One day back in September 2018 my life took an interesting turn. At the risk of sounding a bit OTT, it actually changed forever after I opened a parcel sent by a man I am connected to, but not really connected with. Does that sound overly cryptic? Well, that’s how this book project, Finding Myself Through Finding Dulcie, began – a handful of clues that has sent me careering down an exhilarating journey of detective work, taking me from Australia to New Zealand, and then over to the other side of the world to discover who I am.

As a people, most kiwis are notoriously hopeless at being at the centre of attention. I definitely put myself in the forefront of this category, so struggled with the idea of putting very personal things about myself on paper.

So, what was in the post that day? It was two sheets of very long (certainly not your average A4 or A3) paper with the names of people I’d never seen but who I knew I was related to. It was sent by my birth father, a man who I’d only met a handful of times and who up until that point, had done nothing for me.

And so began my real life version of, Who Do You Thibk You Are and Long Lost Relatives, rolled into one. With lots of twists and turns along the way, discoveries of some fascinating ancestors with strong links to writing, medicine and science. I mentioned my finds along the way to family, friends and fellow adoptees, and everyone said the same thing. You’ve got to write a book. Your story will help others.

Image of Dulcie Deamer in April 1950 courtesy of Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales.