Clare* has multiple photos of butterflies that have landed in her hand, this is her favourite though. She took this photo while in the Blue Mountains, NSW.
Clare's Story
He was my pop, but they didn’t consider him my family
“When I was living in a Kinship Arrangement 6 hours away from my family, my Pop passed away. He was my Pop, maybe not through blood, but he married my Nanny before I was even a thought. He lasted many years after my Nanny passed away and lived in their home without her.
He became unwell with age. I found out he had passed and requested to my caseworker for my sisters and I to attend the funeral. It fell on deaf ears.
I was walking to my English class one day when I saw my older brother online on Facebook. I messaged him asking why he wasn’t at work, he replied with “it’s Pop’s funeral today”. I remember being overcome with sadness, crying, I walked myself in the opposite direction of my classroom and straight to the office, asking to go home.
I asked my caseworker why we weren’t able to attend the funeral, and they stated ‘He wasn’t your biological Pop, and we aren’t able to ensure your safety if you attended’”
