I have a bunch of information about the places that Peta lived. Nathaniel Harper Home was originally the Guildford Home for Sub-Normal Children - lovely terminology, and hardly indicative (in the absence of other residential institutions for children with learning disabilities) of where Peta's family lived. I wonder about her family. Her mother was institutionalised after her husband, Peta's father, died - she had schizophrenia and was moved to a hostel, then a nursing home. I do not have her name, but she will not be listed as a legal guardian - the Public Trustee has been Peta's legal guardian for many years. There is a brother, who was not able to be contacted, says the Public Trustee, who would have tried. I wonder if there was other family that was unable to be contacted. Today, I rang the FOI Department at Graylands Hospital. You'd need the permission of Next of Kin, said the woman in the FOI basement. She was lovely, and her voice softened when I said Peta's name. Do you think they'd allow access to Peta's records for the purposes of writing a biography? I asked. You could try, she said dubiously. And when I spoke about the importance of celebrating Peta's life, she offered more ideas. I think Peta had many allies. I just do not know where to find them. I have a contact email for the Public Trustee, and I shall email them today. I also have the name of the funeral company who conducted Peta's funeral, and they asked me to send them an email. Cautious, all of them, but every single one of them remembered her name or her story. People care. That gives me heart. Image text - GUILDFORD HOME FOR SUB-NORMAL CHILDREN OPENING NEXT MONTH |