Too Many Stolen

"There are an estimated 60,000 survivors of institutional child sexual abuse in Australia. Based on the private sessions held as part of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, 15% of survivors are Aboriginal. That suggests an estimated 9,000 Aboriginal survivors.”

– Carlina Black – The Conversation.

1788 was the arrival of white society which forever changed the lives of the native people of this country - Australia. For years after the arrival; murder, discrimination, disease and massacres wiped out a large portion of the Aboriginal population. It was not just the Indigenous people of the mainland that were targeted, but the Torres Strait Islander and South Sea Islander People were too. They were coerced into a term known as ‘black birding.’ (For more information, read – ‘Black Bird’.) Over one hundred years had passed, and yet the torment, struggle and pain were only going to worsen for the Indigenous community.

A policy was implemented in Australia in 1910 – ‘The Policy of Assimilation’. This policy was created so that the native people would act more like the white people. It was in the hopes that this policy would eventually breed out the Aboriginal race. The policy gave many government bodies and enforcers (police) the right to forcible take children from their homes all over Australia. The hospitals would even lie to an Indigenous mother, stating that their baby had died, when really, they were adopted or taken to a mission to be raised. In many cases if the mothers fought back for their child or new-born baby, they were tied up, drugged and even severely beaten.

Tens of thousands of children from 1910 – 1970’s were taken into an institution to live and forced to assimilate to the new way; the white way. In many circumstances, they were not able use their own name, they were given numbers to be known as. These young children were not allowed to have any connection with their culture, family or native ways. If they spoke their home language, they would be beaten. If they said their real name, they would be beaten. If they refused to forget about their home, language and culture, they would be beaten. If they stood up for other children being abuse, guess what happened? Not matter if the victim was 5 years old, 10 years old or 13 years old they would be beaten, threaten and treated like animals.

This torment was endured for decades by thousands of people, why? Because of a policy created by the white man. They believed that Aboriginal people and their culture were inferior and a problem. This policy, along with the ‘Aboriginal Protection Act’ aimed to help the Aboriginal problem disappear but instead was the cause of too many families experiencing extreme trauma which has now lead to generations of loss, discouragement and many future children being raised in the system.

Sadly, many young ones were mistreated, exploited and constantly exposed to racist utterance. Today, many of these children, now adults, have spoken up and shared their horrific stories of neglect, abuse and racial intolerance.

Stolen - 1964: Aunty Eva Jo Edwards, a proud Boonwurrung, Mutti Mutti and Yorta Yorta woman. She is a survivor of the stolen Generation. At age 5, she was stolen from her parents, along with her five siblings. For the next 13 years, Aunty lived in an institution and separated from her siblings.

“Being institutionalised was nothing but a roof over your head. There was never any sense that you were loved, wanted or needed, or told you could be anything you wanted to be. We were never told if you were smart enough you could be a doctor or a teacher.” - Aunty Eva.

Eva Jo Edwards never saw her mother until she was 15 years old. Sadly, her brother committed suicide when he was only 25 years old due to the exploitation and trauma he and his family had to tolerate.

Left alone, scared and living with only strangers, Eva Jo has overcome many obstacles throughout her life. She is a survivor and a person to admire. Throughout the sadness and loss, she has been able to aid others who were apart of the ‘Stolen Generation’, found her family, reconnected with culture and finally felt at peace on her homeland. Aunty is now able to proudly teach her six children and four grandchildren our amazing and unique culture.

"I was raised with the non-Aboriginal values of Christianity, but on my journey, I have found my identity as an Aboriginal woman with cultural values, which has made me strong in who I am. I want to ensure that our children today in out of home care don't have to go through the same traumas that we did, that there are supports put in place. I will always fight for our rights, this is our history, it might be a dark part of our history, but it needs to be known. That way we can hopefully move forward a little bit more." – Eva Jo Edwards proud Aboriginal Woman

Stolen - 1931:

Another family that has been tragically affected by the ‘Stolen generation’, is the Stewart/Bennett family. At the aged of 3, Roy Stewart was removed from his home and unfortunately upon his death at 77 years old, he never knew where he came from nor did he ever find his family. Roy grew up in Kinchela’s Boy’s Home – NSW; to his dying breathe it was the place he had always feared. This particular boy’s home would scar Roy and haunt him for the rest of his life. He was never able to heal from being forced to bury young children who had been beaten by a drunken superior earlier that night.

Roy’s years of what is known as the ‘Stolen Generation years’ didn’t end when he somehow managed to survive and leave the boy’s home. He spent years trying to search for his family, his history, his culture. But when he would find a clue, it would always lead him to a dead end. This was due to the negligence and apathetic behaviour of the Government. Their response to a man wanting to repair a life the was ripped apart by this very organisation was - ‘sorry, can’t help you. The records have been burnt in a fire’.

Roy’s children were to become victims of the ‘Stolen Generation’ as well. Roy’s son Harold was forcibly removed from a Narrabri playground when he was aged 9. Around the same time Harold’s brother Neil was taken away too. Neil unfortunately never saw his family again.

Stolen - 1965: Birri-Gubba and Kairi/Bidjara woman – Florence Onus, a woman who’s family is a survivor of four generations of forcibly removing children. In 1938, her Great grandmother, grandmother and her mother were forcibly removed from their land. They were sent to various Aboriginal Reserves. Mrs Onus’s mother who was only 4 years old at the time, was sent to a children’s dormitory to learn the white way and her mother and grandmother were sent away to work as domestic servants. All contact with family, culture and language ceased to exist and were forbidden.

“I regard these places as detention centres that were used to comprehensively control the lives of our people.” – Florence Onus thoughts on Aboriginal Reserves.

Later, Florence’s mother had 5 children and all five of them were forcibly taken away including Florence. At 5 years old she was taken to an Orphanage in Townsville, later to be raised in a white foster care home. Sadly, Florence’s mother’s mental health deteriorated due to the trauma and loss she had to endure. When Florence was 21 years of age, her mother attempted suicide and Florence became her carer whilst raising her own children. At young age Florence started to learn and acknowledge her story of being a part of the Stolen Generation. She is now a passionate survivor and eager to teach others.

“Teaching young people about our stories, as I have done with my family, is the best way to make sure something like the Stolen Generations never happens again” -Aunty Florence Onus

Florence Onus is a remarkable human being and one to learn from. Alongside other community leaders, Florence led the establishment of Healing Waters Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Counselling & Wellbeing Service in Townsville. She continually contributes to healing those traumatised by the treatment during and after the Stolen Generation years.

“It’s hard work to mend the damage of Intergenerational Trauma but it can be done. We believe that in order to heal you have to take time out to reflect on the past because what happened in the past still lives within us today” – Florence Onus

Stolen – 1930’s

“When they opened the train door and I looked inside to see that the train was crammed with nomadic Aboriginal people, all with shackles around their necks and ankles, I knew that was the end of me and that I would never return home again.” – Harry Bennett

Harry Bennet was born on ‘no man’s land’ outside of Banka Banka Station, Northern Territory. He is what’s known as a ‘half-caste.’ His mother was an Aboriginal woman and his father, Jim Bennett, a white man. As Harry’s mum was getting big, Jim Bennett decided to flee up north. This was because he didn’t want to go to jail for 7 years for being with a black woman. Jim Bennett’s mother said to soon to be mother that when he is born, knock him on the head. She did not want Harry to be born as this would be a disgrace for her family; her son having a black baby.

Harry’s stepfather made the decision to go out bush as he worried for his wife and stepson’s life. He took her out bush to his homeland, away from any trouble back in town. When Harry was born, his family then moved to Seven Mile, this is where he grew up.

“When the troopers did come looking for me at Seven Mile, my mother would bury me in the sand, which was warm and soft. Only my head would be sticking out and they would surround me with shrubs and bushes so I wouldn't be seen. Because my father was white, I looked fairer than the rest of my family, so my mother would cover me with kangaroo fat and charcoal to make me appear darker, so I wouldn't be recognised.” Harry stated in ‘A foot in each camp.’

When Harry was about 10 years old his parents were living on a reserve and working a for a policeman. Harry would help the policeman deliver mail to a neighbouring town and had done three trips with him. At some point in those three trips, Harry’s European Grandmother told the police that he was a nomad and half-caste. The last trip Harry made with the policeman was the final time he would ever see his home.

His last memory of his mother was terrorising, horrific and is embedded in his memory always. She was chasing after the train, wailing and crying, so were many other mothers who sons were being stolen from them. As the mothers chased the train, they would hit themselves on the head with rocks and bleed because they knew they would never see them again. This was Harry’s last image of his mother, broken, beaten, bleeding and wailing in the desert sands, pleading her little boy returns.

Harry was sent from Darwin to Alice Springs, to a place called the Bungalow. Harry never knew why this certain superintendent there did not like him. He would physically abuse him constantly, with straps or by hand. Harry believes it is the reason he is deaf today as they would not send him to have medical treatment even when blood and puss would ooze out of his ear. Harry and the children at the Bungalow supported each other and encouraged each other to share their language so they would never forget. They are each other’s heroes, helping each other survive.

Harry Bennett is an army veteran who was stolen, abused and never earned a dime while working for white people. Yet it is remarkable how humble and graceful he has become to forgive all those who contribute to the neglect and exploitation he endured. He is now a proud member of his Aboriginal family and his European family.

“There is no use in continually holding grudges against people, to whom we feel are responsible for what happened to the stolen children. We have to get on with our lives, acknowledge what happened and move on.” – Harry Bennett

Unfortunately, because of the assimilation and massacres many languages and old way knowledge are buried with the people. That is why these stories need to be shared so all us can have an understanding of the horrific history and pain the young children from 1788 until now can be heard. Speaking up and starting conversations will help the many generations affected be able to heal and we can all move forward together as one country.

Resources:

http://www.artplan.com.au/BNP/BNP06text/31.htm

https://healingfoundation.org.au/stolen-generations/stolen-generations-reference-group/

https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/nitv-news/article/2019/10/22/heres-what-aboriginal-survivors-child-sexual-abuse-told-us-they-need

Images:

Florence Onus - https://www.qt.com.au/news/activist-condems-gutless-racists-in-wake-of-teen-d/4033512/

Eva Jo Edwards - https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article/2019/05/27/stolen-children-gathered-together-sorry-day

Harry Bennett & Stolen Children – Phillips Creek - https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-06-08/stolen-generations-oldest-surviving-member-harry-bennett/8598856