Why I wrote the book
So many serendipitous and irregular type things have happened in my life I wanted to share them as well as keep a legacy record for my family.
In addition, I was so love struck I had to write it down as a keepsake.
Before we met
As a little girl I knew of our family lawyer because my father engaged him in court matters. I saw him from a short distance once but never had a conversation or met him. I was just nine.
In my early teens he represented me in court over an insurance claim for a scared chin from a car accident. I was 14 and my father provided him with a photo of my chin only and claimed in court that my scar would hinder my chances of getting married. Six years later we met and fell in love.
I’d read all about him in Sydney newspaper headlines. I strongly judged that I wanted nothing to do with him. He was married with three children, had a public affair, fled the country for Brazil when he’d tampered with client funds, was wanted by Interpol, left his family, and abandoned his children.
By the time I met him in January 1976 he was made bankrupt, struck off the roll of lawyers, and divorced before returning from Brazil.
How we met
Inadvertently, my father introduced us as he wanted to help him reunite with his children for Christmas. A noble concept that didn’t work. His thinking was ‘if I had lost all my wealth, my station in life, my friends and my wife divorced my while I was overseas, I’d like to think someone would give me a ‘second chance.’
The police tried to dissuade my father as did I. We thought he was mad putting up the family home as surety with the courts. He was a flight risk they said.
I was raised in a strict religious family where in the mid 70’s divorce was frowned upon but the matter of a 20-year age difference was another obstacle according to my parents.
The Opposition
Within three weeks he’d proposed and I said, ‘yes.’ I’d committed myself to a criminal on parole, penniless, of no status and with a track record of womanising. He was going to ‘ruin’ my life my parents told me.
The road to marriage was a long one as we wanted to dodge a potential media frenzy as he had previously when he fled to Rio. Once my nursing training was completed three years later, we planned an elopement while he was still in prison. It was the best decision of my life. It was an incredibly happy day as friends sworn to secrecy joined us at the Church and the restaurant afterwards. That same evening I drove him back to the prison.
The risks I took were huge for a girl of just 20 years. He was my first boyfriend. We faced so much opposition but we made it.
The journey to redemption
After release, in1984 he was offered a job half a continent away in Adelaide. I was 7 months pregnant. It was his break. Despite my grumbling we took the position and from that point on every opportunity to help others have their ‘second chance’ was explored.
Together we worked in several charities for over 30 years. The last charity we founded was ‘Second Chances’ in 2015. We offered hope to the children of prisoners with many practical helps so they could have a brighter future, not living in the shadow of their parent’s wrong doings.
There is hope
Everyone makes mistakes, some bigger than others but it is not their last chapter. There is hope when we know someone wants to turnaround and make a difference. Instead of pursuing making money he gave his life to serving others, giving them a second chance.
Throughout our marriage we knew the power of practicing forgiveness for each other. Unfortunately, there is little teaching about the importance of forgiving those who offend us. The benefits are for the offended. It’s a choice. We can choose to take an offence or we can choose to forgive.
We don’t have to condone their actions or trust them again but harbouring grudges, resentment and offence harms us and scientifically they have discovered 7 medical benefits of forgiveness.
Our homes, our workplaces and our communities would be much healthier and happier if we practiced the art of forgiveness.
When was the last time you forgave someone?
You can read ‘A Second Chance – a disgraced lawyer’s journey to redemption’ through here www//:helenglanville.com/buy-book/
By Helen Glanville
Brief Bio
Helen has faced many challenges in life. From overcoming fierce opposition, moving interstate when starting a family and navigating the devastation and loss of losing everything through a catastrophic fire. Whatever has come her way she has followed her heart with passion – not the opinion of others. She pursued various nursing roles for a decade, reinvented herself in the public relations arena for another decade, then joined forces with her husband Geoff to help families and children impacted by the criminal justice system for more than 30 years.
She talks about her insights, faith and life’s lessons with great ease. Her strengths of organisation, communication and leadership are the foundations of writing her story.
In addition, Helen is an accomplished public speaker who moves her audience to believe they can overcome adversity and setbacks to
achieve post-traumatic growth. You can book her through her website
helenglanville.com.
