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Ten Doors Down: the story of an extraordinary adoption reunion
The story of a federal minister’s remarkable reunion with his birth parents.
Robert Tickner had always known he was adopted, but had rarely felt much curiosity about his origins. Born in 1951, he had a happy childhood — raised by his loving adoptive parents, Bert and Gwen Tickner, in the small seaside town of Forster, New South Wales. He grew up to be a cheerful and confident young man with a fierce sense of social justice, and the desire and stamina to make political change. Serving in the Hawke and Keating governments, he held the portfolio of minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander affairs. Among other achievements while in government, he was responsible for initiating the reconciliation process with Indigenous Australians, and he was instrumental in instigating the national inquiry into the stolen generations.
During his time on the front bench, Robert’s son was born, and it was his deep sense of connection to this child that moved him at last to turn his attention to the question of his own birth. Although he had some sense of the potentially life-changing course that lay ahead of him, he could not have anticipated learning of the exceptional nature of the woman who had brought him into the world, the deep scars that his forced adoption had left on her, and the astonishing series of coincidences that had already linked their lives. And this was only the first half of a story that was to lead to a reunion with his birth father and siblings.
This deeply moving memoir is a testament to the significance of all forms of family in shaping us — and to the potential for love to heal great harm.
Robert Tickner had always known he was adopted, but had rarely felt much curiosity about his origins. Born in 1951, he had a happy childhood — raised by his loving adoptive parents, Bert and Gwen Tickner, in the small seaside town of Forster, New South Wales. He grew up to be a cheerful and confident young man with a fierce sense of social justice, and the desire and stamina to make political change. Serving in the Hawke and Keating governments, he held the portfolio of minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander affairs. Among other achievements while in government, he was responsible for initiating the reconciliation process with Indigenous Australians, and he was instrumental in instigating the national inquiry into the stolen generations.
During his time on the front bench, Robert’s son was born, and it was his deep sense of connection to this child that moved him at last to turn his attention to the question of his own birth. Although he had some sense of the potentially life-changing course that lay ahead of him, he could not have anticipated learning of the exceptional nature of the woman who had brought him into the world, the deep scars that his forced adoption had left on her, and the astonishing series of coincidences that had already linked their lives. And this was only the first half of a story that was to lead to a reunion with his birth father and siblings.
This deeply moving memoir is a testament to the significance of all forms of family in shaping us — and to the potential for love to heal great harm.
256 pages, Paperback
First published February 4, 2020
22 people are currently reading
143 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
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April 7, 2020Tickner’s sensitive portrayal of the woman at the heart of his story is a powerful refutation of an inhuman system that doomed generations of single mothers (described as ‘of low intelligence if not actually retarded’ by doctors) and their children (the so-called ‘clean slates’) to the unimaginable misery of forced adoptions. Hundreds and thousands of families were touched by these policies. This moving memoir tells the exceptional story of one of them. FOUR STARS
Julia Taylor, Books+Publishing
An emotional and deeply personal account of the complexity of family and the need to understand your origins. A great Australian story, which leaves the reader feeling positive about the triumph of humanity.
Anthony Albanese
This book confronts aspects of our shared historical past, some of which are horrible and shameful. I wept in parts. I felt sad and angry in other parts. But this book is also about happiness and hope. It is a story all Australians should read.
Professor Mick Dodson, AM
Magnificently moving. You won’t be able to put it down. A testament to a mother’s love – and a son’s — full of heart, truth, and power. The final pages will break you.
Nikki Gemmell
Ten Doors Down is an intelligent and readable account of one man's attempt to reconnect with his birth family ... To read of this journey is truly a privilege.
Penelope Cottier, Canberra Times
An emotional journey with an insider’s insights into the political and cultural world of late 20th-century Australia.
Michael Madigan, Courier Mail
Ten Doors Down is a memoir on the significance of a mother’s care and the power of familial love ... Ten Doors Down is an emotional and deeply personal story, and Tickner’s insights into family are moving and uplifting.
Georgia Brough, ArtsHub
An epic, emotionally challenging, but ultimately heartwarming story about the power of familial bonds, love and life’s strange coincidences.
Rowan Cowley, The Senior
Optimistic and uplifting … a moving story, and told with economy and great focus.
Debra Adelaide, The Age
Ten Doors Down is [Robert Tickner’s] best book.
Alex Mitchell, Come the Revolution
This highly personal political memoir tells a heart-wrenching story of genealogical discovery and relationship formation ... At its core, Ten Doors Down is concerned above all with the nature of childhood itself. Reflecting on the reprehensible history of forced adoption in Australia, Tickner confronts many problematic historical assumptions about the nature and rights of a newborn child.
Josh Black, Australian Book Review
Julia Taylor, Books+Publishing
An emotional and deeply personal account of the complexity of family and the need to understand your origins. A great Australian story, which leaves the reader feeling positive about the triumph of humanity.
Anthony Albanese
This book confronts aspects of our shared historical past, some of which are horrible and shameful. I wept in parts. I felt sad and angry in other parts. But this book is also about happiness and hope. It is a story all Australians should read.
Professor Mick Dodson, AM
Magnificently moving. You won’t be able to put it down. A testament to a mother’s love – and a son’s — full of heart, truth, and power. The final pages will break you.
Nikki Gemmell
Ten Doors Down is an intelligent and readable account of one man's attempt to reconnect with his birth family ... To read of this journey is truly a privilege.
Penelope Cottier, Canberra Times
An emotional journey with an insider’s insights into the political and cultural world of late 20th-century Australia.
Michael Madigan, Courier Mail
Ten Doors Down is a memoir on the significance of a mother’s care and the power of familial love ... Ten Doors Down is an emotional and deeply personal story, and Tickner’s insights into family are moving and uplifting.
Georgia Brough, ArtsHub
An epic, emotionally challenging, but ultimately heartwarming story about the power of familial bonds, love and life’s strange coincidences.
Rowan Cowley, The Senior
Optimistic and uplifting … a moving story, and told with economy and great focus.
Debra Adelaide, The Age
Ten Doors Down is [Robert Tickner’s] best book.
Alex Mitchell, Come the Revolution
This highly personal political memoir tells a heart-wrenching story of genealogical discovery and relationship formation ... At its core, Ten Doors Down is concerned above all with the nature of childhood itself. Reflecting on the reprehensible history of forced adoption in Australia, Tickner confronts many problematic historical assumptions about the nature and rights of a newborn child.
Josh Black, Australian Book Review
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September 14, 2020For all the superlatives in the book title and marketing blurbs (extraordinary, remarkable), I didn’t find this book to be particularly outstanding. Maybe I have already read too many books about adoption. Maybe as an adoptee myself, I find this book a little unbelievable. I mean, everyone is simply too nice to be true. The bit that would have really interested me - how his birth mother came to be pregnant, why she couldn’t keep the baby, how she experienced the birth and separation - are all missing. Sure, Tickner explains that she did not want to talk about it, I get that, but it makes the book a whole lot less interesting for me.
I do believe Robert Tickner to be a good person, and from what I read in the book, it sounds like he achieved some good things as a politician. Perhaps though, along the way, he never unlearned how to speak like a politician. The hoped for drama didn’t find its way into my psyche, and although the book was well written, it left me feeling a little flat.
I guess what disappoints me the most about this book is there are no strong take away messages that haven’t already been provided by other writers of this genre. And, everyone was just too nice.
I do believe Robert Tickner to be a good person, and from what I read in the book, it sounds like he achieved some good things as a politician. Perhaps though, along the way, he never unlearned how to speak like a politician. The hoped for drama didn’t find its way into my psyche, and although the book was well written, it left me feeling a little flat.
I guess what disappoints me the most about this book is there are no strong take away messages that haven’t already been provided by other writers of this genre. And, everyone was just too nice.
February 20, 2021
As an adoptee I read this memoir with great interest and I write this review from this perspective. I have keenly read the other reviews here and will acknowledge that I am one of the few who wanted more from his work.
Tickner is one of only a few Australian male adoptee's who have written of their experience and for this reason I highly commend his work, it is an important contribution to the small, but growing genre of adoptive life writing. As adoptees from the Stolen Generations age beyond their 50's publishers must do everything they can, now, to capture these important pieces of cultural history.
I am fascinated that a large portion of Australian adoptive memoir is written by established writers and notable professionals and there are few written works penned by everyday 'unknowns', whom constitute the majority of Australian adoptees and first parents!
In '10 doors down' Tickner spends the majority of his memoir detailing his professional life and while it is impressive and he has facilitated real change, I was left with the feeling that this was often a distraction from the main story, the real story; his adoption. As I got further and further into his memoir the constant grandstanding became annoying and I wondered at the purpose of his book. Was this work a memoir of adoption, or a memoir of a rich political life ? Tickner writes of others and their adoptive narratives with force and passion, but when the story rightly turns to his adoptive narrative, he skirts around the edges and avoids the deeper uncomfortable emotional details. For instance on page 138 Tickner states 'that may sound strange, but it was how I felt', in reference to his adoptee guilt. It was here, that Tickner could have elaborated what drives this sense of guilt frequently experienced by adoptees, especially in the nervous lead up to meeting their biological parents. Again on page 140, Tickner avoids going deeper and describes his feeling in one brief sentence at the reunion with his mother Maida, 'the feelings were overwhelming, and I was so nervous that at first I could hardly speak'. The dialogue that follows describes what his mother looked like, where they went in the hours after this momentous life changing occasion and the details of Maida's life lived without him. Tickner continues the chapter in this manner, his words touch briefly on the emotion of their reunion, but never lingering for long, his writing is forever moving forward. He ends the chapter with another brief hint at his inner world, 'I felt uplifted and empowered..I desperately wanted to know more about how my mother was feeling'.
My question to Robert is 'how were you feeling ?'.
As I turned the page to Chapter 13, Tickner begins with the enticing phrase, 'I felt daunted'. I get excited in the hope that finally the author is going to open up and share with the reader (me) his vulnerability! Alas, it is yet another emotional tidbit which hits a dead end three lines in and is followed yet again by another political anecdote. Their are numerous moments like this throughout the book, too many to mention where Tickner either hints at his emotionality, writes in a manner which washes over his inner world, or he simply avoids mentioning how a scenario made him feel by focusing instead on his interpretation at the other persons experience (p.158, p.160, 164, 167).
Tickners constant glossing over of his loss and grief is not unusual for an adoptee, many of us feel we have no right to feel anything other than 'grateful' for our adoption. However, this is one of the many malignant myths fashioned decades ago to aid the societal acceptance of the forced adoption policy in Australia. I would love to see a second edition of 'Ten Doors down', but only if it is reworked with Roberts inner world.
Tickner is one of only a few Australian male adoptee's who have written of their experience and for this reason I highly commend his work, it is an important contribution to the small, but growing genre of adoptive life writing. As adoptees from the Stolen Generations age beyond their 50's publishers must do everything they can, now, to capture these important pieces of cultural history.
I am fascinated that a large portion of Australian adoptive memoir is written by established writers and notable professionals and there are few written works penned by everyday 'unknowns', whom constitute the majority of Australian adoptees and first parents!
In '10 doors down' Tickner spends the majority of his memoir detailing his professional life and while it is impressive and he has facilitated real change, I was left with the feeling that this was often a distraction from the main story, the real story; his adoption. As I got further and further into his memoir the constant grandstanding became annoying and I wondered at the purpose of his book. Was this work a memoir of adoption, or a memoir of a rich political life ? Tickner writes of others and their adoptive narratives with force and passion, but when the story rightly turns to his adoptive narrative, he skirts around the edges and avoids the deeper uncomfortable emotional details. For instance on page 138 Tickner states 'that may sound strange, but it was how I felt', in reference to his adoptee guilt. It was here, that Tickner could have elaborated what drives this sense of guilt frequently experienced by adoptees, especially in the nervous lead up to meeting their biological parents. Again on page 140, Tickner avoids going deeper and describes his feeling in one brief sentence at the reunion with his mother Maida, 'the feelings were overwhelming, and I was so nervous that at first I could hardly speak'. The dialogue that follows describes what his mother looked like, where they went in the hours after this momentous life changing occasion and the details of Maida's life lived without him. Tickner continues the chapter in this manner, his words touch briefly on the emotion of their reunion, but never lingering for long, his writing is forever moving forward. He ends the chapter with another brief hint at his inner world, 'I felt uplifted and empowered..I desperately wanted to know more about how my mother was feeling'.
My question to Robert is 'how were you feeling ?'.
As I turned the page to Chapter 13, Tickner begins with the enticing phrase, 'I felt daunted'. I get excited in the hope that finally the author is going to open up and share with the reader (me) his vulnerability! Alas, it is yet another emotional tidbit which hits a dead end three lines in and is followed yet again by another political anecdote. Their are numerous moments like this throughout the book, too many to mention where Tickner either hints at his emotionality, writes in a manner which washes over his inner world, or he simply avoids mentioning how a scenario made him feel by focusing instead on his interpretation at the other persons experience (p.158, p.160, 164, 167).
Tickners constant glossing over of his loss and grief is not unusual for an adoptee, many of us feel we have no right to feel anything other than 'grateful' for our adoption. However, this is one of the many malignant myths fashioned decades ago to aid the societal acceptance of the forced adoption policy in Australia. I would love to see a second edition of 'Ten Doors down', but only if it is reworked with Roberts inner world.
March 1, 2020
Very moving account of Robert Tickner's reconnection with his birth parents. Read this in less than 24 hours as it was so compelling.
February 5, 2020
Finding the Way Forward into Family
I was in Canberra to welcome the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize awarded to the Australian based ICAN - the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons. It was in 2018 - and a typical rightwing government (as we have had sadly for a number of years now in Australia) response being to absolutely ignore this important matter. Some ecologically aware citizen members of ICAN brought it to the national capital from Melbourne via a bicycle “peloton”. I had taken a bus with others to greet its arrival - later followed by a march with flags and banners from the edge of Lake Burley Griffin to the lawns fronting the national parliament - addressed by some eminent Australians - one of whom was Sue Coleman-Haseldine of the Kokatha First Nations people from near Ceduna in South Australia - members of which had suffered from the fallout of British nuclear “testing” in that region in the early-mid 1950s. Sue had been to NYC to address the Assembly of the UN. During the march from the Lake I walked alongside the tall chap who had seemed to be the MC/organiser of the lakeside Welcome to the Nobel Peace Prize and asked if I might know his name. Robert Tickner. Of the Australian Red Cross. And then I realised (having lived many years outside Australia - somewhat out of the loop) that this was the hugely respected former Minister for Indigenous Affairs in governments of the latter 1980s/early to mid-1990s. This book deals with his amazing story - out of his loving adoptive parents and family into uncovering his biological parents - firstly his mother - then his father. Very moving. My already high level of respect for Robert Tickner has gone up another whole level. I’ve spoken of it already to one of my cousins in Canada who was relinquished in circumstances there similar to the kind of thinking then in existence here in Australia.
I was in Canberra to welcome the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize awarded to the Australian based ICAN - the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons. It was in 2018 - and a typical rightwing government (as we have had sadly for a number of years now in Australia) response being to absolutely ignore this important matter. Some ecologically aware citizen members of ICAN brought it to the national capital from Melbourne via a bicycle “peloton”. I had taken a bus with others to greet its arrival - later followed by a march with flags and banners from the edge of Lake Burley Griffin to the lawns fronting the national parliament - addressed by some eminent Australians - one of whom was Sue Coleman-Haseldine of the Kokatha First Nations people from near Ceduna in South Australia - members of which had suffered from the fallout of British nuclear “testing” in that region in the early-mid 1950s. Sue had been to NYC to address the Assembly of the UN. During the march from the Lake I walked alongside the tall chap who had seemed to be the MC/organiser of the lakeside Welcome to the Nobel Peace Prize and asked if I might know his name. Robert Tickner. Of the Australian Red Cross. And then I realised (having lived many years outside Australia - somewhat out of the loop) that this was the hugely respected former Minister for Indigenous Affairs in governments of the latter 1980s/early to mid-1990s. This book deals with his amazing story - out of his loving adoptive parents and family into uncovering his biological parents - firstly his mother - then his father. Very moving. My already high level of respect for Robert Tickner has gone up another whole level. I’ve spoken of it already to one of my cousins in Canada who was relinquished in circumstances there similar to the kind of thinking then in existence here in Australia.
June 4, 2020
I recently attended an author talk featuring Robert Tickner talking about the story of his adoption. Ten Doors Down is the book of this story.
You may recall Tickner's name. He was an ALP politician during the Hawke and Keating era and the Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs throughout the first half of the 90's. During this time, he was also going through the emotionally fraught experience of searching for his birth parents.
Early on, Tickner makes clear that he is one of the fortunate ones. He was adopted by two loving, generous parents. He had an idyllic childhood growing up in Forster, NSW. And his subsequent experiences in searching for and finding his birth family were mostly successful and positive.
His birth mother had a less happy time though. She grieved her whole life for the child she gave up. Even though she found love and happiness in marriage, she decided not to have any more children as she couldn't bear the thought of losing another child.
After the initial joy of rediscovering her son, she suffered terribly from knowing that she had spent most of her adult life living ten doors down from Tickner's adopted grandmother. A grandmother that Tickner visited nearly every school holidays. Knowing retrospectively that her son had been so close all this time was hard to absorb.
Ten Doors Down is a touching memoir and if you get a chance to listen to Tickner talk with Richard Fidler in Conversations, I would highly recommend it.
Full review here - http://bronasbooks.blogspot.com/2020/...
You may recall Tickner's name. He was an ALP politician during the Hawke and Keating era and the Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs throughout the first half of the 90's. During this time, he was also going through the emotionally fraught experience of searching for his birth parents.
Early on, Tickner makes clear that he is one of the fortunate ones. He was adopted by two loving, generous parents. He had an idyllic childhood growing up in Forster, NSW. And his subsequent experiences in searching for and finding his birth family were mostly successful and positive.
His birth mother had a less happy time though. She grieved her whole life for the child she gave up. Even though she found love and happiness in marriage, she decided not to have any more children as she couldn't bear the thought of losing another child.
After the initial joy of rediscovering her son, she suffered terribly from knowing that she had spent most of her adult life living ten doors down from Tickner's adopted grandmother. A grandmother that Tickner visited nearly every school holidays. Knowing retrospectively that her son had been so close all this time was hard to absorb.
Ten Doors Down is a touching memoir and if you get a chance to listen to Tickner talk with Richard Fidler in Conversations, I would highly recommend it.
Full review here - http://bronasbooks.blogspot.com/2020/...
March 6, 2020
A poignant story about a man who, having enjoyed an idyllic childhood with loving adoptive parents, decides to find his birth parents before it’s too late. Only, this is no ordinary man he’s a member of The Australian Federal parliament, a lawyer passionate about justice for the first peoples of Australia, and for the rights of adopted children and their parents forcibly separated to conform to social standards and morals of the 1950s. His adoption reunion is a happy story, full of amazing consequences - although his private life folds under the stress of political machinations, which see him voted out of parliament, his decisions and actions in government examined before courts, but entirely if belatedly justified.
The prose is sincere, genuine and generous. It is easy to see how such a person could be a passionate and driven politician, seeking justice and betterment for all of society, especially the aboriginal community. I struggle to think of any current politicians who seem his equal in seeking election to make things better. For all.
An enlightening read.
The prose is sincere, genuine and generous. It is easy to see how such a person could be a passionate and driven politician, seeking justice and betterment for all of society, especially the aboriginal community. I struggle to think of any current politicians who seem his equal in seeking election to make things better. For all.
An enlightening read.
August 5, 2022
What an interesting memoir - a well written recount of a successful and happy childhood of an adopted child who then reunited with his biological parents. So many coincidences ... but then life can be like that. Robert grew up in Forster but his maternal grandmother lived 10 doors down from his biological mother in Merrylands ... what are the chances!
I learned a lot about the grief of the biological mother, Maida, who chose not to have any children with her husband because of the trauma involved with the forced adoption of her first. Robert dealt with that very sensitively. The role of the Sandra, the reunion coordinator was also pivotal as it could all have gone so wrong if not handled well and at a pace that those involved could cope with.
The other eye opener was the fate of some politicians post an election fail ... some go on to find meaningful jobs apparently easily ... but others struggle, particularly if there is a scandal of any sort associated with their name, rightly or wrongly.
I learned a lot about the grief of the biological mother, Maida, who chose not to have any children with her husband because of the trauma involved with the forced adoption of her first. Robert dealt with that very sensitively. The role of the Sandra, the reunion coordinator was also pivotal as it could all have gone so wrong if not handled well and at a pace that those involved could cope with.
The other eye opener was the fate of some politicians post an election fail ... some go on to find meaningful jobs apparently easily ... but others struggle, particularly if there is a scandal of any sort associated with their name, rightly or wrongly.
January 7, 2023
I heard Robert Tickner in 2020 on ABC Conversations & I was intrigued by his story of finding his biological mother when he was 41. To then later realise he was often only ten doors down from her home was particularly heartbreaking for her. I have taken quite awhile to get to the end of this book. The pain his mother Maida suffered from his birth in 1951 & right through her life is heartbreaking. That she chose to not have any children despite her happy marriage to Greg speaks volumes. She was afraid she would somehow lose these children too. Wonderful that this noble woman gave Robert details of his father as long as her life was kept secret from him.This book is a story of love triumphing over cruelty. So many adopted people never have the opportunity to meet their parents. I am very glad that I read this book.
June 6, 2020
I had no idea that politicians could be nice people, but what struck me about this book was what a decent person Robert is, particularly his empathy and understanding of others. He was so patient and selfless in his dealings with his biological parents, and looked very closely at how they must be thinking and feeling instead of just his own needs and wants. Knowing Roberts morals, consideration for others, and ability to hear and feel what matters to people, I don’t think that the PrimeMinister could have picked a better Aboriginal affairs minister, than Robert. He tells in this book the interesting story of his adoption reunion and his political life. He goes into the detail of the pain caused by the forced adoptions pre 1971 for many Australians. Interesting.
September 1, 2023
I just finished this amazing book. So inspiring, so emotional, full of local social and political history & stories. Beyond all, it is a story of love, loss, courage, reconnecting, family. Back when Robert Tickner was a Federal Minister he'd swim at Sutherland pool, quite often I'd be in the lane next to him. I couldn't imagine someone of his standing swimming in a council pool in America! The coincidences in his life with his relinquishing birth mother are amazing. I'm not a big biography reader but this was a marvellous book. Cover blurb by Nikki Gemmell "The final pages will break you " are true, typing this with tears in my eyes. Highly recommended.
June 21, 2020
A very thoughtful and poignant story. Tickner expresses ,very honestly and openly, the emotional reunion with his birth parents. Interesting too because of his role in the Aboriginal affairs portfolio during the Royal Commission into Aboriginal deaths in custody. It is disappointing, as we witness the black lives matter protests currently, that despite having such passionate advocates for First Nations peoples we have come so little of the way towards reducing incarceration rates and inequality.
October 16, 2021
I hate (auto)biographies, actually selected this book by mistake and really enjoyed it.
Tickner didn't hate his adopted family or suffer any mistreatment, he only became curious about his natural family when he had a child and realised his son was the only blood relative he knew of. The reunion with his mother went well and everyone lived happily after.
Well written, not overly sentimental, no resentment, no boring political statistics just a heart-warming story by someone who just happened to be a politician.
Tickner didn't hate his adopted family or suffer any mistreatment, he only became curious about his natural family when he had a child and realised his son was the only blood relative he knew of. The reunion with his mother went well and everyone lived happily after.
Well written, not overly sentimental, no resentment, no boring political statistics just a heart-warming story by someone who just happened to be a politician.
August 21, 2025
Robert Tickner impresses me as a very kind human being whose life in politics was motivated by a genuine passion for his beliefs (rather than self serving advancement, as seems to be the case in so many of the current crop…).
In the telling of his adoption memoir, he manages to always look on the sunny side of life. I found this an interesting insight into his character, but it kind of hid the veil of pain that the title of the book suggests.
I enjoyed the fact that the audiobook was read by Tickner himself.
In the telling of his adoption memoir, he manages to always look on the sunny side of life. I found this an interesting insight into his character, but it kind of hid the veil of pain that the title of the book suggests.
I enjoyed the fact that the audiobook was read by Tickner himself.
September 25, 2023
I suppose various aspects of our lives are completely bound up in each other and can't be extricated. It was a fascinating story about the author's experiences, and those of his extended family. I was disappointed at all the political name dropping and back-patting in a book supposedly about forced adoption and reconciliation.
July 14, 2025
Try to imagine the depths of grief felt by each of the thousands of mothers who were made to relinquish their baby. The cruelty of a system which put social norms ahead of the needs and well being of mothers and their babies. This is a riveting account of one adoptees life and that of his birth mother, and their eventual reunion. Open, honest, and poignant.
August 28, 2020
Heartwrenching but also uplifting adoption reunion memoir from MP Robert Tickner, Minister for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Affairs during the Hawke-Keating years. A must read for knowing ins and outs of how awful secret adoption years (1930-70's) were.
April 26, 2021
An interesting read on the pain of adoption. This really opened my eyes to the experience of the north mothers. This account is not as powerful when the author moves into discussing party politics or government policies and reports.
January 9, 2022
4.5 stars. I relayed to it on many levels.
From a historical sense, in particular the MABO decision.
Personal, the reference to Forster where I had spent many happy years.
The honest descriptions of the emotions dealing with grief and absence of family.
A good read!
From a historical sense, in particular the MABO decision.
Personal, the reference to Forster where I had spent many happy years.
The honest descriptions of the emotions dealing with grief and absence of family.
A good read!
June 21, 2024
What an astonishing life. I could not stop reading a wonderful positive story that could easily been very different. Robert has certainly had a “Fortunate Life” with extraordinary people surrounding him.
November 10, 2025
Beautiful compelling story
I was just so compelled to keep reading. Thank you Robert for sharing your story. All the connections were incredible as well. Such empathy and bravery through the whole process for you all. What a blessing to be able to bring the pieces together.
I was just so compelled to keep reading. Thank you Robert for sharing your story. All the connections were incredible as well. Such empathy and bravery through the whole process for you all. What a blessing to be able to bring the pieces together.
June 26, 2020
Three and a half stars
August 3, 2020
This is the story of the author's life as an adoptee and later the reunion with his biological family. This is a story charged with emotion and extraordinary coincidences.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 24, 2022
An amazing, moving story. It was quite political at times which I was not prepared for, but it makes sense when you learn of who the author is!
June 7, 2022
An excellent book that demonstrates an in depth understanding of Robert’s own adoption journey but also the societal and systemic issues at play within Australian society.
June 30, 2023
Robert Tickner had always known that he was adopted. He wasn’t interested in finding his biological parents until he had his own family. As well as examining his experience the book also details some of his political career. In his search, he found out many amazing things such as the fact that his biological mother lived ten doors down from his adopted grandmother.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews