Crew Follows Flight Of Little Eve (Press, 21 June 1986)
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Summary: Crew Follows Flight Of Little Eve (Press, 21 June 1986)
On June 4, 1986, the Van Grafhorst family, consisting of parents John and Gloria and their daughters Dana and Eve, arrived in New Zealand seeking a fresh start. This Australian family had faced severe social challenges in their hometown of Kincumber, New South Wales, particularly due to three-year-old Eve’s diagnosis with the A.I.D.S. virus. As a result of her condition, Eve had been ostracised, denied playmates, and refused entry to pre-school, leading to significant prejudice directed towards her and her family. To document their journey, Television New Zealand commissioned an independent documentary team who filmed the family's last days in Australia and their initial two weeks in New Zealand. The director, Amanda Millar, had previously encountered the Van Grafhorsts while working on another documentary titled "Love Life: A.I.D.S., The New Zealand Story,” which aired in March 1986. The new documentary, “The Moving of Eve: A Child in Exile,” shifts focus from the broader issue of A.I.D.S. to the intimate and personal experiences of the Van Grafhorst family, allowing them to narrate their own story. The documentary captures the family's struggles, highlighting how Eve's condition, stemming from a blood transfusion received after her premature birth, had severely impacted their lives both emotionally and financially, leading to medical costs exceeding $50,000. As the family prepared to leave Australia, they were pursued by an overwhelming media presence, with numerous cameras and reporters documenting their farewells. Millar described the intense media scrutiny, stating that it was particularly pronounced during their final moments in Australia and upon arriving in New Zealand, where the media treatment appeared to be less intense. Although the Van Grafhorsts were optimistic about their future, the documentary concluded with uncertainties regarding key aspects of their new life in New Zealand, such as finding suitable schooling for Dana and Eve, securing employment for John, and establishing a new home. Despite these challenges, the family was hopeful, providing a human perspective on their migration experience amidst the backdrop of societal stigma associated with A.I.D.S. The documentary was set to air on June 22, 1986, aiming to foster understanding and compassion towards the family as they navigated their new life in Hastings.
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