Kirsty Johnston follows Sarah as she hunts for her biological mother, who turns out to have been an institutionalised mental health patient in Porirua Hospital....
Black Sheep: The story of New Zealand's Mental Institutions
The last of the so-called 'lunatic asylums' closed only 20 years ago. They were founded on ideas of paternalism and social progress and survived on the basis they offered safety. In this special crossover with the Black Sheep podcast, William Ray and Kirsty Johnston look into their origins.The last of the so-called 'lunatic asylums' closed only 20 years ago. They were founded on ideas of paternalism and social progress and survived on the basis they offered safety. In this special crossover with the Black Sheep podcast, William Ray and Kirsty Johnston look into their origins. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
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40:53
I'd like to find a sister
Kirsty tries to find out if Nellie did have another baby, and where that baby might be, but gets stuck in a kafkaesque nightmare of bureaucracy. Sarah reflects on her journey to find Nellie. We talk to a disability expert about what Nellie's story really means, and if things are better now.To see more images and details about the series, vist the website here.The Coronial file brings us back to the question: Is there a sibling for Sarah out there somewhere?Kirsty tries to find out if Nellie did have another baby, and where that baby might be, but gets stuck in a kafkaesque nightmare of bureaucracy.Sarah reflects on her journey to find Nellie. We talk to a disability expert about what Nellie's story really means, and if things are better now.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
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37:26
What happened to Nellie?
Nellie's coronial file reveals more about her death - and her life. There are badly healed broken bones, a skin graft, evidence of a fall three days before she died in which she broke her nose. Was her death malicious? Or was it just neglect?To see more images and details about the series, vist the website here.Nellie's coronial file reveals more about her death - and her life.There are badly healed broken bones, a skin graft, evidence of a fall three days before she died in which she broke her nose. Was her death malicious? Or was it just neglect?When she died, the doctors didn't even know what drugs Nellie was on. Who should be accountable?Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
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47:43
Annemarie
Kirsty and Sarah go to see Mavis, Nellie's sister, who tells them that she thinks Nellie was raped, which led to her breakdown and incarceration. Mavis tells Sarah about the day she was born, and how the family wanted to keep her but couldn't.To see more images and details about the series, vist the website here."I want justice for Nellie, because if something happened and they covered it up, I want to know." - MavisWhile Sarah was delighted to meet Gordon, questions about Nellie's life and death remain.Kirsty and Sarah go to see Mavis, Nellie's sister, who tells them that she thinks Nellie was raped, which led to her breakdown and incarceration.Mavis tells Sarah about the day she was born, and how the family wanted to keep her but couldn't. She is amazed to hear that Sarah's middle name, Annemarie, is the name Nellie gave her.She describes Nellie's care after Porirua closed, and how the care homes treated her terribly. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
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41:18
My daughter, Sarah
Sarah goes to meet Gordon. We learn that he can remember Nellie, and remembers being caught with her in the bushes. Gordon tells us about his time at the asylum, and Sarah takes him on an outing where they spend time together. To see more images and details about the series, vist the website here."I'm just so happy for Gordon, this is the most excited I've seen him in a long while." - SharonSarah goes to meet Gordon. He is delighted to meet her, and gives her a gift of a tiny sailboat preserved in perspex.We learn that Gordon can remember Nellie, and remembers being caught with her in the bushes. Sex for the patients was off-limits, despite them having many other freedoms.Gordon tells us about his time at the asylum, and Sarah takes him on an outing where they spend time together.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Kirsty Johnston follows Sarah as she hunts for her biological mother, who turns out to have been an institutionalised mental health patient in Porirua Hospital. And that's only the start of the story.
New Zealand