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SELWYN JOHNSTON

 

INDEPENDENT

COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVES'

ADVOCATE

(Cairns... Far North Queensland)

 

 

Thank you for visiting my on-line office. 

I appreciate your interest in the issues that effect not only Queenslanders, but all Australians. 

Please let me hear from you about your views on the issues that matter to your Family, your Community and your State.  

Sincerely,

Selwyn Johnston

 

One person, with the support of the community, can make a difference

 

 

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Australia's Single Mums        

 

INDEX

Australia's Single Mums

Response from a Single Mum

Another response from a Single Mum

 

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Australia's Single Mums

The controversy over Australia's Single Mums being fuelled by a political party leader, best described as an attention seeking media megalomaniac, is an attack on all Australian women.

'For every single mum, there is a single (or married) dad.'

For anyone to say that the Australian single mum is a drain on the Australian economy is simply not in touch with his or her faculties. The single mum faces daily, one continual fight for the survival of her child or children at enormous cost to herself. The emotional trauma and exhaustion suffered by the single mum has been described as horrific.

Yes, it can be said that there are some who have had children for the wrong reasons, but the majority must not be condemned for the actions of a few.

It must be remembered that there are tens of thousands of single mums involved in loving, tender and stable relationships with supportive partners, as a matter of choice. These relationships are built on all the foundations of our society, except marriage.

Why should one group of 'Aussie Mums' be treated any different to another because of a broken relationship?

Every woman who enters into a relationship with a man knows perfectly well the implications of unprotected sex, but so does the man.

When the 'possibility' becomes a 'reality', it is inevitable that the expectant mum is usually the only one around to take the responsibility.

So who is to blame? History tells us, the male, the female, neither or both!

The ONLY one not to blame is the child, who ultimately would be the one to suffer should financial assistance not be available for their upbringing.

The Australian birth rate is currently running at approximately 1.8 whereas ideally it should be in excess of 2.1, which raises the question:

What is more socially acceptable...

Australian women (preferably married) having more children? or

Increase the immigration rate with people who will populate Australia?

For those genuinely concerned with Australia's economy, may I suggest you contemplate Australia's Unemployment or Tax Reform and leave Australia's Single Mums to raise their children without the added burden of moral denigration.

 

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Response from a Single Mum

The following correspondence was received from a Single Mum and is reprinted unedited with her permission...

To Whom It My Concern, 

It was so pleasant to see that there is recognition within the single mums of Australia. 

I am a single mother and may I say not by choice, simply because I was married for 13 years but then one day my wonderful husband (whom I thought very highly of) decided to leave me for his secretary. 

I suddenly found myself being classed as a single mum and placed on single parents’ allowance. By doing this, I was ridiculed for this position I was placed in, by many people and so called friends. 

I have now been on my own for 3 years and still have not been able to find work, which I believe, reason being, I am a woman in my early 40's and that I am a single parent. 

It has now came to my attention that maybe I was meant to be a single parent, I believe that I, am a good and caring parent. Because of this situation, I have now decided to do Foster Care, because I feel as being a single mum I have more then enough love to go around several times over and that children should not have to suffer because of the so called circumstances they have been forced into. 

I know it wont be easy, but I will feel as though attitudes will change, if people could just see past the small minded people who simply do nothing but lower and undermined us single mothers, and possibly may one day realise there is good in so many of us and that we do it hard most of the time. 

The best thing is we continue to fight for recognition and survival. 

Thanking you 

JB 

E-mail: bodkers7@cyberwizards.com.au  

 

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Another response from a Single Mum

To whom it may concern 

It's great to see that there is some support for us single mums. 

I am a 25-year-old single mum to two beautiful boys who are 7 and 5 years old. When I met their father I was very young and I had my eldest at 18 years. I was living in the UK at the time, 

Although he was 5 years older than me, we were both young in a sense and after nearly 3 and half years we parted. 

I will say looking after two boys is very rewarding but it also requires a lot of hard work. Their dad doesn't have much to do with the boys and has made a new life with someone else and a new child also. I wished that their dad could be there for the boys but it was his choice and as a mother I am determined that my children will grow into happy, healthy adults. 

I feel that people who attack single mums and say it's a drain on the Australian system should be ashamed of themselves. I bet the ones saying these things don't have children and have never been single parents in their lives, which a lot of the time is the case, 

I am lucky to have the support of my parents and two brothers and many friends, nevertheless being a single mum is not easy and should never be underestimated. 

I was claiming benefits In the UK after we split up until we moved back to Australia. I new that the first five years of a child's life is when he/she changes so much and its so important to bond with your children when they are very young. I wanted to be there at every new step for my children until they went to school full-time then I would get a part-time job, which I have now just got. 

I didn't choose to be a single mum! 

I was lucky enough to have both parents growing up so I would like to say to those people who make ridiculous comments, '''GET REAL'', there will always be single mums in the world and Australia for lots of different reasons. 

The most important thing is that the children are loved and looked after right, so support the mums who are there day in day out and don't be bitter about paying the future adults of Australia. 

Thank you 

Diane 

82_00@yahoo.com