The Tuart Times Issue 18, August 2019

The

Tuart Times

ISSUE 18: AUGUST 2019 ISSN: 2204-7646

New award for Redress Stadium

Perth’s magnificent Redress Stadium has been voted the Most beautiful sporting facility in the world, beating five other world-class arenas – including ones in New York and China – to win an international award for architecture and design.

Announced on 18 July 2019, the ‘Prix Versailles for Sports’ award is the latest in a series of prizes won by Perth’s premiere sporting venue, known as Redress Stadium to thousands of survivors of institutional abuse.

The stadium has a special significance to people who took part in the Redress WA scheme, who saw their abuse payments halved just before construction of the billion-dollar arena was announced.

Redress applicants were told at the time that the State Government did not have enough money to honour the promised payment levels, and had no choice but to cut them in half.

Many were sceptical of this claim, especially given the public fanfare surrounding the announcement of the new stadium, which was in full swing at the same time as applicants were receiving their drastically reduced payouts.

The devaluation of Redress WA is widely recognised as a major betrayal

of trust because it occurred after all 5,500 applicants had already fulfilled their obligations to the scheme.

Survivors had engaged in the process under specific terms; they had met the requirements of the scheme by disclosing and documenting their childhood abuse; and then the goal posts were moved. Literally.

It’s been ten long years since the goal posts moved, and life hasn’t got any easier for the survivors of Redress WA. A string of high-profile Inquiries and a Royal Commission ensured they wouldn’t forget what happened in 2009.

That and the new stadium winning awards…

Some had hoped that National Redress might undo some of the damage, but as it turns out, only fifty percent of Redress WA survivors can apply for the new sex-abuse-only scheme.

Those who are still alive have learned to live with the pain and found different ways of coping. One way has been to speak out about what happened and continue to fight for justice through the Make Redress Right campaign.

Some say it helps them feel less like a victim of this scheme.

Survivors of Redress WA have also come up with creative ideas for sharing in the good fortune of Redress Stadium.

We share some of our favourites on page 2.

We hope you enjoy this issue of The Tuart Times – it is a mixture of news and stories involving people who share the experience of having been in outof-home care. It’s the glue that binds us together and it’s the great strength of Tuart Place – supporting one another and Growing Strong Together.

In this edition: 2 : Make Redress Right 3 : National Redress Scheme funding scandal 4 : Aged care education 5 : knowmore’s new Perth office 6 : Reconciliation Week 2019 8 : Discussions on redress 10 : News for former child migrants 13 : COBHC update 14 : Social Activities Group news 16 : FACT Inc Board news 18-19 : What’s on at Tuart Place 20 : Tuart Place contact details

Creative ideas for sharing the joy (and profits) of Redress Stadium Survivors of the Redress WA scheme have a special connection to Perth’s Stadium and for some there is a sense of ‘ownership’ in this magnificent structure.

Redress WA survivors are aware that it would have cost the Government approximately $80 million to honour their promised payments, which translates to a one-twentieth stake in the $1.6 billion stadium. That’s a lot of free passes!

With the recent prize awarded to the stadium in recognition of its qualities of “innovation and creativity”, and “values of social interaction and participation”, Redress survivors have put their heads together and come up with some creative ways of recognising their contribution, and of sharing in some of the huge benefits Redress stadium brings to our State.

Some of their winning ideas are shown on the right.

As you’ll see, some are more serious than others, but it’s always fun to dream!

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No thongs allowed

BEST IDEAS SO FAR: • A ‘Redress WA’ football scholarship for promising young Aboriginal players • Use the money from ticket sales to top up our redress payments • A rolling screen with the names of Redress WA victims who have died waiting for justice • Most of us are elderly and have trouble getting around – I need help with transport.

• They could name one of the AFL rounds the ‘Redress WA Round’ • Premium tickets to big events • We should have a statue out the front, next to Nicky Winmar • I’d like priority seating in a special lounge. It could be called the ‘Colin Barnett Apology Lounge’

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Phone Outreach Service

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Over 40 people are receiving phone have no-one to talk to. It gives me the counselling and/or support from the Tuart chance to talk about my health, life Place Phone Outreach Service. experiences and any concerns I have”.

The service was set up two years

Catherine Carr is the ago to provide better support to people latest addition to our team of Phone who can’t easily get to Fremantle to access Outreach volunteers.

Catherine’s face-to-face assistance. warm, friendly manner and great

People who use the service listening skills quickly put people at regularly say that having this connection ease and feeling comfortable to chat. makes them feel less isolated.

Catherine was born

Peter L said “I can’t travel in Ireland and worked as a registered to Tuart Place as my health isn’t so good, psychiatric nurse for 18 years before but the phone call is as good as a face to managing a family construction face chat. It helps me to stay in touch with business. everyone”.

Catherine has since Phone Outreach Volunteer

The service is coordinated by achieved counselling qualifications and Catherine Carr Sarah Regan (Counsellor) and Susy experience in the area of alcohol and other Vaughan (Senior Therapist) and calls are made by trained drugs and is currently volunteering at Palmerston House and qualified volunteer counsellors. in Fremantle as well as with Tuart Place.

Katherine W said “I can speak to someone who If you’re interested in receiving regular calls from understands what I have been through and who is non- our Phone Outreach volunteers, contact Susy or Sarah judgmental”. on (08) 6140 2380.

Ian G said “I’m at home due to health issues and

National Redress Scheme: FUNDING SCANDAL Still no federal support for key WA agency Survivors of institutional abuse are outraged by the Federal Government’s refusal to pay for work carried out by a key service in WA supporting people engaging with the National Redress Scheme.

As WA’s longest-standing service for abuse survivors, Tuart Place has been swamped with requests for assistance with the new scheme. Many of those seeking help are former clients who were supported during earlier schemes such as Redress WA and Towards Healing, with documentation dating back as far as the late 1990s.

Survivors are wanting access to important evidence and historical documents held by the agency, from staff with whom they have developed solid relationships and trust.

Tuart Place Director Dr Philippa White said that the Federal Government’s response to this issue is “the opposite of trauma-informed”.

“The last thing survivors need is to be forced to re-tell their personal account of abuse to strangers at an unfamiliar agency”, she said.

Dr White said that Tuart Place has no choice but to continue the battle for appropriate funding of its work, and that survivors seeking help from the agency would never be

turned away.

Mr Dale Lynch, Vice Chairperson of Forgotten Australians Coming Together (FACT) and a survivor of institutional abuse, says he is appalled at the Government’s refusal to fund the highly-skilled agency, which has an award winning model of service delivery, and is governed by a survivor-led Board of Governance.

“It is outrageous that the Department of Social Services continues to insist that it knows what’s best for us.

It’s treating us in the same way we were treated as children”.

Mr Lynch said the Government’s failure to fund the agency’s work is also contrary to the Royal Commission’s recommendations and urges survivors to contact their local Federal Member to complain.

Contact Tuart Place at admin@tuartplace.org, or Dale Lynch on 0447-567-724 or dale.lynch8@bigpond.com if you would like to support Tuart Place’s appeal for appropriate federal funding.

National Redress Scheme: A warning to Fairbridge ex-residents Derek Smith, Vice-President of the Old Tuart Place is also seeking to have Fairbridge OFA Vice President Fairbridgians Association (WA), would declared Defunct, and a Funder of last resort like to warn ex-residents that Kingsley identified, so that full redress payments can Derek Smith Fairbridge Farm School (KFFS) has not be made to applicants as soon as possible. been declared a ‘Defunct institution’,

Tuart Place counsellor Sarah Regan and that people applying to the National said it was deeply distressing for survivors Redress Scheme are simply being told that to have their NRS applications treated in this “Fairbridge hasn’t opted in yet”. way.

Derek says this is hardly surprising,

“We have been given no time frame given that the institution ceased to exist in for action on this matter, and our only avenue 1981. of appeal is to email the DSS complaints

Fairbridge survivors are being department, which we have done. We are told that they can either accept a reduced waiting for a response”, Sarah said. redress payment, or put their application

Sarah points out that, in addition on hold ‘until Fairbridge opts in’ (mission to a wealth of documented evidence, the impossible for a Defunct institution).

Federal Government’s ‘Find & Connect’

Derek and OFA President Richard website https://www.findandconnect.gov.

Hinch, who are championing this cause on au/guide/wa/WE00072 clearly demonstrates behalf of their members, say that KFFS is a textbook case of a that there was no legacy institution for Fairbridge Farm Defunct institution, and that ‘Funder of last resort’ provisions School when it closed in 1981. should already be in place.

The Fairbridge site was purchased by Alcoa in 1983,

“Fairbridge ex-residents are receiving confusing and was leased in 1989 to Fairbridge WA Inc, which offers letters and phone calls from the NRS and are being given the tourist accommodation and activities. In 2011, the records wrong information. I’m concerned that some people might of the former KFFS were transferred to the UK Prince’s think they have to accept a reduced payment. Once they Trust, which accepted them as an act of benevolence, for accept an offer, it’s case closed – you don’t get a second the purpose of facilitating ex-residents’ access to historic chance”, Derek said. records.

OFA President Richard Hinch has raised this issue For further information, contact Derek or Richard at with the WA Premier and is awaiting a response. fairbridgewa@gmail.com 3

Community education in the aged care sector A report by Tuart Place social worker Jan Newman Getting older holds fears for many care leavers, especially the possibility of entering a residential aged care facility.

A group of people from Tuart Place and Lanterns House recently completed training designed to assist care leavers to use their personal experiences of institutional care in delivering public presentations to aged care service providers. The goal is to raise awareness of key issues that may affect older care leavers engaging with the aged care system.

The training - Advocating for our needs in residential Aged Care - was provided at Tuart Place by professional trainer and author Margo O’Byrne, a care leaver herself.

The first ‘trial run’ presentation was on 29 May 2019, when three people from Tuart Place – Cevrina Reed, Tom Connelly and Dale Lynch – and Susanne Bourke from Lanterns, each delivered a short presentation to guests invited from the aged care sector.

It was a very respectful and moving session, and the visitors were clearly affected by what they heard.

It is widely recognised that hearing from people with first-hand experience of trauma in institutional care is the most powerful way of conveying this important information to service providers.

The aged care training program developed by Margo O’Byrne makes use of the Federal Government’s information package on care leavers, which the Alliance for Forgotten Australians (AFA) was instrumental in developing https://agedcare.health.gov.au/careleavers

Continuing on from AFA’s involvement in the Aged Care Package, AFA Member Susanne Burke and AFA Board member Reg Casley will provide regular updates to the Alliance on the important work we continue to do within the aged care sector and in promoting the Aged Care Package to service providers.

Presentation to aged care service providers on 29 May 2019 (L-R): Susanne, Margo, Cevrina, Tom, Dale, Jan and Debra Magi (Case Manager, Find & Connect - Lanterns House)

Aged Care Royal Commission

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Dale Lynch is Vice-Chair of Forgotten Australians Coming Together (FACT), the governing body of Tuart Place, and a survivor of abuse in out-of-home care.

Dale is the driving force behind Tuart Place’s submission to the Aged Care Royal Commission, which he is currently preparing in collaboration with consultant and fellow care-leaver Margo O’Byrne.

Dale writes: “Survivors have a legitimate fear of going into aged care facilities. They may also find it

difficult having strangers come into their homes to provide various aged care services, and we need to take action to ensure that service providers are aware of the issues likely to affect care leavers and that workers are properly trained”.

We are keeping a close eye on the progress of the Aged Care Royal Commission, and will provide links to relevant material as it becomes available on the Commission’s website.

knowmore Legal Service re-opens Perth office knowmore is an independent legal Aboriginal engagement advisors NEW PERTH LOCATION service giving free and confidential and financial counsellors to provide legal help to survivors of abuse by coordinated support. (from 30 August 2019) providing information and advice knowmore can help clients with knowmore Legal Service about the justice and redress options possible claims under institutional Level 5, 5 Mill Street that may be available. redress schemes including the Perth WA 6000

The service was established National Redress Scheme, access to Free advice line: 1800-605-762 in 2013 to assist people who were assistance or compensation through web: www.knowmore.org.au engaging with or considering victims of crime schemes or common engaging with the Royal Commission law and civil claims, and other legal into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. issues related to abuse such as accessing records from

knowmore operates as a program of the National institutions and making complaints to police.

Association of Community Legal Centres (NACLC), and is knowmore has offices in Sydney, Melbourne, funded by the Australian Government. It also receives some Brisbane, and now Perth. The Perth office first opened in funding from the Financial Counselling Foundation.

July 2014 and closed in December 2016, after its work with

knowmore uses a multidisciplinary model to provide the Royal Commission was completed. trauma-informed, client-centered and culturally safe legal With the National Redress Scheme underway, the assistance to clients. knowmore Perth office reopened to the public in June 2019

knowmore has lawyers, social workers, counsellors, (currently in temporary accommodation).

Thanks to Greg Boland, Managing Lawyer with knowmore Perth office, for sending us the information above.

Readers may remember Greg from his previous role with Legal Aid, when he joined us in protesting the 2009 Redress WA payment cuts.

In July 2019 Greg visited Tuart Place with Nick Hudson, knowmore’s Director of Strategic Engagement, and spoke to a gathering of participants about knowmore’s current work with the National Redress Scheme.

Our photo shows Greg with Senior Therapist Susy Vaughan at Tuart Place on 22 July.

The knowmore Perth team: Standing (L to R): Ginny Rabeling (Senior Lawyer), Aline Benkendorf (Lawyer), Elvis Yarran (ATSI Engagement Advisor), Michael Martin (Regional Client Services Manager), Marque Raymond (Support Services Worker), Steven Turner (Lawyer), Sadhini Wijesiri (Paralegal) and Erin Dalton (Lawyer).

Seated (L to R): Greg Boland (Managing Lawyer), Leticia Marquez (Intake Officer), Danelle Shoulder (Office 5 Administrator), Margaret Coyne (ATSI Engagement Advisor) and Taryn Ford (Intake Officer).

Reconciliation Week 2019 Morning tea at the Maritime Museum

A report by student social worker Amaleed Al-Maliki

Fremantle Maritime Museum hosted a very successful morning tea on 30 May, as part of Reconciliation Week 2019.

Representing Tuart Place at this event were social worker Jan Newman, volunteer social worker Yoyo, and me.

The Reconciliation Week morning tea featured two very interesting speakers – Justin Martin from Djurandi Dreaming (a tour guiding and Aboriginal art company), and fifth-generation West Australian Mike Lefroy.

Both speakers told stories about the sand/ limestone bar in Fremantle that used to cross the mouth of the river, adjacent to where the Museum stands today. Their stories were told from two very different perspectives.

Justin spoke about the importance of limestone to the Whadjuk people, as a collector of fresh water and food, and also told a Dreamtime story about how the Southern Cross was formed.

Mike spoke about the sand/limestone bar in the context of his engineering ancestors – unlike the Aboriginal people, they wanted to change the landscape and his great-grandfather, engineer C.Y. O’Connor, blasted the limestone bar to make Fremantle harbour.

Mike spoke movingly about his greatgrandfather’s achievements, as well as his mental health struggles and tragic death.

The two stories were wonderful to hear from these very talented speakers and certainly captured the spirit of Reconciliation Week.

At the Maritime Museum morning tea (L-R) Amaleed, Mike Lefroy, Justin Martin, Jan and Yoyo.

Salute to service of Aboriginal veterans The military service of Aboriginal people was remembered on 29 May 2019, at the 12th State War Memorial service in Kings Park.

Services commemorating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander veterans, from the Boer War to the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iran, took place across Australia as part of Reconciliation Week.

About 500 Aboriginal people enlisted in World War I and about 3000 in World War II. Others joined up for the subsequent Korea and Vietnam conflicts, peacetime service and more recently many Aboriginal soldiers served in Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Yamaji man and Korean War veteran Len Ogilvie (91) of Innaloo, signed up after a run-in with a policeman in Mount Magnet before the 1950-1953 war on the Korean Peninsula.

“Before I joined the army, as an Aboriginal man you had no rights. In any town you went to, the police would want to know who you were,” he said.

Having experienced basic ‘equality’ in the army, when Len returned home after seven years of service he noticed some change in social attitudes.

“They’d say you have done a good job; that you’d fought for your country,” he said.

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As a child, Len lived at Moore River Mission (later known as Mogumber).

Its always a pleasure to see Len and his wife Jean when they visit Tuart Place.

Len & Jean Ogilvie at the Memorial Service

International discussions on redress Large numbers of people, both in Australia and overseas, have felt re-abused during badly designed redress schemes set up to ‘alleviate their suffering’ and, unfortunately, redress processes have considerable capacity to create injustice and inflict further harm on survivors.

To prevent this form of re-abuse, we need to examine the circumstances that prompt redress initiatives and closely analyse the processes used to deliver them.

We must also identify the elements of redress that do and don’t work, and – obviously – survivors must be involved in this process.

The redressing of institutional child abuse was a key focus of the 2019 Conference of the Society for the History of Children and Youth, held on 26-28 June at ACU North Sydney.

International academics and lawyers met with Australian scholars and care leaver advocates throughout the conference during a series of seminars.

FACT Chairperson Cevrina Reed and Tuart Place Director Dr Philippa White joined Professors Stephen Winter (Auckland University) and Kathleen Daly (Griffith University) in presenting a session called ‘Monetary redress of institutional abuse’.

As a leader in the Tuart Place community, Cevrina shared some observations on the impacts of redress processes on fellow survivors of institutional abuse, as well as her personal experience of participating in a redress scheme.

Philippa and Cevrina highlighted some avoidable problems in redress schemes, and made recommendations for better redress.

Essential elements of good redress include: timeliness, personalised individual contact with survivors, and systems that are sensitive to survivors’ need to feel heard and believed.

Congratulations to conference organiser Professor Shurlee Swain and ACU on hosting the first SHCY conference to be held in Australia. For further information, visit http://www. shcy.org/conferences/

Cevrina Reed, Shurlee Swain & Philippa White

Research spotlight on the Royal Commission Rebecca (Bec) Moran is a PhD candidate with the University of NSW and is researching personal and political dialogues on child sexual abuse.

Readers may remember Bec from her visits to Tuart Place in 2018, when she interviewed care leavers about their experiences of making a ‘victim submission’ to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

During her research Bec conducted a total of 26 interviews, seeking survivors’ views on the Royal Commission process, and the ways in which participating has affected their lives.

Bec’s preliminary findings show that people who found making a submission to be a healing experience generally felt they had been heard, believed, valued, and respected throughout the process.

Survivors who reported being retraumatised and

distressed by participating in the Royal Commission felt that the experience echoed earlier responses to disclosure, leaving them feeling unheard, disbelieved, unwelcome, and unsupported.

Bec’s research has valuable implications for services working with survivors of child sexual abuse – particularly those engaging with processes that are by their nature more challenging than the Royal Commission, such as civil claims or redress applications.

We are pleased to welcome Bec back to Tuart Place to present a summary of her research findings at 1pm on Monday 21st October.

Service providers, academics, and other agencies working with survivors of child sexual abuse are also invited to this session.

If you would like to attend, please contact Vicky on 6140-2380 or admin@tuartplace.org.

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It’s always a pleasure to welcome the delightful Prue Gregory to Tuart Place when she’s in Perth, and we were very pleased to see Prue again when she called by in March this year.

Prue, Principal Solicitor with knowmore Legal Service, provided an update on knowmore’s work supporting survivors to understand their legal rights regarding redress. knowmore provides free legal

knowmore News assistance to people taking part in the National Redress Scheme.

During her visit Prue also flagged the opening of knowmore’s Perth office, which we are pleased to say is now up and running. Details on page 5.

25 March 2019: Prue, 3rd from right, receives a warm welcome at Tuart Place

Winter Warmer 2019 We celebrated this year’s Winter Warmer on a suitably cold and blustery day in July.

Guests enjoyed an absolutely delicious roast lunch, followed by one of our mega-raffles with beautiful items made by the Krafty Ladies and two of Ian Donaldson’s very popular handmade windmills.

The third annual ‘Have a Go’ Talent Show was also a roaring success – who knew we had so many talented performers among us?!

Thanks to Mary and Ann for their great work selling raffle tickets; Vera for her excellent raffle calling; Mike Carroll for expertly MCing the talent show; and everyone who helped out on the day.

Tony Pavia and Alf Zammitt at the 2019 Winter Warmer event

All the best Fira Shafira (Fira) Jumantara was an intern with Tuart Place through UWA’s McCusker Centre for Citizenship in the second half of 2018 and also came back to volunteer with us again this year.

Fira has now completed her Master of Strategic Communication at UWA and is heading home to Indonesia. Good luck Fira! We wish you all the best in whatever you do in life and really appreciate your help at Tuart Place.

Photo (L-R): Fira with Tuart Place Receptionist Vicky Fox 8

Volunteer Appreciation Lunch

National Volunteer Week has been celebrated by Volunteering Australia for 30 years, as a way of acknowledging the generous contribution of volunteers to the community.

Tuart Place has an amazing group of more than 50 volunteers, and National Volunteer Week seemed the ideal time to say thank you.

More than 35 volunteers were able to attend our Volunteer Appreciation event on 22 May 2019, and each was presented with a certificate of appreciation, badge, and a small gift.

The brief formalities were followed by a delicious buffet lunch, with lots of fun and socialising.

Congratulations to Tuart Place Program Coordinator Jo Hocking on organising such a successful event, funded by a National Volunteer Week Grant from Volunteering WA (supported by Lotterywest).

Once again, a sincere thankyou to all our volunteers. You really do make a World of Difference.

Transactional Analysis workshop In June 2019, two participant Board members - Lyn McLaughlin and Ann McVeigh - were sponsored to attend a weekend workshop run by renowned Transactional Analyst Jan Coleman. The focus of the course was understanding relationships with self and others.

Many thanks to Lyn McLaughlin for this report:

When Susy asked me if I was interested attending this course I wasn’t at all sure, but after some thought, I figured “why not - we can never stop learning”, so I gave it a go.

After the first couple of hours with some apprehension I really started to enjoy it, also the other people in the group were warm and great to listen to and learn from. Jan Coleman, our teacher, made us all feel at ease, and she certainly knew how to make a serious course enjoyable and easy to listen to.

Other people have noticed a change in me, and while sometimes old habits re-appear, I notice what I am doing and can stop to gather my thoughts.

I must say that Jan Coleman is the world’s best teacher, and I would definitely recommend this course to others.

Ann McVeigh, Jan Coleman & Lyn McLaughlin

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A visit from Joan Kerry Joan Kerry was a very welcome visitor when she called by in April this year during a trip abroad from England with her husband Nigel.

Joan was Project Manager of the Australian Child Migrant Project and is well known to many UK former child migrants for her family tracing and reunification work.

Joan said she was really pleased to catch up with some of the people she had worked with and see how their lives have changed over the years.

Dennis McNerney is one of the many former child migrants for whom Joan located family and assisted with reunification. Dennis writes:

“I first met Joan early in 2005 at the CBERS office, which at that time was in Subiaco. Pip had just started working there, and observed my meeting with Joan.

Joan had access to my records from Father Hudson’s Homes, the former orphanage near Birmingham in England, and home to me for the first seven years of my life, before sailing to Fremantle in January 1955.

Once back in the UK, Joan worked tirelessly to locate my mother’s family (four brothers and six sisters) who I met for the first time in August 2005, when I travelled to England to celebrate my mother’s 80th birthday.

Joan has had a huge impact in my life and without Joan’s connection I would be still be experiencing the

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Survivors and advocates have successfully lobbied for improvements to proposed legislation on redress in Northern Ireland, including an increase in the minimum payment from UK£7,500 to UK£10,000.

Pressure is also building for a redress scheme to be established without further delay.

Survivors have been frustrated by a lack of progress since the NI Government collapsed in March 2017, shortly after the Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry (HIAI) published its recommendations.

In a letter of 23 July 2019, NI Secretary of State Karen Bradley advised of the UK Government’s ‘clear commitment’ to introduce redress legislation by the end of the year, should the NI Government not be restored by that time.

On 2 July 2019, an Interim Advocate for Survivors of Institutional Childhood Abuse was appointed, and will act as a ‘voice for victims and survivors’ until a statutory Commissioner is established, in line with HIAI recommendations.

We are grateful to Prof Patricia Lundy and Gerry McCann, Chair of the Rosetta Trust survivors’ group in Belfast, for keeping us informed of developments.

Although former child migrants comprised 12% of witnesses in the HIA Inquiry, they were not consulted about redress until links were established between Tuart Place and the survivor-led ‘Panel of Experts on Redress’ in Northern Ireland. Since then, former child migrants have played an active role in the ongoing consultations and surveys on redress.

‘unknown factor’.

My goal of finding family is gaining further pace with the discovery of my father’s family 12 months ago. This part of the journey has been greatly assisted by Lesley Silvester of the WA Genealogical Society.

My wife Nicky and I will be travelling to Europe in August 2019 with the specific aim of consolidating my father’s side of the family. The main highlight will be meeting my father’s daughter for the first time in Portugal”.

News from Northern Ireland

In October 2018, FACT Board member and former child migrant Ann McVeigh met with Gerry and Patricia in Belfast to receive a briefing on the proposed redress legislation, and to provide feedback from Australia.

British ex-gratia update Applications to the British Government ex-gratia scheme for former child migrants from the UK will remain open until the end of 2020.

Former child migrants from England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland who travelled unaccompanied to Australia under government schemes are eligible for the flat-rate ‘common experience’ payment of UK£20,000.

For further information, see https://www. childmigrantstrust.com/news or contact the Child Migrants Trust on Freecall 1800 040 509.

Scotland: Head and shoulders above the rest Scotland is standing head and shoulders above other payment and benefits through Future Pathways. Examples countries in their approach to redressing historic of support received so far include payment of vet bills, institutional child abuse and neglect. purchase of computers, white goods and appliances, home

The Scottish Government’s unreserved public improvements and travel vouchers to help achieve a better apology to survivors in October quality of life.

2018 was delivered alongside

Meanwhile, the Scottish news of an Advance Payment Child Abuse Inquiry (SCAI) Scheme, which opened on 29 continues to gather evidence April 2019. from witnesses and review

The scheme has a existing data and research simple application process and findings. is providing flat-rate interim

We were pleased to welcome the SCAI team back payments of UK£10,000 to to Tuart Place in March 2019 to those who were abused or conduct further private hearings neglected in care in Scotland with Scottish migrants. and who are terminally ill or

It was also nice to see aged 70 or over. A full redress Professor Andy Kendrick of scheme is expected to be in Strathclyde University at the place by March 2021.

SCAI team members (L-R) Andrea, Duncan and SHCY conference in Sydney

Additionally, a support in June 2019, where Andy Jacqui at Tuart Place in March 2019 service, Future Pathways, has gave a presentation on the been made available to Scottish survivors (including child migrants), offering a range of development and operation of the Scottish Inquiry.

You can find further information on the Inquiry, tangible and useful options – such as funding for health and Future Pathways and the Scottish Advance Payment Scheme wellbeing activities and the purchase of one-off items.

We are currently assisting Scottish former child on their respective websites, or from Tuart Place. migrants to apply for both the UK£10,000 advance

Following dad’s footsteps...

We were delighted to welcome Maxine and Greg Dyson to Tuart Place in April this year.

Maxine is the daughter of Ian ‘Scotty’ Hoban, a Scottish former child migrant who came out on the Strathnaver in 1939, and lived at Tardun and Clontarf. Scotty is now 90 years old and lives in NSW.

Maxine says her dad is very active – plays golf every Monday, is a member of the choir, curator of the church, and loves walking his fox terrier Digger. He is known as Speedy Gonzales on his gopher.

Maxine and Greg really enjoyed their visit to Tuart Place especially as it gave them a chance to talk to Clontarf Old Boys and look through photo albums. They also got up-to-date information on the various forms of assistance

Thank you Paddy Cannon!

available to Scottish former child migrants. Greg described their visit as “overwhelmingly good”.

During their visit to WA, Maxine and Greg also visited both Clontarf and Tardun. They particularly appreciated the time that caretaker Percy Faulkner spent showing them around the Tardun property.

Our photo shows Clontarf Old Boys Dennis McNerney (on left) and Kevin Collins (on right) welcoming Maxine and Greg to Tuart Place.

Thank you Paddy Cannon for your tireless work supporting survivors of past institutional care.

You began your work well before any of the services operating today, and over the years you have helped countless people in need. You are an inspiration to us all.

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A visit from Catriona Catriona Milne, Manager of the Uniting Heritage Service in Melbourne, visited Tuart Place in June this year and spent time talking with participants and staff.

During her visit Catriona gave us an update on her work in Victoria.

The Uniting Heritage Service exists to support past residents (and their families) of the former Methodist, Presbyterian and Uniting Church Children’s Homes and foster care. They provide access to records, photos and historical material, organise reunions and help to locate significant people.

The Heritage Service is undertaking projects to improve access to historic records and photographs.

For more information, visit https://www.vt.uniting. org/services/child-youth-family/unitingheritage-service/

Kevin Donaghy and Rob Eddy with Catriona at Tuart Place

Historic photo of Tally Ho Boys Village Victoria from the Uniting Heritage collection

Records from the former Pallottine Mission School at Tardun

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AIATSIS - the Australian Institute for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies - received a donation of records from the WA Pallottine Mission in 2017.

The records relate to Aboriginal language work undertaken by the Pallottines and student records from the Tardun school, run by the Mission from 1948 to 2004.

AIATSIS arranged and described the Tardun school records as a priority, in anticipation of access requests following the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

There are nearly 1600 files in this record group, containing administrative information relating to individual children who attended the school.

Anyone who attended school at the Pallottine Mission at Tardun can request a copy of their records by emailing the AIATSIS Collections Access Unit: collectionenquiry@aiatsis.gov.au .

The contents of these files are only available to the people who have records in the collection, their nominated delegate, or a family member.

General information about the collection is available at https://aiatsis.gov.au/sites/default/files/ catalogue_resources/ms_5150_tardun_web.pdf

The records donated to AIATSIS include a large number of photographs, which are currently being catalogued. AIATSIS will advise when they are available for access.

Information submitted by Fiona Blackburn, Senior Archivist, Print and Manuscript Collection, AIATSIS, Canberra, ACT.

Clontarf Old Boys Heritage Committee News The Clontarf Old Boys Heritage Committee (COBHC) was originally formed in May 2005 to maintain the history and heritage of the former Clontarf Boys Town.

The group has continued to meet since that time, and has completed a number of projects, including a heritage trail and repairs to the clock tower.

Most recently, a group of Clontarf Old Boys met on 26th June 2019, at a venue organised by Clontarf Aboriginal College, on the upper level of the main building.

The purpose of this meeting was to discuss the future of the Old Boys Heritage Trail, which was officially opened on

12th September 2012. Funds were raised for the Heritage Trail through weekly raffles held by COBHC at the Farmer’s Market on Manning, from March 2010 until May 2014.

Old Boys and their families/friends wishing to visit their boyhood days ‘Boys Town’ can arrange an appointment with Clontarf Aboriginal College by phoning (08) 9251-0666.

The Clontarf Facilities Coordinator has advised us that all Old Boys/families/friends are welcome to visit the campus.

Thanks to Dennis McNerney for this report

26 June 2019: COBHC members with Pam Hodges of Clontarf Aboriginal College

John and Jan Owen and their fantastic Kimberley Dental Team conducted another very successful clinic at Tuart Place in July 2019.

Sixteen people received treatment including an extraction, fillings, scale & clean, and referrals to other services.

Clontarf Old Boy Peter Bent said: “I was very impressed with the dental team. They squeezed me in for an appointment - thought I’d just get my teeth cleaned and checked. They discovered I needed a filling and said they could do it on the spot. It was a great service. A few people got fillings on the day.”

Kimberley Dental Team rocks!

L-R: Elizabeth, John, Dianne and Jan 13

Weekend camp at Fairbridge Pinjarra

A report by Dale Lynch Thanks to the efforts of John Ryall and SAG we had a great weekend at Fairbridge Village in May this year.

The Fairbridge Farm School was established in 1913 by Kingsley Fairbridge as a farm school for child migrant children sent out from the UK.

By the time it closed in 1981, it is believed over 3,000 children passed through the farm. The property is now owned by Alcoa but leased out and is now a home stay venue along with festivals and other events.

Fifteen of us arrived at Fairbridge on the Friday afternoon and we all stayed in one large cottage, which can sleep up to 24 people if needed.

After a great lunch some of us explored the farm while others worked getting the wood fires going before it got too cold.

The lovely Epe Ryall and a team of helpers prepared a Friday feast which we all enjoyed immensely. After the

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clean-up, most of us adjourned to the large lounge room where the wood fire was blazing and we watched the movie Bohemian Rhapsody, while others talked and played games in the dining room.

Saturday activities included a visit to Pinjarra for shopping, the tea rooms and the museum, and in the afternoon we were given a great tour of the village by Derek Smith and Graham Bennett.

Derek and Graham are former child migrants who lived at Fairbridge in the 1950’s and 60’s, and both are Committee Members of the Old Fairbridgians Association (WA).

Their stories of their childhood experiences at the farm were not only immensely informative, interesting and real, but funny and entertaining as well. They kept us thoroughly enthralled.

The weekend was a great success and I’m looking forward to our next stay there.

The photo above shows members of our group with Graham and Derek during the guided tour of Fairbridge.

May 2019 at Fairbridge House

Social Activities Group News An update from SAG Chairperson John Ryall Don’t miss our next outing on Thursday 5th September, 2019 – we’re taking a bus trip to Lake Leschenaultia for a special BBQ lunch, and calling in at the Wheelchairs for Kids workshop for a guided tour on the way.

Thank you all who helped make the Fairbridge weekend away in May such a resounding success – everyone had a great time. We are planning another trip in warmer weather so we can make use of the swimming pool!

SAG has a healthy bank balance, which is mostly the result of the Bunnings sausage sizzle fundraisers. The next sizzle is at Bunnings O’Connor on Saturday 14th September.

If you want to help out, please contact John Ryall on 0448-074-536 or email johnryall@iinet.net.au

The annual Have a Go Day is WA’s largest single event for the over-55s and is always a fun day out.

It is a free seniors’ event and has been run by the Seniors Recreation Council of WA since it started in 1992.

Old Fairbridgian Graham Bennett is Vice President of the Seniors Recreation Council of WA, which organises the Have a Go Day and other events.

Graham and OFA President Derek Smith

The next SAG meeting is at Tuart Place at 12.45pm on Monday 16th September, so come along as we welcome your suggestions on things you want to happen.

Remember this is your place to come and relax and enjoy what’s on offer.

Thanks to everyone who helped at the last fundraiser at Bunnings in March 2019, and many thanks to Tony Galati for continuing to donate the onions for our sausage sizzles.

welcomed members of the Tuart Place Social Activities Group to Fairbridge during their weekend stay in May, and provided a great tour of the property.

The Tuart Place Social Activities Group is planning a group outing to Have a Go Day 2019. To find out more, contact SAG Chairperson John Ryall (contact details above) or Tuart Place Program Coordinator Jo Hocking on 6140-2380.

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FACT Inc Board News Many thanks to FACT Vice Chair Dale Lynch for this great report on our Board training.

On 16 May 2019 a group of four people from Tuart Place attended On Board: Introduction to Governance, a full-day training course on good governance.

Three members of the Forgotten Australians Coming Together (FACT Inc) Board attended - Cevrina Reed (Chairperson) Lyn McLaughlin (General Member) and me (Vice Chair) - along with Philippa White (Director of Tuart Place).

The training day was facilitated by Rachel Pemberton, who is also a Fremantle City Councillor, and familiar with the work of Tuart Place.

Rachel presented the course in an easy to understand manner and was extremely knowledgeable about governance. The course was interesting and informative, and outlined the seriousness of our roles and responsibilities as Board members.

We covered all the important elements of good governance and practice, which confirmed that FACT Inc has all the necessary measures in place, and that the Board is doing an awesome job.

Areas in which we excel include risk management; strategic FACT Chairperson planning; board diversity; financial Cevrina Reed management; compliance with legal and statutory requirements; and excellent separation of operational and governance roles.

It was a great day in a pleasant learning environment, and we all increased our understanding of Board members’ roles and obligations.

Meet a Board member : Dr Katrina Stratton Dr Katrina Stratton joined the FACT Board in early 2016, bringing with her a wealth of experience and expertise. Katrina received a warm welcome when she joined us for lunch on 15 July, as part of our 2019 ‘Meet a Board Member’ series.

I came to Tuart Place as a Board member for a lot of reasons. I knew of the great work done by Tuart Place, especially its participant leadership on the Board, and in creating the activities that take place here.

I was excited to learn from Tuart Place’s model of co-design and what it might look like in the places I work. I work at Wanslea, where we are a past and current provider of out of home care (when we began in the 1940s through the Cottesloe home, then through cottages, and in the 1980s a final shift to providing foster care in the homes of carers).

So I had much to learn too - as a social worker about what it means to people to have been in care, and how we could learn from the past to ensure we provide the children we care for with what they need.

My other reasons were personal. My husband Steve spent a number of years in Fairbridge in the 1970s from the age of five. His mum was a single parent and they came from the UK on a government scheme for single parents, the idea being their children would be looked after while the parent established a home in a new country.

I lived with Steve’s care experience in lots of big and small ways. Small things, like him never being able to eat pumpkin because it was served up undercooked EVERY night at Fairbridge; to the big things I don’t need to tell you 16

At Tuart Place, 15 July 2019 (L-R) Tony Page, Katrina Stratton & Kelly Scott

about, especially forming relationships and healing with his family. Steve died in 2012 in a motorbike accident.

My Grandpa spent much of his later childhood at the New Norcia Mission; he was lucky enough to have carers with whom he spent every school holidays, and that consistency of love and care was a great protector for him (we know from research and life, the difference one secure adult in a child’s life can make).

Grandpa considered himself lucky because of that, and he and my Grandma had a loving 60-year marriage and four children.

It is my privilege to serve on the Board of Tuart Place, to honour the experience of those two wonderful men in my life, and to work with you all to contribute in some way to our goal of ‘Growing Strong Together’.

Hands for Children

Burnished: Burnside Life Stories

Turning waste into opportunity

The Hands for Children initiative collects plastic bottle caps and turns them into prosthetic hands and arms for children in need. Using 3-D printer technology, donated bottle caps are recycled into the material used to build custom-made artificial limbs.

Sue Paton, wife of Tuart Place psychotherapist Gordon, alerted us to this inspirational project. Sue coordinates the collection point for Herald Avenue Senior Citizens Club, where she is a Committee Member, and has collected 10kg so far!

Tuart Place volunteers David L and David M are coordinating our collection point, which is a white tub with a Hands for Children poster, located in the common room area.

Dave and Dave urged everyone to ‘lend a hand’ to this worthy project and bring in their recyclable plastic caps and lids. To find out more about this amazing project, visit https://envision.org.au/envision-hands/ .

Many thanks to Linda Blagg for giving Tuart Place two copies of Burnished: Burnside Life Stories, kindly donated by author Kate Shayler.

The book is a collection of life accounts written by former residents of Burnside Children’s Homes in Sydney. It contains 26 memoirs, which Kate Shayler describes as “success stories that will hopefully result in Forgotten Australians being remembered”.

Linda gave us the books as a possible source of inspiration to Tuart Place participants, who may be inspired to tell their own accounts and possibly put a book together - a history not only of yourself but of others too.

We are most grateful to Linda and Kate for these additions to our lending library.

VALE

Mary (Ellen) Circenis (nee McCloskey) 10-5-35 to 6-3-19 A farewell tribute to our dear Mary.

What a gal.

Much loved sister of Joan, Debbie and Nora (dec.) A dear and lifelong friend to Sheilagh and the Joey Girls.

Our sincere condolences to Sid and family.

VALE

Mary Mooney (Clarke) 1945 - 2019

Mary, we arrived in Australia in 1953 aboard the same ship, along with Alice McDonald, and were all sent to Nazareth House Geraldton.

Having shared part of a Big Journey, the only consolation is that you are now at peace.

Yvonne.

VALE

Alfred Flanagan 5-7-1930 to 12-4-2019 Tardun Old Boys’ Association (TOBA) extends condolences to the Flanagan family on the passing of Alf. He arrived at CBAS Farm School Tardun WA in 1939 as a child migrant from the UK. He loved the country and devoted his adult life to farming in the district.

We are indebted to the family for allowing TOBA free access to the school cemetery located on their property.

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WHAT’S ON?

REGULAR EVENTS

• Every Monday: Singing group 10.30am-12 noon & the Big Monday Lunch at noon • Every Monday: Counselling sessions available with psychotherapist Gordon Paton, by appointment • Every Monday: Computers & mobile phone help with Jo’s team 10.30am-1pm • Every Wednesday: Susy’s Support Group 10.15am-12 noon • Every Wednesday: Computers & mobile phone help with Jo’s team. From 10.30am.

• Every Thursday: Computers & mobile phone help with Jo’s team 10.30am - 12 noon • Every second Thursday: ‘Krafty Ladies’ craft session with Vera, from 11am • Every Month: Family history and tracing with WA Genealogical Society expert Dr Lesley Silvester. 12.30-4.30pm, by appointment.

Getting to know Yoyo Hello everyone, my name is Lok Yiu Lee, but you can call me Yoyo.

First of all, I would like to say that I appreciate this opportunity to share a little bit about myself.

Currently I am a graduate social worker from the University of Western Australia (UWA).

I started my volunteer work at Tuart Place in November 2018. I came here because my interest was sparked when some people from Tuart Place gave a talk to my class about their experiences as adults who had been in out-of-home care during childhood.

I have certainly developed greater skills while volunteering at Tuart Place - which will enable me to be a competent social worker to serve all of you!

You will find me in the computer room if you need any kind of mobile phone or internet assistance, or simply just come by just to say hi.

Here I am with Ian Donaldson and one of his custom-made windmills, which he kindly presented as a gift to me. Thank you Ian!

• Every 4 weeks: Free legal advice with lawyer Gary Dean. 1-4pm, by appointment.

• Every 4 weeks: Free beauty treatments with Natalia 11am - 3.30pm, by appointment.

Family tracing with Lesley Dr Lesley Silvester, our family tracing expert from the WA Genealogical Society (WAGS), visits Tuart Place each month to help people find out more about their family histories.

Lesley and her husband Mike also run ‘Time Trackers’, a busy genealogical firm that conducts family history research and specialises in British and Australian family history.

Contact Vicky at Reception to book a one-hour session with Lesley on a Monday afternoon. This service is free of charge.

Next sessions in 2019: • Monday 16 September 12.30–4.30pm • Monday 21 October 12.30–4.30pm • Monday 18 November 12.30–4.30pm

Computers: Get in the know with Jo and her team

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Program Coordinator Jo Hocking

Whatever your skill level (even if you’ve never turned on a computer before) you can get individual help.

Use the computer room, or bring in your iPad, mobile phone or digital camera and learn to browse the internet, send emails, scan photos and shop online.

Please call in to see one of Jo’s computer volunteers on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10.30am.

What’s on at Tuart Place Krafty Thursdays Every second Thursday, from 11am Feeling crafty? Why not come along and join in

the every-second-Thursday craft sessions at Tuart Place. Bring your own craft ideas or help out with team projects.

Upcoming events

Free legal advice at Tuart Place With lawyer Gary Dean, by appointment. Call Vicky to book a consultation to discuss any general legal concerns or questions. Phone consults also available.

Next sessions in 2019: • Monday 23 Sept 1–4.00pm • Monday 28 Oct 1–4.00pm • Monday 25 Nov 1–4.00pm

• • • • • • • • • • • • •

Further details in the Events Calendar

Mon 2 Sept - Meet Board Member Ann McVeigh Thurs 5 Sept - Bus trip to Lake Leschenaultia Mon 9 Sept - Dementia Aust info session Sat 14 Sept - SAG Fundraiser @ Bunnings Mon 16 Sept, 12.45pm - SAG meeting Wed 18 Sept, from 1pm - Podiatry clinic Mon 23 Sept, 1pm - Live Well Longer Mon 14 Oct - Natalie’s photos: The Middle East Mon 21 Oct, 1pm - Bec Moran research update Wed 23 Oct, 12.25pm - Visit to Roundhouse Wed 13 Nov - Have a Go Day outing (see p.15) Sun 17 Nov - End of year picnic at Waterford Mon 2 Dec - Tuart Place Christmas Party

Counselling with Gordon Paton

Gordon Paton is a highly experienced psychotherapist, group facilitator and transactional analysis counsellor, and recently retired from the Harry Hunter Drug & Alcohol Rehabilitation Centre, where he worked for 14 years.

Gordon provides counselling, free of charge, to Tuart Place participants on Mondays.

Contact Vicky for an appointment with Gordon.

Natalia Pronina is a qualified beauty therapist who volunteers at Tuart Place providing monthly beauty treatments to participants.

Treatments include: back, neck and shoulder massage, reflexology, foot massage, basic facials, eyebrow wax and tint, pedicures, and lip, chin & face waxing. Please book with Vicky.

“High Street Happenings” ‘High Street Happenings’ is a new participant-produced newsletter that is published every two months.

It’s full of interesting articles and photos of things that have happened at 24 High Street.

You can pick up a printed version at Tuart Place or contact us with your email address to receive the electronic version.

Free beauty treatments with Natalia Next sessions in 2019: • Monday 2 Sept 11am–3.30pm • Monday 7 October 11am–3.30pm • Monday 4 November 11am–3.30pm • Monday 9 December 11am–3.30pm

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To donate to Tuart Place:

Account Name: Forgotten Australians Coming Together Inc Bank: Commonwealth Bank Branch: Fremantle, WA BSB number: 066-107 Account number: 1048-4327 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 Newsletter Editor: Philippa White Newsletter enquiries/contributions: via email to admin@tuartplace.org

What happens at Tuart Place?

Tuart Place is the State funded service for former child migrants, ‘Forgotten Australians’ and members of the Stolen Generations.

Tuart Place provides individual counselling, telephone counselling, support groups, social activities, assistance with historic abuse complaints, volunteering opportunities, computer skills classes, visiting health & legal services, family tracing, assistance to access records, and help in dealing with other agencies.

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.

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.

Like us on Facebook Have you liked the Tuart Place Facebook page yet? It’s a great way to stay in touch as we post lots of photos from events and also keep you up to date with relevant issues and things that are coming up. Find us at www.facebook.com/TuartPlaceFremantle