Joy Makepeace life at a glance with photo's

Today I am going to give you a quick glance at my life in a photographic time-line, which should prepare you for the journey that I will take you on in my book, without letting out all of the secrets.

I was born in 1972 in a little country town called Wee Waa in Northern New South Wales.  In my birth family I am the 9^th child of 12 children, which is made up of 7 boys and 5 girls.  

In my adoptive family I am the baby of the family and have 1 older sister and 2 older brothers.  Kate, Fenwick and Robert.   


I have met most of my birth siblings at least once, but am still searching for 2 older brothers, whom I have never met. 

April 1972 - Became a Ward of the State 

Me and my adoptive famil

August 1972 - Was fostered to the Makepeace family This is one of the first photo's that I have of me and my adoptive family.  As you can see my brothers and sister were quite a bit older than me.  I was the baby of the Makepeace family and was never short of being loved.













August 1981 - Birth mum passed away.
  

My birth mum - Joan West

1982 - Was adopted to the Makepeace family

Me and my brothers and sister

This is my brothers and sister that I grew up with.  In this above photo I was 10 years old and didn't have a worry in the world. 
 

1983 - Met triplets

L-R:  Ben, Geordie, Joy and Olive

I vaguely remember this day that I first met the triplets (who are the youngest children of my birth family).  We were in Tamworth (NSW) and I don't think that any of us really knew that we were actually brothers and sisters.  I treasure this photo now.

 1984 - Moved to Queensland

This is a photo of Dad and me on our 100 acre block of land in Queensland.  My Dad was a carpenter and built this log cabin style home from what was known as hog-backs.   We had no electricity or running water.  We had a huge veggie patch and I had a horse and motorbike.  I had some of the best times of my life at this place.  Lots of fond memories.  I was 12 years old here.

1987 - Adoptive parents separated and divorced

1987 - Moved to South Australia 
1989 - Finished High School
1990 - Went to University and graduated 

• 1995 - Got married                                 2000 - Got divorced    

 1996 - Travelled overseas

1996 - Had 1^st child – Jordan 

Jordan - Nov 1996 - 2 days old

Jordan was born in November 

1996.  This took me on a journey 

that I share in great depth in my

book.  

2004 - Settled back down

2004 - Had 2^nd child - Jai                                        2005 - Had 3^rd child - Violet

Violet - Born June 2006

Jai - Born October 2004

2008 - Completed post-graduate studies

 Joy's Masters in Social Science Counselling

2010 - Joy Makepeace - Author of the forthcoming book, "Finding the joy within"

Where it all began!

Hello again everyone!  Thank you for all of your wonderful and encouraging words, they are gratefully appreciated.  So now down to business.  

Today I thought that I'd go a bit backwards before I move forwards.  By this I mean, I will tell you where my idea to write my autobiography came from.  Obviously I won't be telling you everything that is going to be in my book, but this post will be like the "making" of the book details.  I've got to leave some elements of surprise for the book!

I first decided that I needed to write my story after my eldest son Jordan, who is soon to be 14 years old, was born.  Prior to Jordan being born my life had been relatively "normal".  The only difference was that I was an Aboriginal girl growing up in a white family.  It wasn't until I was a young adult that I realized that I in fact was also a member of the "Stolen Generation".  I don't think that the impact of this knowledge really hit me until I became a first time mother.  I am certain that it opened the emotional floodgates that for the previous 24 years had been securely locked.  It was this emotional release and turmoil that later kick started my determination to bring my story of seeking my true identity to you.  Hence 10 years later, plus a few more tales and life  lessons learned I will soon be sharing my life in the form of my book.  


For the benefit of those of you who haven't seen any of my childhood photo's I have provided a photo of mini me at the age of 6 years old. 

 Until next time, stay posted.   Joy  xoxox