died at Saint Mary's Hospital, Eastbourne. Cause of death was cerebral embolism and valvular disease of the heart. He was 35 years old at his death.
12th July 1946 Gladys gave birth to David.
At about this time Valerie and Roy were taken into the care of the East Sussex Authorities. Apart from one brief meeting soon afterwards they never met again. Valerie was put in a school at Bexhill, Sussex, and from there was sent in October 1946 to Nazareth House Convent in Plymouth, England. Roy was sent initially to a school in Orpington, Kent and from there to the Salesian College in London.
"We were asked by Mother Rose at Bexhill to take this girl to enable her to attend Notre Dame High School with two of our girls. Father and mother are both dead." (Mother Superior, Nazareth House Convent, Plymouth). This testifies to Valerie"s high intelligence and her ability to learn, as Notre Dame was a school of very high standards.
In 1946 Brother Conlon, who was due to visit Britain from Australia, was asked by the Archbishop of Adelaide to "get him some girls to fill the Orphanage in Adelaide".
The wheels were set in motion under the Child Migration Scheme approved by the British Government and taken over by the Catholic Church. Valerie was in the most unfortunate position of being in the clutches of the Catholic Church at the time. She was chosen for Migration under Group Nomination SG10. There is no reason for believing that she was aware of this at the time.
The required Migration Documents were obtained over a period of months.
Certified Copy of Birth Certificate
Consent Form signed by Stepmother
Child Migration Form completed by sponsoring
Organisation, Catholic Child Welfare Council
Approval by Australian Migration Branch
Medical Examination carried out 25th August 1948
4th October 1948
21st October 1948
25th October 1948
11th March 1949
Some time between 11th March 1949 and 17th March 1949 the date of birth was altered on the Migration Form to bring Valerie within the age limits for the Scheme - a criminal act. At this time Valerie was under the jurisdiction of the Sisters at Nazareth House. This Form also shows Valerie's educational standard as "Very Good".
On Wednesday, 13th April 1949, the Notre Dame High School closed for the Easter Holidays. This was the last day of Valerie"s attendance at the School as she was then told she was to be sent to Australia. She had no opportunity to bid farewell to her school friends or make any last contact with her family.
On 28th April 1949 Valerie left from Tilbury Docks on the S. S. "Mooltan" bound for Australia. She travelled as part of a group of 16 girls of whom 8 were from Nazareth House, Plymouth.
Evelyn Brown 15, Jessica Caines 14, Harriet Cander 10, Margaret Douglas 6, Jane Dye 15, Rosemary Green 6, Patricia McGourty 5, Carol Mclvor 6, Agnes Neailly 12, Sarah Neailly 12, Grace Nicholas 14, Vera Pascoe 13, Valerie Stacey 14, Catherine Walsh 11, Maureen Walsh 12 and Monica Williams 13. The Group was escorted by Reverend John B Briffa, Sister Malachy McSweeney and Sister Frances Mary Buss.
Prior to this 28 girls had been sent on the S.S. "Ormonde" sailing from Tilbury on 17th December 1948. Therefore the combined total was 44 girls. This was as part of a requirement for 50 girls submitted on behalf of the Saint Vincent de Paul"s Orphanage, Adelaide.
Valerie arrived in Adelaide on 31st May 1949, and together with the rest of the girls was delivered into the hands of the "Sisters of Mercy" at Goodwood Orphanage. She was 14 years and eight months old and the Orphanage policy was not to allow girls of 14 years and over to attend school. Quite obviously Valerie had been sent from a very good education in England to a total lack of education in Australia purely to make up the quota of girls demanded by the Archbishop of Adelaide. The treatment of the girls at Goodwood, from the moment of their arrival, was horrifying. This treatment has been the subject of a Senate Enquiry following the number of complaints received from ex-inmates over the years, and TV documentaries on the subject.
On 12th August 1949 the 'Boarding Out Officer" was telephoned by Father Roberts of the Catholic Social Service Bureau to say that Valerie had been examined by a Miss Mary Smith (a psychologist who stated that Valerie was above average intelligence, with a high emotional rating and needing love and affection. A home was offered with a Mrs Cavanagh, a hairdresser, who said she was prepared to teach Valerie that trade. A Mr Parker, the Vocational Guidance Officer, considered the work suitable.
22nd August 1949 Valerie was placed with (1) Mrs Rita Cavanagh at Birkenhead, Adelaide. Mrs Cavanagh had two sons, both younger than Valerie. Valerie was paid a messenger's wage of £1-17- per week, of which 10/- was deducted for board.
24th December 1949 the Inspector reported on a visit to Valerie saying that she was doing the housework at the Cavanaghs as Mrs Cavanagh already had an apprentice hairdresser who would not complete the training for a further two years. Only one apprentice was allowed at a time.
12th January 1950 Valerie was advised she was to be taken on by (2) Mrs O.J. Barrv of Mount Gambier. Her wage was to be 30/- per week plus board and lodging, with an increase of 5/- per week at the end of six months provided her work and conduct was satisfactory.
A report from the Catholic Social Service Bureau in June 1950 stated that the Barrys were very satisfied with Valerie that she was well dressed and seemed happy and was an active member of the Catholic Girls Club. She was arranging to learn shorthand and typing in order to seek an office job later. Some worry was expressed about her staying out late in the evening.
6th July 1950 a report from the Inspector stated that Mrs Barry was in hospital and that Valerie was housekeeping, she was well dressed with a good taste in clothes and had started sewing, though she gave away one blouse she made. She said she might want to be a nurse later.
30th November 1950 report was very critical of Valerie. She had ceased the dressmaking classes and had very few friends in spite of Mrs Barry introducing her to various girls. Valerie told the Inspector that she had been told her stay in the 'country' would only be for a few months and she had in fact been there a year. She wanted to go back to Adelaide and then on to Sydney. She thought she would do much better if she did not have 'a thousand people' telling her what to do. The Inspector told Valerie he did not like being spoken to in such a manner! He also said that Valerie would not be able to leave the State without the consent of the 'Chairman'. On 28 April 1951 Mr Barry wrote to the Children's Welfare Department asking if a arrangements could be made to transfer Valerie as Mrs Barry had decided she no longer needed her. This was after a 15-month period. Mr Barry wrote "I would like to thank you for placing the girl with us at a time when domestic assistance in our home was so urgently needed".
On 14 June 1951 Valerie called the Department to say that she had obtained a position with a (3)Mrs Landen at a wage of £3/10/- per week. Arrangements were made for Valerie's transfer on 18 June 1951. However a Report from the Inspector On 6 August 1951 advised that Valerie had left Mrs Landen's, and was working in the Hyde Park area, Mrs Landen stated that Valerie was a nice girl in many ways, was clean, worked well, and was quite a good cook, but her main fault was that she was very stubborn. Valerie hated the Department and everyone connected with it. Valerie was subsequently placed with a (4)Mrs A.S. Walker in Hyde Park being employed as a 'domestic' at a wage of £5/10/- a week. On 8 February 1952 When the Inspector visited Mrs Walker was very resentful at the visit. She said Valerie was out till midnight virtually every night and with different boys and she was not prepared to take responsibility for her. The Inspector talked to Valerie who told him that her social life was no concern of Mrs Walker's as her work finished at 7pm. The Inspector told Valerie she was not yet 18 years old, but Valerie's reply was that she was 'years older than her years'. On 26 November 1952 the Boarding Out Officer reported that Valerie was living with another girl (not named in the report for reasons of confidentiality) at Rose Park. She had been working at the Strathmore Hotel and various other places, Valerie had also lived at Kensington Park, St.Mary's Hostel and the YWCA.
On 30 April 1953 The Boarding Out Officer reported that a Woman Constable had found Valerie at a house in Hilton with another girl (not named). The two girls had been missing for some time and had been reported as 'Missing Persons'. As Valerie could not go to Goodwood Orphanage it was recommended she be sent to 'The Pines'. Eventually she was put into the 'Fullarton Refuge' in Adelaide. The Inspector's Report of 2nd November 1953 noted that Valerie was pregnant and expecting her child at any time. He also commented that she was 'a rather attractive girl'.
On 12 November 1953 Valerie gave birth to Lorette May Stacey at Fullarton Refuge. She made it clear that she intended to keep her baby and that she would not be seeking maintenance payments. To this day the identity of the father is unknown to any of Valerie's family.
Valerie's next, and probably happiest, home was with the (5) Faulkner Family at Mintaro, South Australia. An Inspectors Report of the 23 September 1954 confirmed that Valerie was happy at that house, with her baby, and was of good behaviour. Mrs Faulkner also had young children.
As Valerie was still of an age to be in the control of the Immigration Ministry she was obliged to get written permission in order to marry. This was given, and on 14 May 1955 she married Leslie Garrard of Watervale South Australia. It is not known how or where the couple first met. Leslie was quite a few years older than Valerie, but a kind and considerate man. The family home was a vineyard at Watervale, which Leslie ran with his brother.
Over the next few years Valerie and Leslie had three children. Vicki Anne born 14 October 1955, David Leslie born 14 July 1959 and Susun Valerie born 19 March 1964.
The only information about Valerie's life after marrying Leslie comes from her own children.
In her early forties Valerie was diagnosed with a rare physical disorder affecting her blood circulation and her lungs. She died of this disorder in Clare Hospital, South Australia on 9th May 1978.
In her lifetime Valerie saw two of her daughters married, Lorette to Keith Smart and Vickie to Peter Moyle. They in turn each had two children who came to know and love Valerie and be loved in return.
In 1980 Valerie’s youngest daughter Susun began a search for the British uncle that her mother had mentioned to her, and with the help of the Salvation Army in Australia and the U.K. found her uncle Roy - Valerie's brother. This was the first time that Roy knew anything about Valerie's journey through life after being split from her in Eastbourne. Contact was established with all the Australian relatives and a year or so later Susun visited Roy and his family in Britain. Unfortunately none of Valerie's children knew anything about her experiences before she married Leslie Garrard.
In April 2000 Roy was contacted for the first time in 53 years by his brothers, Michael and David, who had not even been aware of having a brother or sister until a few months previously. Whilst Roy had been aware of their existence he had been discouraged from trying to contact them. The three brothers and their wives then began a quest to search out information on Valerie's life and movements between being removed from the family at Eastbourne and marrying Leslie Garrard in Australia. Michael showed (and still shows) tremendous persistence in rooting out information, a lot of it by way of the Web and e-mails but the rest by letters and telephone calls both nationally and internationally. The bulk of the information in this story about Valerie's early life came through Michael's efforts.
Documentary evidence was quickly produced at Michael's request by various Australian Authorities and by the East Sussex County Council and the National Council of Voluntary Child Care Organisations in Britain. It has to be said that the organisations sheltered under the Catholic umbrella were much less forthcoming, and in some cases refused to give information. In light of the findings of the Select Committee Hearing in 1998 in the U.K., and the Senate Inquiry in 2001 in Australia it is obvious why the Catholics were so hesitant. During his researches Michael contacted Pat Carlson in Adelaide. Pat had been in the Plymouth Nazareth House with Valerie, and in Goodwood Orphanage in Adelaide, and was able to supply a good deal of information and insights. She, in turn' put Michael in touch with other people in the area who might be able to help.
One of the pleasant features to come out of this sort of search is the kindness shown by certain individuals. One such is Bernadette (Bernie) Holder of the Notre Dame Association in Devon, England. Bernie supplied a photograph of a school group in which Valerie was included.
With Susun's help Monica Cavanagh was located and she wrote to the brothers "You can be very proud indeed of your sister. It was my fortune that our paths crossed. I loved her dearly and will treasure what we shared. It was Val who coloured all our lives, sometimes quite black and at other times with every colour in the rainbow. She lived life at 100% and did in her short 44 years what most don't do in a long lifetime. Your sister was no saint, she was our Val and even as she was dying she was true to herself".
Valerie's daughter Susun recently wrote: "I will be of limited help to you re: Mum as I barely knew her. She died when I was 14 although had she lived to be 1001 doubt that I would have known her any better. I believe her early years affected her profoundly which in turn had ramifications for us, her children. Had she more love in her young life many things would have been different. The Church and the Government should feel the deepest shame at their handling of children like mum".
As a direct result of his searches for information on Valerie, Michael learned more and more about the whole Child Migrant Scheme. His contact with Pat Carlson continues on an almost daily basis. Through investment in the latest databases and search technology, and with the assistance of contacts world-wide Michael has been able to find long lost relatives for a number of former Child Migrants. Valerie's brothers and their wives and families hope that with the knowledge of these ongoing efforts Valerie might look down and smile that at last something is happening to try to right some of the wrongs suffered by her and her fellow Child Migrants. We thank Mike for the use of this material. All content and photographs are copyright Michael and Nita Stacey, 2001-2007 and may not be reproduced without their express consent. Please visit their website (FamilyFinding.co.uk) and pass along their information to those who may be searching without luck for their family members sent via the child migrant scheme.
