Robertson children and parental alienation

Is it my imagination ? The children all appear much happier in photos together with the father, and rather glum when with the mother.

Noticed how the "Robertson children" have now become the "Yelland-Robertson children" ? Wait a little longer and they will become the "Yelland children."

My ex-partner changed our son's birth certificate without my permission. The Registry of BMD told me a single parent could do that. But when I said ok, as a single parent I would like to change it back they said "oh no, you can't do that" and they started back-peddling...

When I asked Justice Tim Carmody for our son to be refered to by the name on his birth certificate (before my ex-partner unilaterally changed it) to avoid confusion with school, medicare etc etc. he said "Well that is one matter you two can now solve by yourselves in the new spirit of cooperation".

Idiot.

Later on in the article we switch once again. They are now the "Robertson-Yelland children" ! What is the name on their birth certificates for Pete's sake ?!

In case you think I am sexist on this issue, I suggest an easy and obvious formula that would avoid a lot of conflict over this issue. Of course the Family Court system has got its head so far up its arse (please forgive my profanities) that it cannot see its way clear to simple obvious solutions.

(Of course it is continuing conflict, not solutions, that keeps business in the black for the Family Court Industry...)

Solution:

1. Forget about wives taking the surname of the husband.

2. Daughters take the surname of the mother; sons take the surname of the father.


I thought Dr Millikin, the "cult-buster" (and media-spin artist) actually introduced the family to the "Family" (Children of God) ???

"Though the children's father, Murray Robertson, said on Thursday that the sect The Family "are wonderful Christian people" and that he was "very close to them", Dr Millikan said The Family had no role in the custody dispute, in which Mr Robertson disappeared with the children for six weeks after failing to return them from an access visit".

Some obvious spin and twist here. It was Millikan who first raised the slur (Murray Robertson's involvement with a "cult") ! Now it is presented as though Murray Robertson initiated the discussion on the Family.

"As for future contact arrangements, Ms Yelland says she has not decided yet what might happen."

What can I say ? Evidence of the cause of the whole problem ? A behaviour pattern we are all fighting to have recognised, to have changed ?

There is a general case for forced negotiation and forced mediation because some people (including egocentric controlling mothers) just don't get it.

The Federal Government sets up the Family Relationship Centres, but

until the FRCs have some authority,
until attendance is mandatory,
until we have equal rights (oh, there goes that 'r' word again. Darn, I'm forgetting about the children...),
until there are penalties (Community Service) for unreasonable behaviour,
until the FRCs are made transparent and accountable,

- we don't have a solution.

In this article Murray Robertson is being framed by media-savvy David Millikin (Philippa Yelland's lover ?) as a 'deadbeat dad'.

I thought Murray Robertson was on sickness benefit ? No mention here of his (possible) sickness. See www.injurysupport.blogspot.com to understand what can happen to a dad if they get sick in this society.


'Earlier in the week a neighbour, Alex Pervushin, said Ms Yelland had cleaned the house out after the disappearance and that "most of the furniture and his things and the kids' things, it all went into an industrial skip bin". '

Philippa Yelland responds:

"Heavens above, maybe there was a kids' T-shirt which had been used as a rag [that was thrown out] but I don't know."

Kids things also went into the industrial skip ? Erasing history ? Maybe she can erase the children's memory also.

With all his research into cults, David might have a few tricks in this regard.

(Remember Bokkie's quote 'this is exactly the same in a way us running away as when mummy took us to Brisbane except no one is telling anyone any lies'. Courier Mail 04 May 2007)

In my case, in the period shortly after separation, we had our possessions stored in a container. I made the suggestion of having two padlocks on the container - one each. If we wanted access, both of us would attend. It worked well for a month or so. I don't know what happened that would have caused a change to this system, but one day I arrived to find my padlock sawn off, all shared possessions gone, and my possessions left out in the rain...

Regarding to the case of the Robertson child vis a vis their mother Philippa Yelland:
1. Philippa's relocation to Brisbane
2. the "lies" as perceived by Bokkie
3. throwing out children's possessions from father's home
4. 'deadbeat dad' spin to the media

- it points to a clear pattern of parental alienation in my view. Parental alienation is very damaging to children. The Family Court will most likely not address this. They do not in reality function in the 'best interests of the child.'

Philippa Yelland needs to relocate back to the Blue Mountains (or otherwise negotiated with Murray Robertson), and needs to attend a parenting course highlighting the damage created by parental alienation. If Philippa's behaviour pattern persists, she must be penalised (Community Service).

I do not recommend reducing Philippa's access to the children to less than 50%, which is what should now be implemented. However, if parental alienation becomes extreme, this of course would constitute child abuse, and would be grounds for having restricted access.

Cheers, Geoff
www.equalparentingtime.blogspot.com

R O L L I N G T H U N D E R R E V I E W !!!

----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, May 08, 2007 4:34 PM
Subject: 'Safely' back to normal
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/national/tug-of-love-the-children-in-the-middle/2007/05/04/1177788400621.html

Reunited … Ms Yelland and her children yesterday.
Photo: Jon Reid
Tug of love: the children in the middle
Lisa Pryor and Les Kennedy May 5, 2007

AFTER weeks in the wilds of Tasmania with their father, the three Yelland-Robertson children spent last night in Sydney with their mother, at the inner west home of David Millikan, the Uniting Church minister, cult expert, television producer and family friend who has shepherded Philippa Yelland through the ordeal of tracking down her family.

Bokkie, 10, Matilda, 9, and Barney, 7, were yesterday afternoon recovering from a flurry of airports, television cameras and reporters.

"They're sort of slowly collapsing," Dr Millikan said. "I think they're going to sleep for about 20 hours."

Ms Yelland expects her children will return to school in Brisbane next week. She is not pressing them about the details of their time in Tasmania. She is looking forward to returning to an ordinary suburban life.

"Let's have some boredom and normality."

A Today Tonight television crew visited the Balmain home yesterday to interview Ms Yelland. The current affairs show secured the story through Dr Millikan, who is an "occasional producer with Channel Seven". Ms Yelland was not paid for the story, he said.

Though Dr Millikan is best known as a cult expert, he was quick to point out he was helping the family as a friend and not as a "cultbuster".

Ms Yelland said she had been friends with Dr Millikan for years and he accompanied her because she needed "another pair of hands".

"I happen to know Philippa and Murray from some years back," Dr Millikan said.

Though the children's father, Murray Robertson, said on Thursday that the sect The Family "are wonderful Christian people" and that he was "very close to them", Dr Millikan said The Family had no role in the custody dispute, in which Mr Robertson disappeared with the children for six weeks after failing to return them from an access visit.

Some years ago the Robertson-Yelland family had some "passing contact" with the religious organisation but that was all.

"They never joined, they never gave money. I think they maybe even established the odd friendship but that was distant," Dr Millikan said.

"The Family called me up today really angry. They said 'we have not anything to do with [the situation]'."

The children arrived in Sydney at lunchtime yesterday. "I'm tired," Matilda said in a frail exhausted voice as her mother ushered her and her siblings through the Virgin Blue terminal.

As his children were spending the evening in Sydney, it was believed that Mr Robertson had sought refuge with Quakers in Launceston.

As for future contact arrangements, Ms Yelland says she has not decided yet what might happen.

Dr Millikan said: "He has maintained the kids wanted to be with him and so forth but it's a very difficult situation.

"During the course of their marriage, I think they were married for over 10 years, he was never able to sustain regular employment so she was the one who maintained the financial viability of the family."

She was the one who purchased the property in Hazelbrook where Mr Robertson lived before his disappearance.

Earlier in the week a neighbour, Alex Pervushin, said Ms Yelland had cleaned the house out after the disappearance and that "most of the furniture and his things and the kids' things, it all went into an industrial skip bin".

Ms Yelland said there were five adults working for five hours to clear the house and she does not remember exactly what was thrown out. "Heavens above, maybe there was a kids' T-shirt which had been used as a rag [that was thrown out] but I don't know."

She said the house would be sold.