My thanks first to the Rowe family. Lyn, Wendy and Ian were not just the perfect clients, but patient and supportive when it came to the writing of this book (by which time they might justifiably have had their fill of lawyers, questions and intrusion). My respect and gratitude to them, and a large measure of heartfelt thanks to all the other members of that remarkable family.
Mary Henley-Collopy, Monika Eisenberg, Monica McGhie, Barbara-Ann Hewson and the Gordon family in New Zealand all took it on faith that their stories would be fairly told. Many other survivors and and family members spoke with me over the years. I am grateful to all of them.
Woody Woodhouse and Phil Lacaze worked for Distillers during the early 1960s and then, fifty years later, helped us win compensation for survivors. They were willing and brave and always a complete pleasure to speak with. I am indebted to each.
There were many others who assisted in the litigation and/or in the research for this book. A few without whom this account would be substantially lesser: Ron and Aylsa Dickinson, Leslie Florence, Lance Fletcher, Phillip Knightley and the venerable, inestimable and indefatigable Ken Youdale, a great man whose life warrants its own published history.
The modern Australian legal story is told in unavoidably short compass in these pages. Peter Gordon conceived of the thalidomide claim, an audacious and ambitious venture, and, by force of personality, breathed life into it. I’m thankful for the invitation to join the team. The legal effort was, of course, a group effort, progress made fraction by fraction. The full team was Peter Gordon, Kerri O’Toole, Dael Pressnell, Sarah Roache, Patrick Gordon, Brett Spiegel, Grace Wilson, Lucy Kirwan, Julie Clayton, Paul Henderson, Andrew Baker, Caitlyn Baker, Amanda Barron, Kelly Hart, Jane Tarasewicz, Mariano Rossetto and Sasha Molinaro. Our barristers were Jack Rush, Julian Burnside, John Gordon and Andrew Higgins. Dr Sally Cockburn and Nina Stähle were also integral to the effort. Tosca Looby helped out in the crunch.
Peter Rielly, Campbell Rose and Jeff Kennett all played important roles in the charitable effort to build a new home for the Rowe family when the result of the litigation still hung in the balance.
At Slater & Gordon, managing director Andrew Grech backed the litigation and then this book.
While writing I relied on family and friends for advice, encouragement and, from many, a careful and wise reading. Thanks to Rob Lewis, Marcus Godinho, Lucy Kirwan, Jacinta Dwyer, Grace Wilson, Jeremy Blumenthal, David Blumenthal, Samantha Gee, Craig Pasch, Shaan Beccarelli, Di Sarfati, Nina Stähle, the extended Joseph clan (especially Rachel for the informal focus group) and the following Magasaniks: Simon, Lorraine, Ery and Laura. Neil Vargesson, Trent Stephens, Ravi Savarirayan and Sally Cockburn offered insightful comments on parts of the book. Thanks to Chris Prast for litigation wisdom and to Ingrid Dewar and Tom Raabe for last-minute translations.
My appreciation to the team at Text, especially my editor Mandy Brett for grace under pressure and precise, brilliant work; and to publisher Michael Heyward for backing the project.
To all I have overlooked in this last-minute rush, my apologies.
Which leaves two final votes of thanks and love. My parents Ariel and Daniel, for reading, editing and commenting on every word of a rough first draft of every chapter; and for their (sometimes) optimistic faith in me and for much, much else besides over many years. And finally (and inadequately) to Nicole, partner, lawyer and non-fiction adviser: for unstinting love, encouragement and patient counsel, even as the four years of litigating over—and writing about—thalidomide coincided precisely with the arrival of our children: Asher, Jonah and Zara. My deepest thanks and love.