Jeni Haynes in conversation with Ginger Gorman
6pm - 7:30pm Friday 11 November
National Library of Australia
Parkes Place, Canberra ACT
In a discussion facilitated by Ginger Gorman, Jeni Haynes will be talking about her book, The Girl in the Green Dress.
Described as 'unforgettable', The Girl in the Green Dress is a memoir from a woman who refused to be silenced. After enduring many years of abuse, Jeni fought to create a life for herself and bring her father to justice in a history-making ruling. In speaking out, Jeni's courage would see many understand Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD) for the first time.
Copies of the book can be purchased on the night from the National Library Bookshop and, following the discussion in the Theatre, Jeni Haynes will be available for book signings in the Foyer.
This event is free to attend but bookings are essential.
On the evening, for those who wish to meet for refreshments prior to the event, Bookplate cafe will remain open until the event starts at 6pm.
For those unable to make it to Canberra for the talk, it will be livestreamed online via the Library's Facebook page. No bookings are required to watch the online stream.
An intelligent, poised woman, Jeni Haynes sat in court and listened as the man who had abused her from birth, a man who should have been her protector, a man who terrified her, was jailed for a non-parole period of 33 years. The man was her father.
The fact Jeni survived is testament to the extraordinary strength of her mind. What saved her was the process of dissociation – Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD) or Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) – a defence mechanism that saw Jeni create over 2,500 separate personalities, or alters, who protected her as best they could from the trauma.
With the support of her psychiatrist Dr George Blair-West, Jeni fought to create a life for herself and bring her father to justice.
Dr Jennifer Haynes grew up in Greenacre in Sydney's western suburbs. After enduring horrific abuse, Jeni fought for years to bring her father before the courts to face justice for what he had done. In doing so, she created legal history. Jeni spent 18 years at university, graduating with a degree in psychology, masters in legal studies and criminal justice as well as a PhD focusing on victims of crime.
Ginger Gorman is an award-winning print and radio journalist based in the Australian Capital Territory. She is also a 2006 World Press Institute Fellow. Her freelance work has been published in print and online in publications such as news.com.au, The Huffington Post, The Guardian, The Age, Mamamia and the ABC’s Drum website. Her first book, Troll Hunting, was published in 2019.
Venue
Parkes Place
National Library of Australia