Reunite Richard with his birth family

Help Richard Reunite with his Birth Family in the UK

Dear friends and community,

I'm reaching out to support a special person in my Family, Richard Freeman, the father of my children.

Richard was adopted in London in 1964, and his journey has been one of resilience and heart.

Richard moved to Australia with his adoptive family at the age of 4, grew up in Adelaide and settled in Newman, WA in his early 20's, where we met, moved to Georgica, and had three children. Throughout his life, Richard has always been someone who gives selflessly, with a heart as big as his spirit.

In 2005, during a time of unrest in the UK, Richard became deeply concerned that he might never meet his birth family. His adoptive mother, who passed away later that year, had discouraged him from searching for his birth parents. But after her passing, I began making online inquiries to help him find the family he longed to connect with.

We discovered that his birth mother, Susan, had reluctantly given him up for adoption at 19. She was a twin, and both she and her sister were raised by their widowed mother, who herself was a Barnardo’s child. Susan later married and had two more children, Richard’s half-siblings, but tragically passed away when they were very young, around the time Richard turned 14.

Our search led to an emotional telephone reunion with his Aunt and Uncle in London and the discovery of his half-brother, 2 half sisters, and two cousins. The joy Richard felt in this first contact with any blood relatives, especially when his cousin Laura visited us in Australia the following Christmas, was indescribable.

Richard also met his birth father and half-sister in Perth, where they’ve briefly spent a day or so together. Building a relationship with his Dad has been challenged by distance, as he lives in London and he was only visiting at the time.

Now, at 60, Richard feels a deep need to complete this journey by meeting the rest of his family in the UK, and forming a stronger bond with his Dad. Unfortunately, we cannot afford this trip on our current income. His Aunt, his mothers twin, and his father and some relatives on his Dads side, are ageing, and Rich himself had a health scare this year, so we feel some urgency now.

That’s why I’m reaching out to everyone who knows Richard—or has even been touched by his work in our community, especially at the many events we’ve hosted over the years. If you’ve ever attended a Triple Treat or Fashionably Trashed party in the Jiggi Valley, you’ve experienced the result of Richard’s tireless dedication. to things looking ‘just so’ to create immersive experiences.

I’m asking for your help to make this dream come true for Richard. Any contribution, no matter how small, will bring him one step closer to finally meeting all of his family in the UK.

*If more than the total is raised, it will be used to send our daughter Ella over with him to ease the anxiety of such an adventure.

Let’s give Richard the gift of family this year.

Thank you for your support and generosity.