About

Sofie Gregory

I’m an adoptee; co-founder of the group IdentityRites – peer support and advocacy for adoptees.

I live in the Adelaide suburbs.

My birth name is Dorothy Arnold. I became Margaret Kenyon through adoption. Later known as Anne Kenyon and married to be Anne van der Wel. I became Anthea Gregory when divorced. Who knows the future . . ?

A family court counsellor once said to me that names are important because they are about identity. I said: ‘yes, I know. My children identify with me and they want to use my name. I was adopted I know what it’s about – you change your name whenever . . .’ He was starting to explain that it was normal for children to have their father’s name, before he got the understanding – that was not normal for me!