One Step Closer
Donation protected
This is a story of empowerment and Victory and with love and communication this story could change the lives of hundreds and thousands of people. Please read to the end, and share.
Mel is an amazing mother, she has a gorgeous 18 month old son, who lives happily with her. She also has two older daughters who were taken away from the family home 6 years ago by their father. She has not seen them for the past 5 years. Her young son has never met his big sisters, but he knows their names, and they talk about them every day because Mel knows that one day they be together. Mel's girls still live in the same town, but they have never seen their brother. The girls bedroom remains untouched apart from 5 years worth of Birthday and Christmas presents, that have never been opened and stale Easter Eggs that will never be eaten. Mel sheds tears as she tells me that they will have outgrown most of these toys and games by the time they receive them.
Mel has fought her battles in and out of court, and lost. She lost all her energy fighting for her children, and then she wanted to die. Even visitation rights were not adhered to or enforced by the courts. The tainted and broken woman that presented to the courts was never who Mel was.
I met Mel 15 years ago when she worked for Mike and I, she was one of the best staff members we ever had, after she left us we lost touch (sadly when she needed us the most). I could never imagine her being the person that she was painted in court and when we got back in touch this year, we found the same beautiful woman, but this time she was stonger. She has been through hell and back again for her children, but she is BACK! and she wants to see her children. She JUST wants to SEE her children!!
Mel cannot afford legal fees and as she has been let down by legal aid. She understands the "definition of insanity is do to the same thing over and over again but to expect different results", so she going to do something different. Mel is taking ACTION!
She is walking from Sydney to Canberra to raise awareness for the kids who have been left behind, to bring them one step closer.
There is no gender or even relationship bias here. You could replace Mels name with your own perhaps, or your ex's. Perhaps you are a Grandparent, or an Auntie.
In fact, when Michael, an ex-Journalist (also separated from his children) heard about the walk, he enlisted himself. He hasn't had a visit from his daughter for 2 years and he said if he participates in the walk, then she will know that he cares.
This walk brings all those parts ‘one step closer’ towards reuniting families. By raising awareness, perhaps Mel can encourage separating parents to mediate and to trust one another enough that their children can be allowed to continue to love both parents. Perhaps this walk will show the courts and the mediations how wrong the system can be, and how a different approach could change childrens lives. Children shouldn't be forced to fall out of love, just because their parents do.
So, we need your help to:
• Assist with the costs involved in walking for at least 10 days, between Sydney and Canberra. We need petrol for support vehicles and maybe even some accommodation along the way.
• Help Mel so that she can re-start Family Court hearings with a private Lawyer so that she can see her children once again after 5 years.
• Spread the word about this mission
Or join us for part or the entire walk!
What we want to see:
• The law changed to better protect parents in court, so that they see there are two sides to every story. A good lawyer can steam roll an anxious parent who is in shock - they can't think straight. Of course they can't.
• Forced communication between parents who defy court orders so that they will work together for the good of the children.
If there is any money left over, it will be kept in trust for other families who need help in this way. Mel is on a mission and it won't stop when she is reunited. Mel is walking for us all.
Lets stop the fear, and start to build the future, the future of our children.
...and who am I? Well, I am Sharon From You The Conqueror and I don't believe there is any problem that is too big that you can't solve it yourself! and to show my committment, I am going to drag my overweight, middle aged body on the road too. I'm going to walk with Mel and Michael, and hopefully with you too, because I want to be there at the finish line to see Mel hold her children. I want to see their Dad be there too. I want this to be a story of forgiveness. Why can't there be a happy ever after...... Why not?
https://www.facebook.com/OneStepCloserWalk/?fref=ts
Mel is an amazing mother, she has a gorgeous 18 month old son, who lives happily with her. She also has two older daughters who were taken away from the family home 6 years ago by their father. She has not seen them for the past 5 years. Her young son has never met his big sisters, but he knows their names, and they talk about them every day because Mel knows that one day they be together. Mel's girls still live in the same town, but they have never seen their brother. The girls bedroom remains untouched apart from 5 years worth of Birthday and Christmas presents, that have never been opened and stale Easter Eggs that will never be eaten. Mel sheds tears as she tells me that they will have outgrown most of these toys and games by the time they receive them.
Mel has fought her battles in and out of court, and lost. She lost all her energy fighting for her children, and then she wanted to die. Even visitation rights were not adhered to or enforced by the courts. The tainted and broken woman that presented to the courts was never who Mel was.
I met Mel 15 years ago when she worked for Mike and I, she was one of the best staff members we ever had, after she left us we lost touch (sadly when she needed us the most). I could never imagine her being the person that she was painted in court and when we got back in touch this year, we found the same beautiful woman, but this time she was stonger. She has been through hell and back again for her children, but she is BACK! and she wants to see her children. She JUST wants to SEE her children!!
Mel cannot afford legal fees and as she has been let down by legal aid. She understands the "definition of insanity is do to the same thing over and over again but to expect different results", so she going to do something different. Mel is taking ACTION!
She is walking from Sydney to Canberra to raise awareness for the kids who have been left behind, to bring them one step closer.
There is no gender or even relationship bias here. You could replace Mels name with your own perhaps, or your ex's. Perhaps you are a Grandparent, or an Auntie.
In fact, when Michael, an ex-Journalist (also separated from his children) heard about the walk, he enlisted himself. He hasn't had a visit from his daughter for 2 years and he said if he participates in the walk, then she will know that he cares.
This walk brings all those parts ‘one step closer’ towards reuniting families. By raising awareness, perhaps Mel can encourage separating parents to mediate and to trust one another enough that their children can be allowed to continue to love both parents. Perhaps this walk will show the courts and the mediations how wrong the system can be, and how a different approach could change childrens lives. Children shouldn't be forced to fall out of love, just because their parents do.
So, we need your help to:
• Assist with the costs involved in walking for at least 10 days, between Sydney and Canberra. We need petrol for support vehicles and maybe even some accommodation along the way.
• Help Mel so that she can re-start Family Court hearings with a private Lawyer so that she can see her children once again after 5 years.
• Spread the word about this mission
Or join us for part or the entire walk!
What we want to see:
• The law changed to better protect parents in court, so that they see there are two sides to every story. A good lawyer can steam roll an anxious parent who is in shock - they can't think straight. Of course they can't.
• Forced communication between parents who defy court orders so that they will work together for the good of the children.
If there is any money left over, it will be kept in trust for other families who need help in this way. Mel is on a mission and it won't stop when she is reunited. Mel is walking for us all.
Lets stop the fear, and start to build the future, the future of our children.
...and who am I? Well, I am Sharon From You The Conqueror and I don't believe there is any problem that is too big that you can't solve it yourself! and to show my committment, I am going to drag my overweight, middle aged body on the road too. I'm going to walk with Mel and Michael, and hopefully with you too, because I want to be there at the finish line to see Mel hold her children. I want to see their Dad be there too. I want this to be a story of forgiveness. Why can't there be a happy ever after...... Why not?
https://www.facebook.com/OneStepCloserWalk/?fref=ts
Organizer
Sharon Glasswell
Organizer
Dunlop ACT
