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82-639: Alec (Bumbolili) Kruger (24 December 1924 – 20 February 2015 ) was a member of the Stolen Generations and he was one of the plaintiffs who unsuccessfully sought compensation from the government in Kruger v Commonwealth in the High Court of Australia . Kruger was born on the banks of the Katherine River at a place called Donkey Camp, the son of Franz (Frank) Kruger and Yrambul Nungarai

164-533: A Mudburra woman, Kruger is one of their two children and the couple stayed together until Frank's death in 1938. No specific records were kept but it appears that Kruger was taken from his family in mid-1928, alongside his sister Gladys, as a toddler and they were placed in the Kahlin Compound in Darwin. For Yrambul this is not the first time she had had children taken away from her and, despite knowing it

246-569: A one drop rule to Aborigines like the American South did to people of African descent. In the Northern Territory , the segregation of Indigenous Australians of mixed descent from "full-blood" Indigenous people began with the government removing children of mixed descent from their communities and placing them in church-run missions, and later creating segregated reserves and compounds to hold all Indigenous Australians. This

328-626: A conversation, with Gordon Sweeney, patrol officer, Kruger discovered that he had not being paid, and had little chance of being so despite the Bloomfield's being obliged to, he ran away and enlisted in the army. He believed that, in the army, he would get to fight for his country and earn good money (equal pay). Kruger was 17 but he told the recruiters that he was 18 and he was placed in the Aboriginal Unit and mostly worked loading trucks. Kruger did not serve overseas but worked throughout

410-546: A formal national apology and that it considers inappropriate the provision of monetary compensation for those forcibly and unjustifiably separated from their families, on the grounds that such practices were sanctioned by law at the time and were intended to "assist the people whom they affected". The Committee recommended "that the State party consider the need to address appropriately the extraordinary harm inflicted by these racially discriminatory practices." Activists highlighted

492-415: A long period of time, different policies at different times in different states (which also resulted in different definitions of target children), and incomplete records, accurate figures are difficult to establish. The academic Robert Manne has stated that the lower-end figure of one in 10 is more likely; he estimates that between 20,000 and 25,000 Aboriginal children were removed over six decades, based on

574-535: A man who was "substantially of European origin", and his approval was required for any marriage of an Indigenous woman to a non-Indigenous man. Between 1918 and 1921, large areas of the Territory and adjacent states were classified as Aboriginal reserves and sanctuaries for remaining nomadic populations who had hitherto had little contact with white Australia. In 1920, the area including Uluru , in Anangu territory,

656-434: A matter of policy. White welfare officers, often supported by police, would descend on Aboriginal camps, round up all the children, separate the ones with light-coloured skin, bundle them into trucks and take them away. If their parents protested they were held at bay by police. According to the archaeologist and writer Josephine Flood , "The well-meaning but ill-conceived policy of forced assimilation of mixed-race Aborigines

738-553: A non-Indigenous man. The Aboriginal Protection Act 1869 (Vic) included the earliest legislation to authorise child removal from Aboriginal parents. The Central Board for the Protection of Aborigines had been advocating such powers since 1860. Passage of the Act gave the colony of Victoria a wide suite of powers over Aboriginal and "half-caste" persons, including the forcible removal of children, especially "at-risk" girls. Through

820-678: A redress scheme for the territories , formerly controlled by the Commonwealth Government , was announced in August 2021. Aboriginals Ordinance 1918 The Welfare Ordinance 1953 repealed the Aboriginals Ordinance 1918 , coming into force in 1957, along with the Wards Employment Ordinance 1953 , together making all Aboriginal people in the Territory wards of the state , with

902-628: A secondary education, three times as likely to have acquired a police record, and were twice as likely to use illicit drugs as were Aboriginal people who grew up in their ethnic community. The only notable advantage "removed" Aboriginal people achieved was a higher average income. The report noted this was likely due to the increased urbanisation of removed individuals, and greater access to welfare payments than for Aboriginal people living in remote communities. There seemed to be little evidence that removed mixed-race Aboriginal people had been successful in gaining better work even in urbanised areas. By around

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984-538: A survey of self-identified Indigenous people by the television station ABS . According to the Bringing Them Home report: In certain regions and in certain periods the figure was undoubtedly much greater than one in ten. In that time not one Indigenous family has escaped the effects of forcible removal (confirmed by representatives of the Queensland and WA [Western Australia] Governments in evidence to

1066-564: A telegraph station and home for a dozen people, but with 140 kids living there at its peak, it was an overcrowded prison. At The Bungalow classes were very large and Alec spent most of the time outside for misbehaving and he was still illiterate when he left at the age of 10. Kruger left The Bungalow at the age of 10, in 1935, when he was selected, out of a line-up by the Bloomfield's from Loves Creek Station . Kruger says that most slaves got it better than he did at there and that, despite many promises, no wages were ever paid to him. When, after

1148-469: A threat to the stability of the prevailing culture, or to a perceived racial or cultural "heritage". The Northern Territory Chief Protector of Aborigines, Dr. Cecil Cook , argued that "everything necessary [must be done] to convert the half-caste into a white citizen". Studies that were then viewed as scientific claimed that Australian Aborigines traits were less visible after mixing with Europeans than sub-Saharan African traits are, so Australia did not apply

1230-609: A variety of conditions in missions, orphanages, reserves, and white foster homes. The Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission 's National Inquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children from Their Families commenced in May 1995, presided over by the Commission's president Sir Ronald Wilson and its Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Mick Dodson . During

1312-590: A ward, Gladys Namagu, when they wanted to marry (see: Mick Daly and Gladys Namagu ). The other was the conviction of famous artist Albert Namatjira for supplying alcohol to a ward, as he had been (against his wishes) been given an honorary exemption from the Register of Wards. Namatjira appealed against the conviction to the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory (with his defence supported by

1394-459: Is now universally condemned for the trauma and loss of language and culture it brought to the stolen children and their families." One of the recommendations of the 1997 Bringing Them Home report was for Australian parliaments to offer an official apology. A decade later, on 13 February 2008, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd presented an apology to Indigenous Australians as a motion to be voted on by

1476-750: Is unknown. Estimates of numbers have been widely disputed. The Bringing Them Home report (produced by the National Inquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children from Their Families in 1987), says that "at least 100,000" children were removed from their parents. This figure was estimated by multiplying the Aboriginal population in 1994 (303,000), by the report's maximum estimate of "one in three" Aboriginal persons separated from their families. The report stated that "between one in three and one in ten" children were separated from their families. Given differing populations over

1558-784: The Council for Aboriginal Rights in Victoria ). The Supreme Court upheld the conviction but reduced the sentence from six to three months. The High Court of Australia refused an application to appeal, and there was widespread sympathy for Namatjira and negative publicity about the operation of the Ordinance both at home and abroad. The law was never properly debated in Parliament, and only finally lost its force after Aboriginal people gained franchise rights in both Commonwealth and Northern Territory in 1961. There were several amendments to

1640-569: The Paul Keating government. At the Australian Reconciliation Convention in May 1997, Howard was quoted as saying: "Australians of this generation should not be required to accept guilt and blame for past actions and policies." Following publication of the report, the parliament of the Northern Territory and the state parliaments of Victoria, South Australia, and New South Wales passed formal apologies to

1722-715: The 1950s he attempted to reenlist in the army but was turned away because he was unable to provide any proof of identity or age, He felt humiliated by this. By 1953, finding it harder to find work, Kruger settled in the Gap Settlement in Alice Springs where he worked on the railroads with the Department of Works. He retired at 65 in 1989. In 1997 Kruger went to the High Court to testify that mixed-race children were systematically removed from their parents in

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1804-506: The Aboriginal people affected. On 26 May 1998, the first " National Sorry Day " was held; reconciliation events such as the Walk for Reconciliation across Sydney Harbour Bridge and in other cities were held nationally, and attended by a total of more than one million people. As public pressure continued to increase on the government, Howard drafted a Motion of Reconciliation with Senator Aden Ridgeway , expressing "deep and sincere regret over

1886-653: The Board to "steal the child away from its parents." At least two members argued that the amendment would result in children being subjected to unpaid labour (at institutions or farms) tantamount to "slavery". Writing in the 21st century, Professor Peter Read said that Board members, in recording reasons for removal of children, noted simply "For being Aboriginal." In 1909, the Protector of Aborigines in South Australia , William Garnet South , reportedly "lobbied for

1968-711: The Commonwealth Aboriginals Ordinance 1911 . The 1918 Ordinance was amended 18 times over the following decades, and was eventually repealed by the Welfare Ordinance 1953 . Many of the provisions of the 1910 Act carried forward into the 1918 Ordinance, including the power to transfer Aboriginal children into institutions. Under the Aboriginals Ordinance 1918 , the Chief Protector was also given total control of all Indigenous women regardless of their age, unless married to

2050-613: The Howard government for its handling of issues related to the Stolen Generations. The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination concluded its discussion of Australia's 12th report on its actions by acknowledging "the measures taken to facilitate family reunion and to improve counselling and family support services for the victims", but expressed concern: that the Commonwealth Government does not support

2132-509: The Inquiry). Most families have been affected, in one or more generations, by the forcible removal of one or more children. The report closely examined the distinctions between "forcible removal", "removal under threat or duress", "official deception", "uninformed voluntary release", and "voluntary release". The evidence indicated that in numerous cases, children were brutally and forcibly removed from their parent or parents, possibly even from

2214-630: The Northern Territory and this case, Kruger v Commonwealth, which became known as the Stolen Generation Case. In this case, the High Court rejected a challenge to the validity of legislation applying to the Northern Territory, namely the Aboriginals Ordinance 1918 , between 1918–1957. In the wake of this decision the Stolen Generation Association was established in Alice Springs and Kruger

2296-807: The Northern Territory, including Darwin Harbour . Following the war, he reconnected with his family and spent two years living with them in Katherine ; during this time his mother reprimanded him for joining the army, calling them "murderers and cowards". He defended his choice. In the early 1950s he held a number of roles on cattle stations including Wave Hill , Wernaginga, Creswell Downs and Alcoota. While at Wernaginga Station Norman Pendergest, known as 'Splinter', would teach Kruger to read and it as on that basis that Kruger, who valued education, would accept lower wages. Kruger also accepted other work and travelled significantly including throughout Queensland , in

2378-518: The Stolen Generations and related Aboriginal issues during the Sydney 2000 Summer Olympics . They set up a large "Aboriginal Tent City" on the grounds of Sydney University to bring attention to Aboriginal issues in general. Cathy Freeman is an Aboriginal athlete who was chosen to light the Olympic flame and won the gold medal in the 400 metre sprint. In interviews, she said that her own grandmother

2460-550: The Stolen Generations, and the practices that created them, grew in the late 1980s through the efforts of Aboriginal and white activists , artists, and musicians ( Archie Roach 's " Took the Children Away " and Midnight Oil 's " The Dead Heart " being examples of the latter). The Mabo v Queensland (No 2) case (commonly known as the Mabo case ) attracted great media and public attention to itself and to all issues related to

2542-488: The Stolen Generations, with this resulting in unstable parenting and family situations. Historian Professor Peter Read , then at the Australian National University , was the first to use the phrase "stolen generation". He published a magazine article on the topic with this title, based on his research. He expanded the article into a book, The Stolen Generations (1981). Widespread awareness of

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2624-536: The Telegraph Station these days is not going to get much of a picture of what the place looked like when I first saw it. They've ripped down all the thrown-together tin dormitories and the other shacks and sheds that were everywhere. There are lawns where there used to be just bulldust and rubbish. As it's presented today you might think it was a really nice place. Why are all of us complaining? Well in my time, it wasn't very nice at all. It might have worked as

2706-450: The actual parentage of the child, or such details as the date or place of birth. As is stated in the report: the physical infrastructure of missions, government institutions and children's homes was often very poor and resources were insufficient to improve them or to keep the children adequately clothed, fed and sheltered. The children were taken into care purportedly to protect them from neglect and abuse. However sexual assault and abuse

2788-451: The age of 16 or 21, often determining where they could live or work. Policemen or other agents of the state (some designated as "Aboriginal Protection Officers") were given the power to locate and transfer babies and children of mixed descent from their mothers, families, and communities into institutions for care. In these Australian states and territories, institutions (both government and missionary) for half-caste children were established in

2870-411: The age of 18 years", and had the power to confine such children to an Aboriginal reserve or institution. The Act provided the legal basis for enforcing segregation. That is, Indigenous children could be removed by Administrative order, whereas non-Indigenous children at the time could only be removed by order of a Court. The Act allowed for regulations to be made for the "care, custody and education of

2952-470: The age of 18 years", thus providing the legal basis for enforcing segregation. After the Commonwealth took control of the Territory, under the Aboriginals Ordinance 1918 , the Chief Protector was given total control of all Indigenous women regardless of their age, unless married to a man who was "substantially of European origin", and his approval was required for any marriage of an Indigenous woman to

3034-637: The age of 18, the children were released from government control. In cases where their files were available, individuals were sometimes allowed to view their own files. According to the testimony of one Aboriginal person: I was requested to attend at the Sunshine Welfare Offices, where they formerly (sic) discharged me from State ward ship. It took the Senior Welfare Officer a mere 20 minutes to come clean, and tell me everything that my heart had always wanted to know...that I

3116-524: The apology turned their backs on the screens that broadcast Nelson speaking. In Perth , people booed and jeered until the screen was switched off. In Parliament House's Great Hall, elements of the audience began a slow clap , with some finally turning their backs. The apology was unanimously adopted by the House of Representatives , although six members of Nelson's opposition caucus left the House in protest at

3198-745: The apology. Later that day, the Senate considered a motion for an identical apology, which was also passed unanimously. Beforehand, the Leader of the Greens , Senator Bob Brown , attempted to amend the motion to include words committing parliament to offering compensation to those who suffered loss under past Indigenous policies, but was opposed by all the other parties. The states all have redress schemes: first Tasmania (2006), followed by Western Australia (2007), Queensland (2012), South Australia (2015), New South Wales (2017) and Victoria (2022), while

3280-422: The areas of employment and post-secondary education, the removed children had about the same results as those who were not removed. In the early decades of the program, post-secondary education was limited for most Australians, but the removed children lagged behind their white contemporaries as educational opportunities improved. The study indicated that removed Aboriginal people were less likely to have completed

3362-523: The children of aboriginals". This included the power to transfer children to "aboriginal institutions" and "industrial schools". The Act was the first and only legislation passed in South Australia which related to Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory. The Act was repealed by the Aboriginals Ordinance 1918 (Act No. 9/1918) on 13 June 1918, which combined and replaced the Northern Territory Aboriginals Act 1910 and

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3444-455: The children. Documentary evidence, such as newspaper articles and reports to parliamentary committees , suggest a range of rationales. Apparent motivations included the belief that the Aboriginal people would die out, given their catastrophic population decline after white contact, the belief that they were heathens and were better off in non-indigenous households, and the belief that full-blooded Aboriginal people resented miscegenation and

3526-573: The commission: I've got everything that could be reasonably expected: a good home environment, education, stuff like that, but that's all material stuff. It's all the non-material stuff that I didn't have—the lineage... You know, you've just come out of nowhere; there you are. In 2015, many of the recommendations of Bringing Them Home were yet to be fulfilled. In 2017, 35% of all children in out-of-home care in Australia identify as being Aboriginal, an increase from 20% in 1997 when Bringing Them Home

3608-518: The determination of all Australians, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, to close the gap that lies between us in life expectancy, educational achievement, and economic opportunity. A future where we embrace the possibility of new solutions to enduring problems where old approaches have failed. A future based on mutual respect, mutual resolve and mutual responsibility. A future where all Australians, whatever their origins, are truly equal partners, with equal opportunities and with an equal stake in shaping

3690-705: The early decades of the 20th century to care for and to educate the mixed-race children taken from their families, with the goal of assimilation into Anglo-Australian society. Examples of such institutions include Moore River Native Settlement in Western Australia, Doomadgee Aboriginal Mission in Queensland , Ebenezer Mission in Victoria, and Wellington Valley Mission in New South Wales , as well as Catholic missions such as Beagle Bay and Garden Point . The exact number of children removed

3772-471: The ensuing 17 months, the Inquiry visited every state and Territory in Australia, heard testimony from 535 Aboriginal Australians, and received submissions of evidence from more than 600 more. In April 1997, the Commission released its official Bringing Them Home report. Between the commissioning of the National Inquiry and the release of the final report in 1997, the government of John Howard had replaced

3854-561: The government having control over many aspects of their lives. With this act, the new position of Director of Welfare replaced the Director of Native Affairs. Each of these laws gave the state the power to place children in institutions, which contributed to the situation of people later dubbed part of the Stolen Generations . The 1953 Ordinances were repealed by the Social Welfare Ordinance 1964 , which removed many of

3936-510: The government treatment of Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders in Australia, and most notably the Stolen Generations. In early 1995, Rob Riley , an activist with the Aboriginal Legal Service , published Telling Our Story. It described the large-scale negative effects of past government policies that resulted in the removal of thousands of mixed-race Aboriginal children from their families and their being reared in

4018-461: The hospital shortly after birth, when identified as mixed-race babies. Aboriginal Protection Officers often made the judgement to remove certain children. In some cases, families were required to sign legal documents to relinquish care to the state. In Western Australia, the Aborigines Act 1905 removed the legal guardianship of Aboriginal parents. It made all their children legal wards of

4100-491: The house. The apology text was as follows: I move: That today we honour the Indigenous peoples of this land, the oldest continuing cultures in human history. We reflect on their past mistreatment. We reflect in particular on the mistreatment of those who were Stolen Generations—this blemished chapter in our nation's history. The time has now come for the nation to turn a new page in Australia's history by righting

4182-785: The late 19th and early 20th century, similar policies and legislation were adopted by other states and territories, such as the Aboriginals Protection and Restriction of the Sale of Opium Act 1897 (Qld), the Aboriginals Ordinance 1918 (NT), the Aborigines Act 1934 (SA), and the 1936 Native Administration Act (WA). As a result of such legislation, states arranged widespread removal of (primarily) mixed-race children from their Aboriginal mothers. In addition, appointed Aboriginal protectors in each state exercised wide-ranging guardianship powers over Aboriginal people up to

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4264-460: The mixed-race children fathered and abandoned by white men. The stated aim of the "resocialisation" program was to improve the integration of Aboriginal people into modern [European-Australian] society; however, a recent study conducted in Melbourne reported that there was no tangible improvement in the social position of "removed" Aboriginal people as compared to "non-removed". Particularly in

4346-402: The next chapter in the history of this great country, Australia. The text of the apology did not refer to compensation to Aboriginal people generally or to members of the Stolen Generations specifically. Rudd followed the apology with a 20-minute speech to the house about the need for this action. The government's apology and his speech were widely applauded among both Indigenous Australians and

4428-463: The non-Indigenous general public. Opposition leader Brendan Nelson also delivered a 20-minute speech. He endorsed the apology but in his speech Nelson referred to the "under-policing" of child welfare in Aboriginal communities, as well as a host of social ills blighting the lives of Aboriginal people. His speech was considered controversial and received mixed reactions. Thousands of people who had gathered in public spaces in around Australia to hear

4510-448: The pain, suffering, and hurt of these Stolen Generations, their descendants and for their families left behind, we say sorry. To the mothers and the fathers, the brothers and the sisters, for the breaking up of families and communities, we say sorry. And for the indignity and degradation thus inflicted on a proud people and a proud culture, we say sorry. We the Parliament of Australia respectfully request that this apology be received in

4592-425: The period between approximately 1905 and 1967, although in some places mixed-race children were still being taken into the 1970s. Official government estimates are that in certain regions between one in ten and one in three Indigenous Australian children were forcibly taken from their families and communities between 1910 and 1970. Numerous 19th and early 20th century contemporaneous documents indicate that

4674-842: The policemen pulled us off and threw us back in the car. They pushed the mothers away and drove off, while our mothers were chasing the car, running and crying after us. We were screaming in the back of that car. When we got to Broome they put me and my cousin in the Broome lock-up. We were only ten years old. We were in the lock-up for two days waiting for the boat to Perth. The report discovered that removed children were, in most cases, placed into institutional facilities operated by religious or charitable organisations. A significant number, particularly females, were "fostered" out. Children taken to such institutions were trained to be assimilated to Anglo-Australian culture. Policies included punishment for speaking their local Indigenous languages. The intention

4756-534: The policy of removing mixed-race Aboriginal children from their mothers related to an assumption that the Aboriginal peoples were dying off. Given their catastrophic population decline after white contact, whites assumed that the full-blood tribal Aboriginal population would be unable to sustain itself, and was doomed to extinction . The idea expressed by A. O. Neville , the Chief Protector of Aborigines for Western Australia , and others as late as 1930

4838-502: The position of Director of Native Affairs was replaced by a Director of Welfare, who still exerted as much control over the lives of Aboriginal people as his predecessors. At the same time, the Wards Employment Ordinance 1953 was enacted, although this too did not come into operation until 1957. The 1953 Ordinance was different from the 1918 Ordinance in that it did not once refer to any racial category, avoiding

4920-499: The power to remove Aboriginal children without a court hearing because the courts sometimes refused to accept that the children were neglected or destitute". South argued that "all children of mixed descent should be treated as neglected". His lobbying reportedly played a part in the enactment of the Aborigines Act (1911). This designated his position as the legal guardian of every Aboriginal child in South Australia, not only

5002-424: The property of all wards, his consent was needed for wards to marry, and wards were not allowed to live with a "non-ward" unless they were related. The Director could authorise police to remove children from their parents, and put children into institutions, including interstate. Two high-profile cases attracted widespread criticism of these ordinances. One was the a man called Mick Daly, charged with cohabiting with

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5084-625: The removal of Aboriginal children from their parents", which was passed by the federal parliament in August 1999. Howard said that the Stolen Generation represented "the most blemished chapter in the history of this country". Activists took the issue of the Stolen Generations to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights . At its hearing on this subject in July 2000, the Commission on Human Rights strongly criticised

5166-543: The restrictions over the lives of Aboriginal people. The Northern Territory Aboriginals Act 1910 , long name "An Act to make Provision for the better Protection and Control of the Aboriginal Inhabitants of the Northern Territory, and for other purposes", was an Act of the South Australian parliament (Act no. 1024/1910), assented to on 7 December 1910. On 1 January 1911, the Northern Territory

5248-404: The so-called "half-castes". The Bringing Them Home report identified instances of official misrepresentation and deception, such as when caring and able parents were incorrectly described by Aboriginal Protection Officers as not being able to properly provide for their children. In other instances, parents were told by government officials that their child or children had died, even though this

5330-442: The spirit in which it is offered as part of the healing of the nation. For the future we take heart; resolving that this new page in the history of our great continent can now be written. We today take this first step by acknowledging the past and laying claim to a future that embraces all Australians. A future where this Parliament resolves that the injustices of the past must never, never happen again. A future where we harness

5412-527: The state . There was a change in definition of "aboriginal" in this amendment, in that it excluded reference to "half-caste". From 1951, Paul Hasluck , the Commonwealth Minister for Territories, was responsible for drafting a new bill. This became the Welfare Ordinance 1953 (Act No. 16/1953), which repealed the Aboriginals Ordinance 1918 and its amendments, was passed on 15 July 1953, but did not commence until 13 May 1957. Under this Act,

5494-702: The state, so the government did not require parental permission to relocate the mixed-race children to institutions. In 1915, in New South Wales, the Aborigines Protection Amending Act 1915 gave the Aborigines' Protection Board authority to remove Aboriginal children "without having to establish in court that they were neglected." At the time, some members of Parliament objected to the NSW amendment; one member stated it enabled

5576-417: The term "Aborigines" altogether within its text. It has been seen as part of his model for cultural assimilation of Aboriginal people into the white population. It was clear that the provisions applied to Aboriginal people though, by specifying that nobody who was entitled to vote could be declared a ward; at the time, this meant that it could only apply to Aboriginal people. The Director had authority over

5658-402: The wrongs of the past and so moving forward with confidence to the future. We apologise for the laws and policies of successive Parliaments and governments that have inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss on these our fellow Australians. We apologise especially for the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, their communities and their country. For

5740-589: Was a much better place then Kahlin. However, he was separated from his sisters and would not see them again until the end of World War II. Kruger was moved again in 1933, to The Bungalow in Alice Springs , with 33 of the boys from the Pine Creek Home when it closed; he was now even further away from his family. Kruger said of The Bungalow in his book Alone on the Soaks : Anyone going out to see

5822-493: Was a part of the management committee. Kruger died 20 February 2015. Stolen Generations The Stolen Generations (also known as Stolen Children ) were the children of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent who were removed from their families by the Australian federal and state government agencies and church missions , under acts of their respective parliaments. The removals of those referred to as " half-caste " children were conducted in

5904-528: Was a response to public concern over the increase in the number of mixed-descent children and sexual exploitation of young Aboriginal women by non-Indigenous men, as well as fears among non-Indigenous people of being outnumbered by a mixed-descent population. Under the Northern Territory Aboriginals Act 1910 , the Chief Protector of Aborigines was appointed the "legal guardian of every Aboriginal and every half-caste child up to

5986-515: Was a victim of forced removal. The internationally successful rock group Midnight Oil attracted worldwide media interest by performing at the Olympic closing ceremony in black sweatsuits with the word "SORRY" emblazoned across them. In 2000, Australian journalist Phillip Knightley summed up the Stolen Generations in these terms: This cannot be over-emphasized—the Australian government literally kidnapped these children from their parents as

6068-431: Was declared an Aboriginal Reserve under the Aboriginals Ordinance . The Aboriginals Ordinance 1939 changed the title and position known as Chief Protector of Aborigines to "Director of Native Affairs". In 1953, the Aboriginals Ordinance 1953 (Act no. 7/1953) amended the Aboriginals Ordinance 1918 empowering the Director of Native Affairs with legal guardianship of all "aboriginals", thus making them wards of

6150-423: Was not the case. One first-hand account referring to events in 1935 stated: I was at the post office with my Mum and Auntie [and cousin]. They put us in the police ute and said they were taking us to Broome. They put the mums in there as well. But when we'd gone [about ten miles (16 km)] they stopped, and threw the mothers out of the car. We jumped on our mothers' backs, crying, trying not to be left behind. But

6232-426: Was of "Aboriginal descent", that I had a Natural mother, father, three brothers and a sister, who were alive...He placed in front of me 368 pages of my file, together with letters, photos and birthday cards. He informed me that my surname would change back to my Mother's maiden name of Angus. The Bringing Them Home report condemned the policy of disconnecting children from their cultural heritage. One witness said to

6314-504: Was published. A 2019 study by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) found that children living in households with members of the Stolen Generations are more likely "to experience a range of adverse outcomes", including poor health , especially mental health , missing school and living in poverty. There are high incidences of anxiety , depression , PTSD and suicide , along with alcohol abuse , among

6396-638: Was that mixed-race children could be trained to work in white society, and over generations would marry white and be assimilated into the society. The Colony of Victoria was the first to pass acts (1869 and 1886) that allowed for the removal of mixed-race persons from Aboriginal reserves. With an 1899 regulation expressly granting permission for the removal of Aboriginal children from their families. Some European Australians considered any proliferation of mixed-descent children (labelled "half-castes", "crossbreeds", " quadroons ", and " octoroons ", terms now considered derogatory to Indigenous Australians) to be

6478-460: Was to educate them for a different future and to prevent their being socialised in Aboriginal cultures . The boys were generally trained as agricultural labourers and the girls as domestic servants ; these were the chief occupations of many Europeans at the time in the largely rural areas outside cities. A common aspect of the removals was the failure by these institutions to keep records of

6560-542: Was transferred from South Australia to federal government control. The Act established the Northern Territory Aboriginals Department and created the office of Chief Protector of Aborigines. The department was responsible for the control and welfare of Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory. Under the Act, the Chief Protector of Aborigines was appointed the " legal guardian of every Aboriginal and every half-caste child up to

6642-559: Was useless, she still followed the children to Darwin and stood outside the gates every day until, finally, she had to return home and to her remaining children (who were not take away as their father was Mudburra). In addition to Gladys, Kruger already had two sisters a Kahlin; Ada and Alice. When Kruger was six, in September 1931, he was moved to Pine Creek Home , in Pine Creek , along with 27 other boys and, from all accounts, it

6724-545: Was widespread, with the report finding that among the 502 inquiry witnesses, 17% of female witnesses and 7.7% of male witnesses reported having suffered a sexual assault while in an institution, at work, or while living with a foster or adoptive family. Beyond this, conditions in the institutions were found to be invariably poor, with severe discipline, excessive child labour, poor nutrition, physical and emotional abuse, and poor quality education. Staff were found to be generally unqualified and given complete control and power over

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