Matthew's Tears

Matthew is born in 1974 and his proud father, Geoffrey, takes him to their family doctor for his first triple antigen vaccination. Within 24 hours, Matthew begins to incessantly convulse. This is a time when no one questions their doctor, their word is sacred.

Nothing can be done to stop Matthew’s fits, and the doctors only say they are continuously causing more and more brain damage.

Geoffrey blames himself and descends into a self-destructive pattern of behaviour, causing his life to spiral downward and out of his control.

Geoffrey Stokes hails from Cessnock, New South Wales. As a young man he was well-known for his active participation in various sporting pursuits. Following school, he took a position with a large coal mining company in their newly established central computer office. The job involved the development and utilisation of a specialised computer system to run and maintain functions previously done by hand. He soon married, purchased a home in Cessnock and later welcomed the arrival of Matthew, his first child.

Following the death of his son 11 years later, he was divorced and left his job to learn to fly aeroplanes. He later left the Hunter Valley. During this period, he worked in various marketing and management positions until discontentment eventually drove him to enrol in full-time university study, which culminated in his attainment of the awards; BCom, BCom (Hons), GradDipLegStuds, JurisD.

The university experience reignited his passion for storytelling, which developed at a very young age. Initially this took him back to Cessnock, but he now resides in Bowral on the Southern Highlands of New South Wales where he continues to write.