VALE notices

TOBA extends condolences to the families of Tardun old boys who have passed away. • Alfred Spiteri • Tom (Ray) Haydon

Terence (Terry) Humphreys 19-7-37 – 2-10-20

Terry Humphreys was born in Winchester, England. He arrived in Australia as a child migrant when he was ten years old, and was sent to Bindoon. Terry was well known and loved by the people of Tuart Place. His old friend Paddy Cannon writes:

“I feel like I’ve lost a brother in Terry. Terry and his older brother Laurie were in Bindoon Boys Town with me in 1947. We were like family in those days. I thank the late Laurie and Terry who came to my aid in 1948 when as a skinny boy I was being bullied by the bigger boys. Laurie and Terry gave me great joy and helped me to get on with my life. Bless you Laurie and Terry”.

Norma Yarran (nee Walley) 19-10-51 – 10-10-20

Norma was born in Goomalling and her early childhood was spent on the Goomalling Reserve. Norma was a member of the Stolen Generations and was taken to New Norcia Mission alongside her siblings and cousins. As the eldest, Norma always had a caring and loving nature towards others. She was a cherished grandma, aunt, niece, and friend to many.

Our sincere condolences to David Walley on the loss of his sister Norma Rose, and to the Walley and Yarran families.

Marie Thorne was a respected Noongar Elder who raised seven children of her own and fostered 12 others. Marie, a resident of Hilton for around 30 years, passed away in September 2020, aged 85. Marie was a long-term member of Fremantle council’s Aboriginal Reference Group and Walyalup Reconciliation Group, and won the Fremantle Heritage Award for her tireless work within her community, securing emergency accommodation and shelter for homeless and other vulnerable people. The late Marie Thorne was awarded the inaugural Sealin Garlett Award for Community Leadership in November 2020. Marie passed away without knowing she had been nominated for the Award, which was presented posthumously, and was accepted by Marie’s son Fred Penny and granddaughter Vernadine Lee Penny. In presenting the Award, Fremantle Mayor Brad Pettitt said that Marie’s gentle nature belied her determination, and that she had dedicated her life to improving the life of anyone experiencing disadvantage. “Marie took her duty of care for her extended family extremely seriously and her generosity and kindness led her to accept any and all requests for help without regard to her own circumstances”. Rest in Peace Marie.

Dawn Wood (nee Nybo) 29-9-50 – 22-10-20

Dawn Wood (nee Nybo) was born in Bunbury, and was one of ten children. At the age of nine, Dawn was placed at the Salvation Army Girls Home in Cottesloe, where she remained for seven years. In her later years, Dawn lived with her beloved husband Simon in Donnybrook WA. Sincere condolences to Simon, Brendan and Natalie, and Dawn’s sister Barbara Jean.

A tribute to Marie Thorne

Remembering Michael Bowman

Each year a group of Clontarf Old

Boys gathers to pay their respects to Michael Bowman, who lost his life at the age of 12 in a bus crash in Serpentine on 15th December 1955. Michael was born in Sussex England in 1943, and was sent to Australia as a child migrant when he was eight years old. Michael was placed at Castledare, where he lived for two years before being transferred to Clontarf Boys Town.

The 1955 Clontarf bus crash remains a traumatic memory for those who were on the bus the day it collided with another vehicle on the South Western Highway. Many of the 53 children aboard sustained serious injuries and trauma, while tragically young Michael lost his life. Across the years, a group of Clonnie Boys has determinedly kept Michael’s memory alive. They have arranged for the installation of plaques, and ongoing restoration of Michael’s gravesite at Clontarf and memorial at Serpentine, which is listed on the Monument Australia website: https://monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/ people/tragedy/display/61129-michael-bowman Thank you to Mike Carroll and Dennis McNerney for providing this photo of the group who attended the 2020 Michael Bowman Commemoration, held at Clontarf on 15th December last year.

Funding and donations

Since it was formally launched in 2012, Tuart Place has received its core operational funding from the State Government, and continues to receive essential financial support from the WA Department of Communities. Equally important to the continuing operation of Tuart Place are the unconditional donations received from non-government organisations that formerly provided institutional care to children. In addition to State Government grants, Tuart Place receives unconditional financial contributions from Catholic past providers the Christian Brothers, the Sisters of Mercy and the Sisters of Nazareth, and from other non-government past providers of institutional care in Western Australia. Financial support from all past providers is greatly appreciated by the people of Tuart Place, and is consistent with the Healing and Reconciliation agenda initiated by Tuart Place participants. The importance of past providers funding support services has been widely acknowledged. For example, in its Report on Redress and Civil Litigation, the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse noted that it is especially important for some survivors that support is ‘funded by the institutions responsible for the abuse’. In addition to organisational donations, Tuart Place also receives donations from care leavers and from members of the general public. Some care leavers make donations to Tuart Place as a way of ‘giving back’ to the organisation, and supporting our common goal of Growing Strong Together.

To donate to Tuart Place

As a Public Benevolent Institution with Gift Deductible Recipient status, donations to Tuart Place are tax deductible. Donations can be made via PayPal on the Tuart Place website; by cheque, or Electronic Funds Transfer. Account name: Forgotten Australians Coming Together Inc

Bank: Commonwealth Bank

Branch: Fremantle WA

BSB number: 066-107

Account number: 1048-4327