| Summary |
Mavis Appleyard born in London, speaks about her family; children being offered to go to Australia (1937), her parents reactions to her departure, her sister deciding not to go; her relationship with brother; activities aboard ship; arriving in Sydney, first impressions of Molong; daily routine; running away, threat of punishment; child abuse; Mr Beauchamp; Mr Woods; her relations with cottage mother; the interaction between children; letters from mother; her brother conscripted into the navy; suffering tonsillectomy in Molong hospital (aged 11); returning from hospital, feeling suicidal; moving into new girls' cottage, Miss Lamond; facing punishments and criticism; her relations with Clara; daily duties; bullying; her schooling; Mr Heath; girls being sent from Fairbridge to work on properties, returning pregnant; the lack of awareness about facts of life; leaving hospital, working at orchard; learning sex education from books; the state of Fairbridge Farm School (1938), food, facilities; indoor sport activities; educational opportunities and expectations; life and domestic work at Rose Cottage; camps; Principal's discipline.
Appleyard talks about the Fairbridge performances, being good at acting and being offered a place at NIDA as adult; incident with cottage mother; leaving Fairbridge School (aged 14); her two years of domestic work; returning to maternity hospital (aged 19); joining YWCA in Orange; working as cleaner at Warren Hotel with her brother; meeting her husband; her parents arriving in Australia, Christmas Day (1948); relationship with her mother, paying for dancing lessons and making costumes; feeling transformed on stage; the reunion with her sister; reaction to National Apology to Forgotten Australians and Child Migrants; isolation, lack of social skills; living in maternity hospital; her difficulties understanding social interaction and teasing; the psychiatric hospital in Orange; suffering anxiety; being referred to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney; joining Recovery/GROW, that encouraged her to write; unable to go to university, family commitments; writing autobiography.
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