Peter Read The Stolen Generation
The Stolen Generations
The removal of Aboriginal children in New South Wales 1883 to 1969 Peter Read
The Stolen Generations
The removal of Aboriginal children in New South Wales 1883 to 1969
Peter Read
Fourth reprint (2006) First published in 1981 ISBN 0-646-46221-0
Foreword
In 1981, the Department of Aboriginal Affairs published a ground-breaking paper on the Stolen Generations. The paper, written by Peter Read, was among the first attempts to document the devastation of forcibly removing Aboriginal children from their parents. Now, twenty-five years on, we are better educated about this dark chapter in Australia’s history. For many, though, the impact of these policies has never dulled and people are continuing to negotiate …show more content…
Non-Aborigines said it couldn’t have happened. The victims of separation thought it shameful to talk about their removal. They believed that maybe their parents hadn’t been able to care for them properly, or worse still, didn’t want them. Twenty five years later, thousands of Aboriginal adults have spoken out against the hurts they endured, and are still enduring. So have the parents, and the extended families of those people. And yet, one third of all the children currently in care in Australia are Indigenous. How many of them will be future Link-Up clients? As the National Enquiry showed in 1995/6, the hurt never goes away. But at least the non-Kooris concede that the policy happened and that it was wrong. The Premier has apologised. There are Link-Up organisations in every state and in the Northern Territory. The victims of separation now understand that their families grieved for them as much as they grieved for their families. Stolen Generations Link-Up (NSW), as it is now known, has thousands of people waiting for their families to be traced. They want to begin, with their Link-Up counsellors, the long and exciting journey home. Under the current wonderful Link-Up leadership, many hundreds have made that journey to embrace their parents, siblings, culture and identity. History can’t be turned back, but the Link-Up organisations across Australia are having a pretty good shot at it. Peter
The removal of Aboriginal children in New South Wales 1883 to 1969 Peter Read
The Stolen Generations
The removal of Aboriginal children in New South Wales 1883 to 1969
Peter Read
Fourth reprint (2006) First published in 1981 ISBN 0-646-46221-0
Foreword
In 1981, the Department of Aboriginal Affairs published a ground-breaking paper on the Stolen Generations. The paper, written by Peter Read, was among the first attempts to document the devastation of forcibly removing Aboriginal children from their parents. Now, twenty-five years on, we are better educated about this dark chapter in Australia’s history. For many, though, the impact of these policies has never dulled and people are continuing to negotiate …show more content…
Non-Aborigines said it couldn’t have happened. The victims of separation thought it shameful to talk about their removal. They believed that maybe their parents hadn’t been able to care for them properly, or worse still, didn’t want them. Twenty five years later, thousands of Aboriginal adults have spoken out against the hurts they endured, and are still enduring. So have the parents, and the extended families of those people. And yet, one third of all the children currently in care in Australia are Indigenous. How many of them will be future Link-Up clients? As the National Enquiry showed in 1995/6, the hurt never goes away. But at least the non-Kooris concede that the policy happened and that it was wrong. The Premier has apologised. There are Link-Up organisations in every state and in the Northern Territory. The victims of separation now understand that their families grieved for them as much as they grieved for their families. Stolen Generations Link-Up (NSW), as it is now known, has thousands of people waiting for their families to be traced. They want to begin, with their Link-Up counsellors, the long and exciting journey home. Under the current wonderful Link-Up leadership, many hundreds have made that journey to embrace their parents, siblings, culture and identity. History can’t be turned back, but the Link-Up organisations across Australia are having a pretty good shot at it. Peter