Last Wednesday Dian Wellfare, the founder of Bonnyrigg’s Origins Inc, died from illness at age 56.

Over the course of the last few years she not only fought for herself but for many other mothers affected by the pressured adoptions of their babies.

Ms Wellfare was born and raised in Fairfield and started Origins to help mothers who had lost children to sometimes illegal adoption practices.

Her friend and colleague Lily Arthur said Ms Wellfare changed attitudes right around the world.

“She should not go unnoticed for her work and fight for the human rights of Australian mothers and their children,” she said.

Friends and family gathered at Rookwood Crematorium yesterday to remember her.

“Dian was a 16-year-old single mother when she lost her only and beloved baby to the evil practices that were rampant throughout this country,” Ms Arthur said in a eulogy.

“Reaching out to women in 1995 she found a few mothers who shared her experience.

“It was from this small group of mothers that Dian founded a support group known today as Origins.”

It was Ms Wellfare’s dedication to her cause that forced a Parliamentary inquiry into adoption practices in Australia.

She was eventually reunited with her son, Andrew.

Her death brought tributes on websites across Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom.

(Original article at http://www.fairfieldchampion.com.au/article.aspx?id=332397)