Glennis Johnson settled in Perth in 1951, married, raised two sons and a daughter, and now has four grandchildren. In 1972, while working full-time for the Australian Public Service, she resumed her thwarted education. In 1978, she decided to search for her mother and found that archaic laws needed to be changed in order to do so. Glennis was one of the founding members of Adoption Jigsaw WA Inc, and along with others in both Victoria and WA, worked to change those laws. She was one of the first in Victoria to obtain her original birth certificate when the laws were finally changed in April, 1985. The battle continued in WA with Glennis, as President of Adoption Jigsaw WA, striving to follow Victoria's lead. Access to birth certificates for adult adoptees was achieved in WA, in 1987. She retired from Jigsaw in the late 1990's after 17 years on the executive committee, including 12 years as President. 

The stories which appear here are from her book, Mallee Girl - A Memoir and are reproduced with the author's permission. This book provides a wonderful insight into the day-to-day lives of our early pioneers. If you would like to obtain a copy please contact us.