The
Tuart Times
ISSUE 11: JANUARY 2016 ISSN: 2204-7646
The Laurie Humphreys Fund
Tuart Place volunteers: Leading the way The National Awareness Day Expo for Self-help and Support Groups is an annual event, and is extremely well organised by the fantastic crew at ConnectGroups. This is the fifth Expo I have had the honour to attend. It was held on Friday 25th September at the Perth Cultural Centre venue, not far from the WA Government memorial to Forgotten Australians. Tuart Place volunteers proudly took their place among 27 other organisations offering support to people seeking a better quality of life. This free event is great for networking with other organisations and creates opportunities for raising knowledge and awareness of our important cause. Cevrina, John and I spent the day on the Tuart Place stall sharing information with members of the community about Forgotten Australians, Former Child Migrants and members of the Stolen Generations. We also took the opportunity to spread the word about services offered by Tuart Place staff, volunteers and participants. It was great to meet and chat with representatives from Lanterns who were there to support Forgotten
by Ron Love
Cevrina, Ron & John at the 2015 ConnectGroups Expo
Australians this year. Our successes are due to the sponsors, the dedicated volunteers from a wide variety of organisations supporting this event, and especially the high standard of knowledge, skill and sensitivity of the ConnectGroups team. Congratulations to all for another fantastic Expo success, and thanks to Amanda at ConnectGroups for the photos.
Special visitors at 10th Anniversary BBQ It was great to see William (Bill) Wilson and his wife Heather at the 2015 barbecue - our tenth annual end-of-year gathering at Waterford. Australian-born Bill, who grew up at St Joseph’s, Castledare and Clontarf and now lives in New Zealand, also attended the sixth annual end-of-year event in 2011. Bill and Heather visited Tuart Place while they were here, and met with Ron Love – editor of the famous Ron’s Gazette, which Bill receives by email in New Zealand. Bill was impressed with the strong sense of community in the Tuart Place newsletters, and was keen to find out how to create the same atmosphere at a new support centre for care leavers in New Zealand. All the best with this important project Bill.
L-R: Heather & Bill Wilson, Pip White, Dougie McGlade, Wally Anderson & Kathy Bel Bachir
WHAT’S ON? • Monday 8th February: Free Legal Advice with lawyer Gary Dean. By appointment 1 4.00pm • Monday 15th February: WAGS (WA Genealogical Society) 1 hour family tracing sessions. By appointment 12.30 - 3.30pm • Monday 29th February: Free Dental Checks with KDT at Tuart Place. **Family members welcome** By appointment from 9.00am. • Wednesday 9th March: Healing Childhood Pain: A Workshop with Christabel Chamarette 10.15am-12noon • Monday 14th March: Free mens’ haircuts with Jacqi. By appointment from 1.00pm • Monday 21st March: WAGS (WA Genealogical Society) 1 hour family tracing sessions. By appointment 12.30 - 3.30pm • Monday 4th April: Free Legal Advice with lawyer Gary Dean. By appointment 1 4.00pm • Monday 18th April: WAGS (WA Genealogical Society) 1 hour family tracing sessions. By appointment 12.30 - 3.30pm • Monday 18th April: Free mens’ haircuts with Jacqi. By appointment from 1.00pm • Monday 11th - Thursday 14th April: 3-night stay at Moore River. Limited places, and bookings are essential. For further information contact Vicky or Kathy.
WAGS at work:
Marilyn Dimond with Tom Connelly at a family tracing session at Tuart Place back in 2013
TUART PLACE
CONTACT DETAILS & OPENING HOURS 24 High Street Fremantle WA 6160 Phone (08) 6140-2380 Freecall: 1800-619-795 Email admin@tuartplace.org Web: www.tuartplace.org
Opening Hours 9.00am to 4.30pm Monday Wednesday Thursday
REGULAR EVENTS • Every Monday: Singing group 10.30am-12 noon & the Big Monday Lunch at noon • Every Wednesday: Susy’s Support Group 10.15am-12 noon • Every Thursday: Computers & mobile phone help with Kathy and her team 12 noon-3pm
What happens at Tuart Place? Tuart Place is the State Government funded service for former child migrants and Forgotten Australians in WA. Tuart Place provides individual counselling, support groups, social activities, volunteering opportunities, computer skills classes, visiting health services, family tracing, assistance to access records, and help in dealing with other agencies.
Family tracing with WAGS Our friendly family tracing experts from the WA Genealogical Society (WAGS), Marilyn Dimond and Lesley Silvester, continue to do great work with participants at Tuart Place. Bill Wilson is among those who have been helped recently by WAGS. Bill sent us the following feedback after visiting Perth with wife Heather in November last year: “We had a great experience when we visited Perth. I was so pleased to have been able to meet up with the staff and volunteers who make Tuart Place a welcoming and interesting place. In the short time I had while visiting Perth I was able to make use of the WAGS experts at Tuart Place to find out a bit more about my family who live in England. It was certainly a big surprise to find out that I had a more extensive family than I originally thought. Also it was great to meet up with a lot of former school mates who I hadn’t seen for quite some time.”
Marilyn and Lesley are at Tuart Place each month. Please contact Vicky if you would like to book a onehour session. 2
Free Dental Checkups at Tuart Place on Monday 29th February 2016 Family members welcome to attend The wonderful Kimberly Dental Pierre Fauchard Academy. Team returns to Tuart Place for Jan Owen is a dental another round of free dental nurse and homeopath, and check-ups on Monday 29th received an Excellence in February 2016. Volunteer Management Award Tuart Place is extremely at the 2015 WA Volunteer of fortunate to host visits by KDT, the Year Awards for her work which was founded in 2009 by with KDT. husband and wife team John and Many people who Jan Owen. come to Tuart Place have had Dr John Owen AM is bad experiences with dentists Kimberley Dental Team at Tuart Place Patron of the Australian Society (or no dental treatment) as of Orthodontists, Foundation children, and have avoided for Research and Education, and dentists like the plague. John Clinical Associate Professor, School of Primary, Aboriginal Owen’s gentle and respectful approach has enabled them to and Rural Health Care, UWA. John has been the Honorary trust that it is safe to have a check-up and receive feedback Consultant Orthodontist to the Disabilities Services about their teeth. Commission since 1986 and is a Fellow of the International KDT’s next visit to Tuart Place on Monday 29th College of Dentists, Academy of Dentistry International and February 2016 is also open to family members.
A warm welcome to our newest Patron, Dr Robert Isaacs OAM, PhD, JP Dr Robert Isaacs was formally welcomed as our third Patron at the Tuart Place Christmas function on 16th December 2015. Robert joins our two existing Patrons, Steve Irons MP and Senator Rachel Siewert. Cevrina Reed, Vice-Chair of Forgotten Australians Coming Together (FACT) Inc, presented Robert with a framed Certificate of Appreciation, and told the 100+ crowd about why Robert is such a great addition to the Tuart Place family. Robert is a Noongar man, an Aboriginal Elder and a member of the
Stolen Generations. He was taken from his family when he was six months of age and lived in various institutions until the age of 17. When leaving Clontarf, Robert was not encouraged to come back. However he did return, and played a key role in setting up Clontarf’s Aboriginal Education College, where he became Chairperson. In her speech, Cevrina mentioned some of Robert’s numerous awards and extensive achievements over many decades of public service. She concluded by saying: We are very pleased that Robert has accepted our invitation to
At Tuart Place (L-R): Mary Ann, Robert, Jennifer & Bob
Dr Robert Isaacs with FACT Vice-Chair Cevrina Reed
be a Patron of Tuart Place, particularly because of his passion for encouraging positive relationships between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people, which is very much in keeping with the spirit of Tuart Place. Congratulations Robert, you are truly an inspiration to many, and thank you for your untiring work on behalf of our community. You have an extraordinary commitment to helping improve the lives of Australians, regardless of their background. Welcome aboard Robert. We are delighted you have joined us as a Patron of Tuart Place.
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Linkwest and ConnectGroups Conference What an amazing experience! I was honoured to represent Tuart Place over the two and half days of interaction and learning at the 2015 Linkwest and Connectgroups Conference: ‘Into the Spotlight - Our Role on Community’s Stage’. Representatives from numerous Self Help and Support Groups and Not for Profit Organisations across the State attended. I met many people who with kindness, offer services to people in need, whether it be personal support, learning and development, including information, anything to assist people in living a fuller life. The conference commenced in an atmosphere of warmth and anticipation with gentle banter between Jane Chilcott (CEO Linkwest) and Antonella Segre (CEO ConnectGroups). The conclusion was charged with excitement of fun and friendship for the Awards presentation. The setting was a three course meal with the décor being one of opulence and elegance. The perfect setting to publicly recognise outstanding people and groups doing wonderful work in the community. During the conference, keynote speakers offered valuable information - sometimes personal stories, that captivated the audience. From these speakers, it was clear that a ‘change was in the air’ in regards to government funding and how to offer optimum services to the wider community. Inter-relationships encourage a bigger scope to engage the public, while reviews appear to be key strategies to ensure the needs of all people are met as much as possible. Another strategy is to know the skills of your users, know what other services are offering, and utilise the skills and services for further development on a personal and professional level. The key strategy was LINK and CONNECT with people and other groups. The workshops I attended, provided strategies and information on working with people, ensuring the other person’s needs are met (it is not about yourself or promoting
L-R: Maryam Omari, Emilia Hay & Sharon Thompson
PHOTO: The Award Presentation Luncheon was superb and how amazed I was to find myself to be sitting at the table with Award Winners and two ConnectGroups Board members. Associate Professor Maryam Omari and Member Executive Emilia Hay (sitting closest to me) were very easy to talk with, and my exposure to more information and kind generous people was increased. I hope they continue in their Board roles as they are positive supporters of ConnectGroups.
your group!). I felt these workshops refreshed and reminded us of the importance to value and respect everyone, including ourselves. Linkwest and ConnectGroups provided a learning environment with a balance of fun and seriousness. It offered many opportunities to meet and learn from others. Although the event was ‘full on’, I was appreciative of every contact and every workshop I attended. I came away with ideas, knowledge and strategies that can be used at Tuart Place for the benefit of our participants and the growth and development of our services. Thank you to Tuart Place for providing an invaluable opportunity to attend this amazing conference.
After the Conference .... Sharing the knowledge
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A few weeks later when I arrived at Tuart Place on a Wednesday, Susy asked if I could tell the support group about the conference I attended. To ‘psych myself into the zone’, I quickly retrieved the white boa (a memento from my Award Presentation luncheon - everyone had one waiting on their chair) and draped it around my neck! I was charged with energy and enthusiasm as I spoke of what appeared to be the key strategies in engaging people from the community. Not sure
about my white board demo - but with my ‘art work’ and speaking combined, I believe my presentation was understood. Well, my five minutes of fame is over, however I believe the experience increased my self-esteem, so bring on the next challenge!! For more information about the conference, check out the Linkwest 2015 Conference webpage at: https://www. linkwest.asn.au/news-events/ conference-2015
Sharon Thompson
by Sharon Thompson
At Tuart Place: Sharon shares information about the conference with the support group.
VALE
Clontarf Heritage Trail Inaugural Tour
St Joey Girls Reunite
We hear the inaugural guided tour of the Clontarf Old Boys Heritage Trail on Sunday 4th October 2015 was a great success. The Heritage Trail is the result of many years’ work by a dedicated group of Old Boys and supporters. This group formed the Clontarf Old Boys Heritage Committee and set about raising funds and planning various projects at the Clontarf site. Money was raised by operating a raffle stall at the Farmers Markets held at Clontarf on Saturday mornings. Yvonne, the former Committee Secretary, dedicated her considerable expertise to creating a great booklet called ‘Pathway to Clontarf Memories’. The booklet is a guide to the Heritage Trail and provides a brief history of each area marked with a plaque. Clontarf Orphanage was a childhood home to a number of Committee members, who were determined to create a lasting record of its unique history. The Committee negotiated with the Indigenous Land Corporation, the Christian Brothers, and other stakeholders to plan and establish the Heritage Trail. Congratulations to all on this huge achievement.
Thanks to Ann McVeigh for this great photo of the reunion of St Joey Girls at Rita’s house on 29th November 2015.
Job Swap: Gaining New Perspectives Government Funding and Contracting representatives Phil Heise and Avril Hughes had a new experience when they spent the day at Tuart Place on a Staff Exchange Program designed to improve relationships between government and the not-for-profit sector in order to deliver better services to the community. Phil and Avril were warmly welcomed by participants who spent time talking to them about their personal experiences and about what happens at Tuart Place. Our visitors also talked to staff and volunteers and met with Susy Vaughan and our former DCP Contract
Manager, Liz Brown who is a great supporter of Tuart Place. After their visit Phil and Avril wrote to thank everyone, saying: ‘Thanks for allowing us to come in and see the great work that everyone at Tuart Place does. The environment was very warm and inviting...It was great to get out from behind our desks to see the hard work and dedication that goes into your days, and the benefits that the participants receive’. Susy went for a reciprocal visit to the Department of Finance, where she met with key staff and gave a onehour presentation about Tuart Place to 12 members of the FaCS team.
Liz Brown, Avril Hughes & Phil Heise
Both visits were written up in a comprehensive and very favourable report prepared by Avril and Phil in October. Contact us if you’d like to see a copy.
Can you help? To donate to Tuart Place:
diane. 5
2015 Annual Picnic at Waterford The weather was glorious, the snaggers were sizzling, and there was a big, happy crowd of people at the annual picnic at Waterford in November. It was the tenth end-of-year gathering and coincided with the sixth anniversary of the National Apology to Forgotten Australians and Former Child Migrants. Maureen’s raffle was bigger than ever – there were loads of prizes, and it raised over $500 for the Social Activities Group. John R excelled in the role of raffle-caller. Thanks to everyone who helped make the day such a success – the sausage sizzle team were in fine
form and everyone pitched in to help pack up at the end of the day. We missed Dennis McNerney this year – Dennis and his wife Nicky were in the UK getting to know their new grandson Leo, then spent Christmas and New Year in France with Nicky’s mother. Thanks Dennis for once again
Dennis sent his “Greetings with best wishes to all from wet/foggy Prior’s Hall Park, Weldon UK, home of our son Daniel, his wife Janka and their 8-month-old son Leo, our grandson” Nicky and Dennis McNerney get acquainted with their adorable grandson Leo
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making all the arrangements for the event. The 2016 annual picnic will be scheduled for November, and invitations will be posted prior to the event. Please let Vicky know if you would like to go on the invitation mailing list.
Paddy Monaghan - ‘The Long Journey: A True Story’ The title of Paddy Monaghan’s book is very apt - he is living a long life and his story is a real journey, full of twists and turns, from one end of the world to the other. His story is haunted by the loneliness of not knowing parents or coming from a family. When aged 18 and working on a northern station, an elderly Aboriginal man comforted Paddy with the words, ‘Don’t worry son, everyone has a mother and that includes you’, words he held onto. But it was to be nearly another 50 years before Paddy was handed a letter written in 1937 by his mother Bridget Monaghan to the Sisters of Nazareth, giving permission for them to take charge of her baby Patrick Joseph. We are shown a photo of this letter at the start of Chapter One, putting in place the first step on his journey. Paddy’s vibrant writing takes us into all his different worlds so we can experience them too: the young boy in the Irish orphanages ... a child migrant in 1947 aboard the SS Asturias and then the arduous train journey north to remote Tardun ... a survivor of six years of back-breaking work and harsh realities at Tardun and Clontarf ... fisherman and family man in the Abrolhos Islands during the heyday decades for communities there...traveller to Thailand with his second wife and acceptance into a new family .. and finally, ‘private detective’ on the frustrating, but ultimately successful trail to find his family of origin in Ireland, his soul-place. Paddy writes with passion about his personal stories, but also
With fellow Old Boys at the 2015 End-of-Year Barbecue (L-R): Basil Pink, Tony Dalton, Paddy Monaghan, Brian Tennant
Can you help?
A Book Review by Jan Newman
Paddy Monaghan and his wife Jackie (in red) with Paddy’s long lost family members in Belleek, County Fermanagh. The relatives are (L-R): Maggie Lawne, Fiona O’Connor-Surmel & Theresa O’Connor
gives them a wider context, such as in Chapter Five when he summarises the history and issues surrounding the child migrant movement. At the start of the book, Paddy reflects on his early childhood in Ireland: ‘Throughout all the years I was kept at the orphanage, I only remember receiving one visitor, and even that social call is fairly vague. A woman, dressed entirely in black, claiming to be my auntie, came to see me and on leaving, said she would return the following week, but she never did. I can still see her sitting beside me to this day but because she was wearing a hat and veil, I have no memory of her face....perhaps the visitor was my mother but that is only speculation.’ By the end of the book, after years of painstaking detective work, that long-ago dark image of a veiled visitor has opened out into a multi-coloured reality of a large and welcoming extended family in Ireland, to add to his friends and family from his days at Clontarf, Tardun, Geraldton and the Abrolhos, Perth and Thailand. Anyone wishing to buy a copy of ‘The Long Journey’ ($25) may contact Paddy on (08) 9401 8507.
Can you help?
Can you help?
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Tuart Place Christmas Party 2015 by Susy Vaughan
More than 110 people attended a fantastic Tuart Place Christmas Party on 16th December 2015. Food, fun and festivities were the order of the day, after the formalities of welcoming Dr Robert Isaacs OAM as one of our new Patrons and awarding the inaugural Terry Humphreys Award to Paddy Cannon in recognition of his tireless work on behalf of his fellow care leavers. FACT Chairperson Ron Love was – as ever – a wonderful MC and worked hard to ensure that everyone felt welcome. External volunteers who help out at Tuart Place regularly were thanked during the formalities and given small gifts of appreciation. After a delicious lunch, Santa and his helpers handed out hampers (kindly donated by Terry Humphreys) to a string of raffle prize winners, before people sat down to catch up with friends old and new or to join in the carol singing. It was a great day, all made possible by the help and contributions of so many members of the Tuart Place
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community and supporters. (Forgive me if I’ve left anyone out - it was a busy day)! Thanks go to Marlene Jackamarra for her beautiful Acknowledgment of Country (accompanied by Robert Isaacs and Len Ogilvie), to Ann McVeigh for donating pavlovas and a cash prize for the raffle, to Anne Orifici for the beautiful handcrocheted rug, to Paddy Monaghan for his VERY generous donation to the Christmas Party and to Cevrina and Lyn for making bon-bons for ALL! To everyone who helped in the kitchen and on the BBQ: Elizabeth, Peter, Kevin, Vera, Dave, Wayne, Juliana, Lauren and Mary P. To Maria D. for greeting everyone as they arrived; to Ann and Mary M for their great work selling raffle tickets; and to Ginny and the Tuart Place Singers. A special thanks to Celia, Mia and the Notre Dame team for letting us use their kitchen and back area again. You could really feel the Christmas spirit and family atmosphere throughout the whole building!
Christmas thoughts from the Support Group with Maria DeCourcy
On the last Wednesday of 2015, Maria and other members of Susy’s Support Group developed an acronym for the word CHRISTMAS in relation to being in the Group. Maria sums up their thoughts below.
Caring: Caring for ourselves and for others around us is what we do and what we’ve learnt in the Group
Hopeful: Seeing group members who have progressed in their journey of healing gives hope to newer members
Recovery: We’re all at different stages of recovery - it might be two steps forward and one backwards but overall we’re progressing along the road to recovery Independence: We weren’t allowed much independence as children, and it’s nice to get it back now Success!
We remember to celebrate our successes and recognise the good things in our lives
Trust:
When we come through the door of Tuart Place, we know we can trust the staff and the participants
Marvellous:
It’s marvellous how we’re all accepted and blend in here despite what’s happened in our lives
Awareness:
We’ve learnt a lot from coming here, our self-awareness has grown and we make better decisions in life
Safety:
Tuart Place is a safe haven where we can tell our stories and our secrets and know we’re not judged
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Ranger Red and his Roving Australian Wildlife Display
Margaret Fleming with Frankie the tawny frogmouth owl
In September 2015, I was fortunate to be given a trip to Ireland to visit my family courtesy of the Child Migrant Trust and the British Government. The Reunification of Families was part of their apology in 2010. My brother’s youngest daughter got married on 3rd October 2015 in Armagh Cathedral. Armagh is where my family is from. I was in Ireland for a month and it was wonderful catching up with everyone. A lot of the nieces and nephews showed me their new homes. From Ireland I went and stayed at Nazareth House in London for a couple of nights (which was organised through Tuart Place). Next I headed up to Crewe, North England, to catch up with a niece and nephew and their families. My nephew’s partner is from Manchester
It was something out of the ordinary when ‘Ranger Red’ came to Tuart Place with his interactive wildlife display in October 2015. A big crowd gathered for the session, which was both entertaining and educational. Ranger Red (AKA Bradley Holland) is the son of Maureen Holland (and ‘nephew’ of Maureen B-T), and is therefore ‘one of the family’, so to speak. On his visit to Tuart Place we were introduced to Bradley’s roving wildlife family. We patted and held the various critters as we learned about
by Ron Love
Cherokee the dingo, Frankie the tawny frogmouth owl, and that cuddly python called Pamela. We also got up close and personal with a long neck turtle, a blue tongue skink and a pair of tree frogs. Something different indeed! Ranger Red is dedicated to educating the public about Australia’s unique native wildlife and is passionate about wildlife conservation. Many thanks to Ranger Bradley for bringing his roving wildlife display to Tuart Place – it was great fun and we would love you to come back for a return visit.
A trip to Ireland by Ann McVeigh
and took me to Manchester for the day. I was lucky to visit Manchester United Football Stadium. It was well worth the visit. From Crewe, I went to Cardiff in Wales to catch up with Theresa Phillips. She went to visit her brother and other relatives who live in Cardiff. We had an evening together with Theresa’s brother and his family. Whilst in Cardiff we went and had a look at Nazareth House where Theresa lived before she came to Australia in 1947. It is now used as an old people’s home. From Wales I went to Essex to stay with a cousin for a couple of days. Once again it was great to catch up
Ann and Theresa Phillips in Cardiff, Wales with everyone and to be introduced to their growing family. A new arrival due any day now to a niece who’s wedding I went to in Cyprus.
Computers with Kathy’s Team If you’d like to get more ‘tech savvy’ with your computer or mobile phone, why not call in and see Kathy and her team at our Computer Lab on a Thursday afternoon? Kathy will find you a friendly expert who can also help with things like scanning photos and documents, using Skype, printing photos taken with a phone, and many other IT and computer skills. Call Vicky at Reception to book a half-hour session on any Thursday between 12 noon Tuart Place Program Officer and 3.00pm. 10
Kathy Bel-Bachir
Make your next event unique with a visit from Ranger Red! Ranger Red brings real native wildlife to visit you. Children’s parties, corporate events, school and day care visits, shopping centres and community events. Entertaining, educational, interactive and good fun. For more information on Ranger Red (Bradley Holland) phone 0405 563 812 or visit http://www.rangerred.com.au/
Errol and Ron get aquainted with Pamela the cuddly python and friend
Ranger Red is producing a range of children’s books, based on the beloved native Australian fauna in his popular wildlife displays. The first book in the series is ‘Blossom the Ringtail Possum’. To secure your copy of Blossom, contact Ranger Red by phone or email, or on his Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/ bradley.r.holland?fref=ts
Can you help?
Seeking family of Gerry McGrath
I am searching for any relatives of Gerry McGrath. Gerry was born in Northern Ireland and was placed in Nazareth Lodge boys’ home in Belfast at an early age. He was an altar server with my dad Joe Black for many years. Recently we discovered a photograph of Gerry
and Joe Black aged 6 at Nazareth Lodge in a book soon to be published by Vincent Hunter who was 18 months older than Gerry and my dad. This photograph was taken in 1938. Gerry would have been 6 years old. My dad Joe Black is standing in the front row third from the right facing, and Gerry is standing next to him fourth from the right facing. They were best friends. My dad remembers the bus arriving to collect Gerry in 1947. He told me that he wanted to get on it. Gerry was 14 when he left Nazareth Lodge. He left Southampton on the SS Asturias on 29th August 1947. When he arrived in WA he was then sent to Tardun. We have no further information about him. My dad never heard or saw him again but he often mentions him. We would like to share this photograph with his family and tell them what we know of Gerry as a little boy.
Teresa Black
If you can help please contact Teresa at craigywylan@ sky.com or Jan Newman at Tuart Place. 11
Royal Commission News Tuart Place Submission on Advocacy and Support Services Tuart Place has continued its substantial contribution to the current Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse with a detailed Submission on Issues Paper 10: ‘Advocacy and Support and Therapeutic Treatment Services’. The Tuart Place Submission highlights some important therapeutic and treatment issues, and emphasises the importance of involvement by survivors in the governance of support services. With survivors comprising half its 10-member Board, Tuart Place is a role model of peer leadership and is perhaps the only Australian support service with this level of participant governance. Tuart Place’s Submission on Issues Paper 10 supports the Royal Commission’s finding that past providers should pay for support services, and its observation that it is particularly
important to some survivors that support is ‘funded by the institutions responsible for the abuse’. Tuart Place also leads the way in this regard and, in addition to its State Government grants, the organisation has so far received unconditional donations from major past providers such as the Christian Brothers, the Sisters of Mercy and the Sisters of Nazareth. Our participants say they would also like to see other past providers paying for services, and for the Federal Government to support their service by making an appropriate financial contribution to Tuart Place. Thank you to editor and proof reader Eris Harrison for her work on the Tuart Place Submission, which will be published on the Royal Commission website at: http://www. childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/submissions/2875/ issues-paper-10
Understanding the long term impacts of out-of-home care The LOFA (Long term Outcomes for ‘Forgotten Australians’) project is a national study seeking to improve our understanding of long-term outcomes for people who were in out-of-home care during childhood, including former child migrants and Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australian-born people who grew up in institutional Homes and foster care. LOFA Researcher Dr Hazel Blunden visited WA in September last year and interviewed 24 care leavers. Tuart Place played a central role in connecting WA care leavers with the research project during Hazel’s visit, and ensured that the
Northern Ireland Abuse Inquiry seeks input on Redress
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The current Northern Ireland Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry (HIAI) has followed a similar timeline to the Australian Royal Commission, and is still on track to deliver its final report in January next year. Of the 524 applications received by the Inquiry, 65 were from people who had lived in orphanages in Northern Ireland and were sent to Australia as child migrants. In November 2015 the HIAI circulated a questionnaire to applicants seeking input on the issues of financial compensation and other forms of redress. Inquiry Chairman Sir Anthony Hart has announced that no one will be excluded from any redress scheme to which they may otherwise have been entitled simply because they did not give evidence to the Inquiry or complete the questionnaire. The Tuart Place Report on the impacts and outcomes of child migration from Northern Ireland is available on our website at: http://www.tuartplace.org/ index.php/northern-ireland-inquiry
voices of Aboriginal people and former child migrants were well-represented. While she was in Perth Hazel also conducted interviews with care leavers at Lanterns House, and made one home visit. Hazel recently sent us the following update on Dr Hazel Blunden progress with the study: What has been found? The average period spent in out-of-home-care was 8½ years. Most care leavers interviewed in this study left care at age 15, with little to no support. Most have had overwhelmingly negative (with a small minority of positive) experiences while in care. Only 16% had some level of satisfaction with the care they received (but of these, only 2% reported being ‘very satisfied’). • It was found that half of all persons (50%) had suffered physical abuse from adults, about a third (34%) had suffered sexual abuse, and over half (54%) suffered emotional abuse. Emerging themes: what needs to change? Some key areas for change identified by research participants include: • Recognition on Government forms – special status for people who have been in institutions • Affordable access to dentists and specialists • Access to aged care living options that are not another ‘institution’. • Redress/compensation schemes in all States and Territories What’s next? In 2016 the LOFA project findings will be collated and the final report prepared. The researchers are hoping that the study will provide strong evidence to argue for better services for adults who experienced institutional and foster care during childhood, and help improve current out-of-home care practices.
Michael Bowman Commemoration 2015 There was a solemn and heartfelt commemoration of Michael Bowman’s life on 15th December 2015. About twenty ‘Clonny Old Boys’, families and friends gathered for the ‘Laying of the Wreath’ ceremony, followed by a minute’s silence for Michael, and for the boys who were tragically injured and traumatised in the 1955 Clontarf bus accident. Some of those present had spent time with Michael at Clontarf. The late David Crisp, who passed away last year, was a close friend of Michael and set up a monument at Serpentine, near to where 12-year-old Michael’s short life was ended by that tragic accident on 15th December 1955. At the 2015 commemoration, Paul Irvine laid a new wreath marking the 60th anniversary of Michael’s death. After a memorable ceremony led by Mike Hogan, the group gathered for lunch in the modern Clontarf dining area, followed by an informative tour of one of the new
by Ron Love
school buildings for Aboriginal children and young people. All Clontarf Old Boys are welcome with friends and family to join this commemoration ceremony at 11am on 15th December each year. Thank you to all who support this important annual tradition.
Melbourne Calling:
A message from Carole
On 29th October last year, John Conkie (now Glynn), and myself had the absolute privilege of visiting Tuart Place in Fremantle. From the time we walked through the door we felt a very warm and friendly atmosphere, and we were made to feel most welcome. It was great chatting with Ron and the team, and when we were invited back to the sing-a-long and lunch next Monday, of course we were eager to go. What a GREAT and FANTASTIC time we had there. Ron, you and the team are doing an absolutely fabulous job there, and John and I are happy to now be a part of it all. We would not have missed this opportunity for the world. Many thanks to you all for making us so welcome, and to those of you who shared your stories with us. These stories will remain in our minds and hearts forever. Re-tracing John’s steps from 1952, from Clontarf to Castledare and on to Bindoon have been very good for him, and very emotional. The highlight for John was Peter Bent walking up to him after over 60 years and saying ‘I remember you’ this is something John has needed. What a wonderful family for us to belong to.
LOFA Survey: It’s not too late to have your
We all have a story to tell and we all have a voice. Now everything is out in the open, it can’t take away the past, but it can make a difference to our present and to future generations to come. If anyone wishes to keep in touch with us, John’s email address is jborthwick44@gmail.com and mine is vidlady70@gmail.com - we would love to hear from you. KEEP UP THE WONDERFUL WORK EVERYONE and love and hugs to you all. Thank you everyone for allowing us into your world and making us ‘one of the family’. Carole. say!
It’s not too late to take part in the LOFA survey. If you have not yet participated, the survey is available online at www.forgottenaustralians. unsw.edu.au, or call (02) 9385-1516 and one of the researchers will assist you by phone.
Thanks to Ron Love for sharing this email, and thanks Carole for the great photo collage of your visit to WA. 13
Free skin checks by an old friend by Gordon Grant Renowned West Australian plastic reconstructive surgeon, Professor Robert Pearce provided a very successful free skin check service to 17 Tuart Place participants in October 2015. Robert’s warm and down-to-earth approach put everyone at ease. The outcome of his visit was that five people were recommended for further tests at his surgery, free of charge. One of the participants tested was 81-year-old Gordon Grant, who thought Mr Pearce’s face was familiar when he saw him here and later realised that he had been a former patient of his a few years ago. A skin tissue sample was removed from Gordon’s left arm and sent for biopsy tests. Fortunately, the results proved benign of cancer; to the relief of Gordon.
Maria, Scotty, Robert and Errol at Tuart Place
Gordon (on left) with Dr Robert Pearce and Dr Pearce’s camera collection Coincidentally, both Professor Robert Pearce (COL. Retired) and Gordon Grant spent many years serving in the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps. In recognition of their dedication to Service men and women with medical/health problems in overseas active combat war zones, both men had been honoured for their actions in saving the lives of military service personnel. This photo was taken at Professor Pearce’s surgery in Nedlands. The good looking younger guy wearing a tie is the renowned Perth plastic surgeon Robert Pearce and the older guy is a former patient and British child migrant, (Muggins) Gordon Grant Robert said he’d be happy to come back if we have other people interested in this service, so let Vicky know if you’d like a skin check.
A pleasure to meet you John It was a real privilege to meet with John H at Tuart Place in October 2015. John was introduced to the Tuart Place family recently by Paddy, a person who works long and hard to assist Forgotten Australians and their family when in need. Paddy met with John, a Bindoon Old Boy, and informed him about the great successes Tuart Place has had in assisting people who were in out-of-home care during childhood. John was welcomed by all when he arrived at Tuart Place – he joined in the singalong and stayed on for the Big Monday lunch. Like many of our visitors, John commented on the friendly family atmosphere at Tuart Place. After John’s first visit I emailed him to request some background information for an item in The Gazette, to which John replied: Hi Ron, I really enjoyed my recent visit. My home town is east of Perth. I am the President of the local seniors group (Qarras), a Leader of the Stay Active Group (exercise for seniors), Committee member and relief driver of St John’s Ambulance Sub Centre (member for 44 years), Committee member of 14
by Ron Love
the local Agricultural Society, member of the Nature Reserve Committee and am involved with Meals on Wheels. I really enjoy the opportunity to contribute to my community since retiring about ten years ago and hope to continue doing so for some years to come. Thanks again to all for making me so welcome. Kind regards, John.
L-R: Ron, John, Maureen, Gordon and Paddy
OKLAHOMA! A Review by Sharon Thompson Well, what a magnificent rendition of Oklahoma! a LIVE show - not the movies or DVD! My day started with a drive to the train station and an uneventful trip to Perth. A change of solitude happened as Julie was catching the same train from Perth. We arrived at Subiaco and made our way down towards the Dome (where the others would be if we got there earlier than the start of the show). We didn’t make it to the Dome straight away as GSI was next door and Julie and I both like treasure hunting! A few bargains were found and then it was off to the dome for a great coffee. We met some of our group at the Dome - Errol, Paddy, Joy, Cevrina, Kevin and Ann. As we left the Dome, Sylvia was walking towards the Regal Theatre and John and Epe were already at the theatre. With tickets in hand, we lined up to find our seats (Sue, Maureen and her friend were already seated). The show began with various songs being played and I could hear
people singing the well-known words. The story line between the ‘farmer’ and the ‘cowman’, (and the city girl who fell in love), a death and the happy ending with both ‘groups’ coming together without conflict ended the show. Throughout the show, the dancing, singing and acting were superb. The much remembered songs were also sung by the audience and
At the show! I am sure my feet were not the only ones tapping in time with the music. Although beautifully played, I did miss seeing the ‘surry with the fringe on the
top’! A short walk back to the train station, in the company of Tuart Place participants saw a very enjoyable afternoon coming to a close. Off the train and driving home I continued to reminisce with songs playing in my head. I arrived home and was brought back to reality very rapidly by Jess barking her greeting (very loudly). Time to feed the cat and dog! (Maybe if I brought the vinyl out of the box, I can relive the pleasant memory of OKLAHOMA - transporting me back to the colours and atmosphere of the live show!) Sharon
4th Annual Kailis Lunch
Thank you to our Volunteers A special thank you to our external volunteers, who help out at Tuart Place regularly: • Genealogists Marilyn Dimond and Lesley Silvester have been coming to Tuart Place for several years to help people with family tracing. • Psychotherapist Gordon Paton has run a number of workshops and provided many hours of counselling. • Lawyer Gary Dean has provided monthly free legal advice sessions since March 2015 • Emily Creegan and Juliana Zamudio have helped people with their IT and computer skills • Hairdresser Jacqi May comes in regularly to give haircuts to some of our male participants • Film maker Linda Blagg has made two films using participant photos of Xmas in July and Moore River • Retired lawyer Michael Cockram has provided legal signposting (and is a great addition to the Monday singing group). As this newsletter goes to print, Michael is about to present the first workshop in the ‘Helping Others, Helping Ourselves’ series.
Congratulations to Ron and team on another great celebration at Kailis Restaurant on the waterfront at Fremantle Fisherman’s Harbour. The lunch on 2nd December 2015 was the fourth such occasion funded by the winnings of Ron Love’s Tuart Place Lotto Group. The ‘Secret Santa’ gift-giving adds another element of fun to this great annual event, and a lovely time was had by all. Dave Moir (in photo, on right) had a winning smile at this year’s Kailis lunch. You may recall Dave’s article about the Oral Health Centre in the last Tuart Times. Looking good Dave!
Tom and Dave at the 2015 Kailis lunch
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The 2015 Terry Humphreys Award Heartiest congratulations to Patrick (Paddy) Cannon on receiving the inaugural Terry Humphreys Award. The Award was established by Terry in 2015 to honour ‘a person who has made a major contribution to Tuart Place’. Each year’s recipient receives a framed Award Certificate and a $250 cash prize. Terry agreed that Paddy Cannon would be an ideal winner of the 2015 Award because of his tireless work on behalf of all care leavers. Patrick (Paddy) Cannon is a Former Child Migrant and ex-resident of Bindoon and Clontarf Boys Town. He was a close friend and colleague of Terry’s late brother, Laurie Humphreys JP, the founder of Forgotten Australians Coming Together (FACT) and Tuart Place. Paddy was a founding member of FACT Inc, well before its incorporation in 2009. Paddy has contributed to the Australian Senate inquiries on institutional and out-of-home care and was invited to attend the opening of the Child Migration exhibition in Sydney in 2011.
As an advocate for exresidents of former Children’s Homes in WA, Paddy has actively campaigned on a variety of issues such as the State Government Funeral Payment and Redress WA. He was instrumental in securing an Irish Government Heritage Grant, which was used to establish a commemorative memorial to Irish Child Migrants at Clontarf. Terry Humphreys Paddy is a tireless supporter and friend to Forgotten Australians and Former Child Migrants who are experiencing hardship and illhealth, both in the metro area and rural and remote areas of Australia. He also looks out for the widows and former partners of those who are sadly no longer with us. Paddy is a regular guest on the Sunday morning radio program Macca’s ‘Australia All Over’ on ABC local, where he never misses an opportunity to spread the word about Tuart Place. Congratulations Paddy, and thanks for all you do. We would also like to thank Terry Humphreys for establishing this Award and allowing us to name it after him. We know that Laurie would be absolutely delighted.
FACT Board members in 2011. L-R: Steve Bowman, Laurie Humphreys, Paddy Cannon & Eddie Cogan Patrick Cannon
Where is Tuart Place?
Tuart Place is located in the old Cleo’s Hotel at 24 High Street, in the West End of Fremantle, near the historic Roundhouse. There is no on-site parking, so some of our visitors park at South Beach and catch the Blue Central Area Transit (CAT) Bus, which stops close by in Phillimore Street, just after Cliff Street. If you are travelling on foot from Fremantle Train Station, Tuart Place is a five minute walk.
Our Eco Policy The Tuart Times is published by PK Print, a West Australian company certified by the Sustainable Green Print and Green Stamp Programs. These programs assist the printing industry to reduce waste and increase recycling. PK Print is certified for Level 2 in both Programs.
Counselling with Gordon Paton We are very fortunate to have psychotherapist Gordon Paton on board at Tuart Place. Gordon is a highly experienced psychotherapist, group facilitator and counsellor, and recently retired from the Harry Hunter Drug & Alcohol Residential Rehabilitation Centre, where he worked for 14 years. Gordon also has qualifications in Organisational and Clinical Transactional Analysis. Gordon volunteers his time at Tuart Place and is available for individual counselling sessions on Mondays. He also runs workshops and training sessions. To book an appointment with Gordon contact Vicky at Reception.