b'Adoption laws in the spotlightMurray v MaceThe 1950s in Australia was a period of optimism, prosperitydays old, refused. Although there was a written agreement, and social conservatism. During the Second World Warthe paperwork had not been finalised as the judge had been women had been active participants in the workforce,on holidays.including in areas traditionally viewed as male domains. The end of the war saw servicemen return to their oldGretel Packer wife of Sir Frank Packer, publisher of The jobs and an expectation that women would resume theirDaily Telegraph and The Australian Womens Weekly previous roles as wives, mothers and homemakers. Thisimplored her husband to help the Maces. Packer funded ideal was reflected in both institutional and social norms.Allen Allen & Hemsley partner Fred Millar to represent the Maces. Murrays team, which included prominent criminal Under the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1922, womenlawyer Phil Roach, was funded by Ezra Norton, Packers were required to leave work when they married to preventcompetitor and owner of the Sydney newspapers Truth and them occupying positions that could be filled by men and toDaily Mirror, ensuring the story remained front page news. help boost the birth rate. Married women without children were viewed with suspicion, and women who had childrenWith Millars help, the Maces successfully resisted Murrays out of wedlock were the subject of social stigma. Unmarriedaction in the Supreme Court of New South Wales, but the mothers were often coerced into giving their children updispute was fought through a series of appeals all the way for adoption; between 1950 and 1975, there were aroundto the Privy Council in London. The child was two years old 250,000 adoptions in Australia, many of them forced.when the final appeal took place, confirming judgement in favour of the adoptive parents. In 1953 the social and legal issues associated with adoption became a topic of public debate when twenty-t wo- year-oldThe trial raised public awareness of the issues surrounding single mother Joan Murray changed her mind about theadoption and built momentum for law reform, particularly adoption of her son. Despite having signed adoption papersthe need for a defined revocation period. By the end of the at the childs birth, Murray requested the return of her son1960s consistent adoption legislation had been introduced nine weeks later. The adopting parents, Gloria and Normanthroughout Australia. Mace, who had been caring for the boy since he was twelve 144'