Holy moly, here's a tale for you...Imagine rummaging around in the quest for some sense of ancestorial belonging, to find out amidst your 50's that you're actually the long kept secret son of a Catholic priest and nun. A li'l hush-hush in human form, swept quietly under the rug for a few decades until a DNA test eventually unveiled the very unexpected truth.

There's enough that fascinates me in just speaking to Brendan Watkins about the experience of learning at 8 years old that his mum, dad and brother were not actually his mum, dad and brother... And there's enough to unpack around understanding the rippling repercussions of being wrapped up and tucked in the corner of a room for your first seven days of life, only to experience the warmth of a human embrace for the sake of feeding. And, of course, there's certainly more than enough to explore when we consider the emotional and psychological effects of a rejected bid for connection by your birth mother, when after decades you are able to identify and locate her. 

In 2018 the last piece of Brendan's puzzle came to light, bringing with it perhaps more questions than answers. His book Tell No One bears his questions, anxieties and reflections arising from this hidden past, and with it the astounding story of scandal and church coercion which has been uncovered.

SPONSORED BY AED AUTHORITY

Website: aedauthority.com.au

BRENDAN WATKINS

Website: brendanwatkins.com.au

TIFFANEE COOK

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