Tuart Times Issue 20 – October 2020

The

ISSUE 20: OCTOBER 2020

Tuart Times

ISSN: 2204-7646

The start of the wildflowers near Mullewa, Western Australia Photo courtesy of Dulcie Hyde

Dulcie Hyde: Travelling the outback

Dulcie and Peter Hyde are seasoned travellers who are currently in the Leinster area of WA, doing a spot of prospecting and enjoying the wildflower season with their little dog BB La Blue (“Our little mate, who makes life worthwhile”).

Dulcie, who lived at Nazareth House Geraldton as a child, says she has always been drawn to wide-open spaces.

Dulcie says she gets plenty of visits from kangaroos and dingoes, and does beading and reading, so never gets bored.

Happy travels Dulcie and Peter, and thanks for sending us these great photos, including the one on our front cover.

2

CONTENTS 2 : Dulcie’s outback travels 3 : Word from the Director & Chair 4-5 : IT Feature - Digital technology 6 : Mogumber commemoration day 7 : Researching Aboriginal history 8-9 : Aged care matters 10-11 : National Redress Scheme 13 : Fairbridge feature 14-15 : International redress 16 : Clontarf heritage update 18 : Catching up with old friends 19: Book launch: ‘Droplip’ 20-21 : Vale notices 22 : FACT Inc Board 24 : Thank you to our volunteers 25-27 : Notices, services & events 28 : Tuart Place contact details

A word from the Director & Chair of the Board Welcome to the ‘Wildflower’ edition of The Tuart Times.

Our newsletter has a different look this time around, to reflect the fact that this year has been a very different one too.

In WA we have been fortunate, but even here the effects of the pandemic have been dramatic (although some care leavers have commented that social isolation is not a change: ‘It’s life as normal – welcome to my world’).

At Tuart Place, the main impact of COVID-19 restrictions has been the suspension of group and social I know that all of us – participants, staff, volunteers activities and the ‘drop-in’ service. and everyone who enjoys coming to Tuart Place – will

Individual clinical support and counselling has be looking forward to the drop-in centre re-opening continued, as has work on redress applications, advocacy, and social gatherings starting up again. supported access to records, and assistance with historical

The current system of individual abuse claims – both in Australia and overseas. appointments is very different to the ‘pre-COVID

In recent months we have provided both Tuart Place’ we all know and love - with its open front oral evidence and formal written submissions to a door, singing groups, and sharing of buffet lunches at parliamentary inquiry into the National Redress Scheme the Centre. and to an independent statutory review of the Scheme.

Hopefully we will be enjoying these things

Phone counselling and outreach have increased again very soon! dramatically during this time, and continue to be a large

I’d like to thank Tuart Place staff and part of our work. volunteers for continuing the important work of

The COVID crisis has highlighted the importance supporting care leavers during this very difficult time. of electronic communication, and increased the need for

Much of their work happens ‘behind the IT assistance. Information about the kinds of IT support scenes’, in areas like phone counselling, National available is provided in this newsletter.

Redress and the different international redress

At the time of writing, Tuart Place is open for preschemes, as well as helping people solve their booked individual appointments, IT assistance, and limited computer problems and to connect via Zoom, and volunteer activities on site. generally keeping in touch.

Some group activities are taking place off-site,

We really appreciate your ongoing hard work. including a very successful series of lunches at Cicerello’s in Fremantle, where there is plenty of room to spread out, and meals are served to the table.

We continue to monitor WA Government safety Cevrina Reed, Chairperson, FACT Inc. guidelines and look forward to the 2-square-metre rule being lifted so we can once again have social and group gatherings at Tuart Place.

Thank you to our July 2020: Pip at Cicerello’s with Peter and Wayne in their Tuart Place t-shirts participants, volunteers, Board members and staff for the strength and caring you have shown throughout this time.

Cevrina

Pip

Dr Philippa White, Director, Tuart Place 30 September 2020

3

Digital technology: It’s time to get on board

by Tuart Place Program & Volunteer Coordinator Jo Hocking Having to stay apart during the COVID-19 crisis has made us look for other ways to connect with people, and the demand for help with IT has increased dramatically.

When COVID struck, the wonderful team of IT volunteers at Tuart Place immediately swung into action and were there to help. Even during the time when we couldn’t have face-to-face contact, our volunteers still managed to assist people over the phone or by email.

Providing this kind of help remotely is definitely more difficult, but our volunteers rose to the challenge. I would especially like to thank Trish, Mary, David B, Hasitha, Emily, Florence and Yoyo.

There has been a lot of interest in using video technology such as Zoom, with Tuart Place volunteers assisting many people to get started with Zoom.

Jenny wanted to learn how to use Zoom on her mobile phone so she could have video-chats with her daughter and grandchildren, who live in Victoria. “I’m worried about them, and it gives me peace of mind to actually see them, not just talk on the phone”, Jenny said.

“Zoom is free so it doesn’t cost me anything either”.

4

Tuart Place now hosts regular social chats via Zoom, enabling groups of people from across Australia to stay in touch with each other. Let us know if you are interested in this!

Since COVID restrictions have eased, we have also been able to organise individual face-to-face appointments with IT volunteers at Tuart Place. These have been extremely popular and have seen people learning how to use their laptops, access websites, download photos, use email and much more.

Patrick has been coming to Tuart Place for appointments with Mary, one of our IT volunteers.

Patrick said: “It’s been very helpful and instructive. I would recommend others to make haste because it’s taken me three years to get here and I wish I’d come sooner to make the most of what’s on offer.”

We know that using IT and computers can seem a little daunting but our volunteers will take things at your own pace.

If you would like an appointment, either in person or over the phone, please contact Tuart Place.

Patrick with IT Volunteer Mary at Tuart Place

Zoom-ing in for social chats

Have you noticed that lots of people are talking about using Zoom? Why not get in the groove and join in one of these fun sessions?

After coming into Tuart Place for a Zoom chat, Maria said: “It was nice to be talking to people in other states and seeing how they are coping. I would recommend it to others. We had lots of laughs and I would like to do it again, it was really good to come in and do this.”

If you have a smartphone, tablet or computer (and an internet connection) then you can join in from home.

If you don’t, then you can book a place in our computer room at Tuart Place and join the Zoom chat from there.

If you’re not sure how to use Zoom, we will organise for an IT volunteer to give you a call and help you set things up.

Zoom is a great way to stay in contact with friends and family.

Call Vicky to book in for a small group Zoom chat, either from your home or at Tuart Place.

5

Mogumber Mission Commemoration Day Friday, 16 October 2020 - Venue in Belmont

Children at Mogumber Mission in the 1940s Photo courtesy of Len Ogilvie

A Notice from the West Australian Stolen Generations Aboriginal Corporation (trading as Yokai)

Yokai members and others with an association with the Mogumber Mission–Moore River Native Settlement are invited to join us on Commemoration Day 2020, to honour those with us, and those who have recently passed away.

Commemoration Day will also celebrate work completed on the Mogumber Mission Virtual Reality Project, and other activities such as photo sharing/scanning, morning tea, along with the Memorial Luncheon.

If you are interested in attending, please RSVP to Project Officer Annette Panaia 0428177-338 or Yokai Chairman Jim Morrison 0408917-133.

If you know of Community members with an association to Mogumber, please pass on the RSVP phone numbers above.

Ricky Michael: Its all about perspective

by Sarah Regan Artist Richard (Ricky) Michael is well known for his creative talents and has worked with a variety of media over many years.

Before the COVID-19 shutdown, Ricky often used to work on his art in the common room area at Tuart Place.

On one occasion, I noticed Ricky working on the picture below – which is his representation of an event that occurred during his childhood at Wandering Mission.

We discussed the significance of pictures, like this one, being a window into his early history and his time at Wandering.

Ricky encouraged me to contribute

6

to the picture but, lacking any artistic skills, I was very hesitant to do so!

Ricky was very patient and encouraging, and told me to “draw it like you see it in your mind”. He then took time to teach me about perspective, shading and scale.

Ricky also spent time with Tuart Place volunteers, chatting about art and inviting them to contribute to his picture.

Thank you Ricky, you are very generous in sharing your knowledge about art and make a great teacher.

Self-portrait of the Artist

Wadjemup: The land beyond the shore The Aboriginal History division (AHWA) has completed research for an historical project on Wadjemup (Rottnest) and is seeking to inform families with ancestors who were imprisoned there between 1900-1931 about the initiative.

Wadjemup has been a part of the story of Western Australia for over 30,000 years. Between 1838 and 1931, the island was used to incarcerate many Aboriginal people from across the state.

The Wadjemup project includes over 100 photographs and a comprehensive database providing a snapshot of the lives of the 386 men, three boys and one

woman who were incarcerated on the island during the final 31 years of the prison. Some information is restricted and will only be available to direct descendants.

The project will be formally launched and published in November 2020. In the meantime, updates and information will be posted on the AHWA website at https://www.dlgsc. wa.gov.au/aboriginal-history

For further information please contact Mr Duane Kelly, Research and Administration Officer, AHWA Ph: 08 9427-3473 Email: duane.kelly@dlgsc.wa.gov.au

Researching your Aboriginal family history Aboriginal History Research Services (AHRS) can help you access a variety of records relating to your family history, including government records as well as non-governmental material. Where possible a family tree of your ancestors will also be provided.

Most of the collections are state administrative records, including mission, station and personal files created by various government departments responsible for Aboriginal affairs from 1886 to 1972.

The AHRS also holds copies of photographs and genealogical recordings.

To access your records you must be of the oldest generation in your family or have the consent of the oldest living member.

Earlier this year, WA Treasurer and Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Ben Wyatt, a Yamatji man, spoke publicly about his experience of accessing family records and encouraged other West Australians to explore their Aboriginal ancestry.

After gaining access to his records, Mr Wyatt discovered that his late father, Cedric Wyatt, a prominent public servant and advocate for Aboriginal rights, had been born at the Mogumber Mission - Moore River Native Settlement, and had been forcibly removed from his family as a child in 1940.

Ben Wyatt with his father Cedric in 2009

Mr Wyatt (Snr), who died in 2014, had sought to shield his children from the pain of his early life and had never publicly claimed Moore River as his birthplace.

Ben Wyatt said that uncovering his family history had been confronting, but he believed that knowing the truth was an important step towards healing and reconciliation.

To request an application form, email ahrs@dlgsc. wa.gov.au or phone 9427-3469.

*Source: Annabel Hennessy, “Unlocking the truth for families�, The West Australian, 3-6-20, p.67.

7

Aged care matters Serious problems existing in the aged care sector have been exposed and amplified by the COVID-19 crisis, and major cracks in the system are now on public display via news media and the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.

It has long been recognised that aged care services for groups with ‘diverse needs’ – such as care leavers – require particular attention and advocacy.

There has never been a better time to progress this advocacy and shine a light on the specific challenges faced by many care leavers as they navigate the aged care maze.

Although the COVID crisis may have disrupted progress with the face-to-face community education program coordinated by Tuart Place Social Worker Jan Newman, significant activity has continued behind the scenes.

Tuart Place’s submission to the Aged Care Royal Commission has just been published on the Commission’s website, and can be downloaded at: https://agedcare.royalcommission.gov.au/media/28409

The submission, prepared by Margo O’Byrne and Dale Lynch in consultation with fellow care leavers and Tuart Place staff, powerfully conveys the lived experience of people who experienced trauma and abuse in institutional care during childhood, who now have legitimate concerns about how well they will be treated in aged care.

These concerns are not unique to WA, and are reflected in the work of other agencies and advocates across Australia, who are similarly involved with improving aged and community care options for care leavers.

Real care the Second Time Around Over 500,000 children spent their childhood in institutional and out-of-home care in the last century. These are our Forgotten Australians/Care Leavers. Many of these children were sexually, physically and emotionally abused. Their time in ‘care’ has impacted their adulthood and most suffer from PTSD and other chronic health conditions.

These now older adults, understandably, might wonder if their experiences of aged care are going to be any better than the abuse and neglect they suffered as children. Will they receive the care they need, the second time around?

The Real Care the Second Time Around booklet, produced by South Australian non-for-profit organisation Helping Hand Aged Care, is designed to help aged care providers respond and support the needs of Forgotten Australians/Care Leavers, former child migrants and members of the Stolen Generations.

The booklet was developed with a group of Forgotten Australians/Care Leavers and has been circulated widely throughout the aged care sector. It is available to download from the Helping Hand website: https://www.helpinghand.org.au/wpcontent/uploads/2019/01/PositioningStatement-Forgotten-Australians.pdf Helping Hand Program Manager, Fran Lovell and Project Officer, Meg Schwarz, who identifies as a Care Leaver, are passionate about sharing information about the project with other aged care providers.

Meg said: “So much information has come from this group to support the project to deliver its project objectives. We look forward to sharing some of the outcomes from the project in the future”.

PHOTO: Helping Hand Aged Care Program Manager, Fran Lovell, and Project Officer, Meg Schwarz.

Advocare: Power, respect and informed choice for older people

8

Advocare is an independent, community-based, not-for-profit organisation that supports and protects the rights of older people in Western Australia through information, advocacy and education.

Advocare assists older West Australians to understand their rights, to make informed choices, and to resolve any issues they have with aged and home care service provision.

A scheduled presentation by Advocare at Tuart Place earlier this year was postponed due to the COVID-19 shutdown, but Advocare’s Taryn Dallas Haynes and Tuart Place social worker Jan Newman have stayed in touch. Taryn is keen

to visit once Tuart Place is open again for group activities.

Taryn writes: Do you need support to access aged care services?

Have you tried before and have not been successful?

Do you feel overwhelmed at the thought of the aged care application process required by My Aged Care? Advocare can help.

Advocare is participating in the National Aged Care Navigation Trial to assist people aged 65+ (and Aboriginal people aged 50+) who want help to understand, choose and access aged care services.

National Roundtable on Aged and Community Care for Forgotten Australians Promoting a national discussion on improved models of aged and community care for people who were in out-of-home care during childhood Anne Livingstone has been the Projects and Development Lead for Global Community Resourcing since 2010. She has over 35 years’ experience in the primary health care and community service sector, particularly focused in community-based care.

Anne is also Convenor of a National Roundtable on aged and community care for Forgotten Australians/ Care Leavers, and recently invited Tuart Place to be part of the national discussion.

Anne writes:

Following a very successful forum on Aged and Community Care held by Wattle Place in Sydney in 2019, a group of interested individuals and organisations have been meeting to discuss and share how aged and community care can be tailored and improved, or if new models can be developed, to ensure that Forgotten Australians/Care Leavers gain better access and more appropriate services as they age.

The National Roundtable on Aged and Community Care for Forgotten Australians has recently made a submission to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Safety and Quality. A range of suggestions were put forward to promote a

new approach to delivery of services and support as Forgotten Australians/Care Leavers age and Anne Livingstone require support and assistance.

The Roundtable includes Forgotten Australians, specialist service providers, mainstream aged care providers, researchers, and individuals, all passionate to ensure that aged and community services are more individualised, responsive, tailored, and of the highest possible quality.

Tuart Place will be contributing to this Roundtable, and has introduced us to other potential contributors in WA.

The experiences and suggestions from Forgotten Australians/Care Leavers in Western Australia will be important to the considerations of this group.

For further information please contact Anne Livingstone at anne@communityresourcing.com.au

Roundtable Zoom meeting on 25-8-20

At our first video-conference meetings with the National Roundtable in August and September 2020, we got a sense of the tremendous, wide-ranging work being done by this group to advance the interests of older care leavers navigating the aged care sector.

We are certainly keen to support and contribute to their ongoing work, which has much in common with Tuart Place’s goals and objectives in regard to aged care.

We are interested in knowing what experiences care leavers have had when they have contacted My Aged Care.

I look forward to visiting and meeting everyone in person.

In the meantime, for free, confidential information and support you can contact me on 0427 732 515 or email tarynh@advocare.org.au

Taryn, Specialist Advocate 9

National Redress Scheme news National Redress: Information and help with applications If you would like to know more about the National Redress Scheme or get help completing an application form and support throughout the process, you can book a confidential appointment with Jan or Sarah at Tuart Place.

Bernie, who has applied for redress, said: “I find it really hard to know where to start with getting paperwork filled in. When I get forms to fill in, I sometimes put them away, out of sight, which also causes me to worry. I knew I could come here and get help. I sometimes find it hard to ask for things but Tuart Place knows a lot about what I went through. It has also been helpful to have someone to ring the Scheme for me, to check on how my application is progressing.”

Funder of Last Resort declared for Roelands Native Mission Farm It has been a long, hard wait for survivors seeking redress for childhood abuse at the former Roelands Native Mission Farm.

Finally, on 27 August 2020, the WA State Government was declared as the Funder of Last Resort for this long-defunct institution.

This means that National Redress applications submitted by Roelands ex-residents can now progress.

Sharon Calgaret, a well-known advocate and champion of Stolen Generations’ rights, spoke out strongly on the issue of Roelands when she took part in a videoconference interview with Robyn Kruk AO for the Second Anniversary Review of the National Scheme.

Sharon welcomed the recent announcement, saying that it had been a long time coming, and a hard wait for Roelands survivors.

The new provision applies specifically to Roelands Native Mission Farm (1938-1975) located at the Seven Hills property, and Valima Girls’ Hostel in Perth, a satellite cottage associated with the mission.

Roelands Mission closed in 1975, and a new facility, called Roelands Village, was opened on the same site by the Churches of Christ Federal Aborigines Mission Board Inc.

The more recent institution known as Roelands Village had already opted into the National Redress Scheme.

Tuart Place Social Worker Jan Newman and Sharon Calgaret in August 2020

Fairbridge survivors still waiting for National Redress

10

Survivors of abuse at the long-defunct Kingsley Fairbridge Farm School (Pinjarra WA) are still unable to access redress under the National Scheme, because a Funder of Last Resort has still not been established.

Approximately 60 applications from Fairbridge survivors have been received by the Scheme, which has been unable to process them.

This had seemed like a clear case of governmental responsibility, but in May 2020 the ‘Prince’s Trust’ charity reinstated Fairbridge as an organisation in the UK, under administrators, and announced that:

“The Prince’s Trust is providing Fairbridge (Restored) with funds, to give victims and survivors the opportunity to make claims, and it is also our hope that Fairbridge will sign up to the Australian redress scheme.”

Old Fairbridgians Association President Richard Hinch welcomed the announcement, but remains sceptical.

UK administrators for ‘Fairbridge Restored’ appeared before a public hearing of the National Redress inquiry on 28 September 2020, and identified significant barriers to the Trust’s participation in the Scheme.

They said a key problem was the incompatibility of their 12-month administrative tenure and the 10-year life of the National Redress Scheme.

Mr Hinch and Committee Chair Senator Dean Smith will continue to pursue justice for ex-residents of Kingsley Fairbridge Farm School.

Meanwhile, many elderly survivors are still waiting and hoping for a resolution to this problem. Sadly, some have passed away, or settled for a partial redress payment.

Mr Hinch points out that survivors should not be forced into such a situation, and continues to advocate strongly on this issue.

National Redress Inquiry Senator Dean Smith: Championing the cause of survivors seeking redress WA Senator Dean Smith has taken on a challenging role as Chair of a parliamentary Joint Select Committee overseeing the implementation of the National Redress Scheme.

The Senator has accepted the challenge with commitment and a passion for improving the experience of survivors seeking redress through the Scheme.

Over the last year, Senator Smith has been outspoken on key issues affecting survivors engaging with the National Scheme, and has put pressure on institutions to sign up. He has gone to particular lengths to investigate why justice is being delayed for survivors of abuse at Fairbridge Farm School WA.

The First Interim Report from Senator Smith’s committee, published well ahead of schedule in April 2020, makes 14 Recommendations for improving the National Redress Scheme.

FACT Chairperson Cevrina Reed, Tuart Place Director Dr Philippa White, and Counsellor Sarah Regan provided evidence via teleconference to a public hearing of the Joint Select Committee in April this year.

Our formal written submission to the Committee is available at aph.gov.au/DocumentStore.ashx?id=5f55c05bd6ce-4198-b852-e1f886294e09&subId=686483

The next phase of work: Second Interim Report The Joint Select Committee on Implementation of the National Redress Scheme, chaired by Senator Dean Smith, is now accepting submissions to inform its Second Interim Report.

The deadline for submissions is 30 October 2020, although the Committee will continue to consider and accept submissions after this date to inform its ongoing work.

The Committee’s inquiry is taking place at the same time as the legislated two-year anniversary review of the National Redress Scheme (see our story below), however the two processes are separate.

The Review will report to government, whereas the Committee will continue to report its ongoing work to the Parliament.

The next stage of the inquiry will focus on the following areas: • Ongoing survivor experience • Operation of the National Redress Scheme, including decision-making frameworks and processes • Provision of legal advice to survivors • Survivor and institution participation in the Scheme • Responses to the Committee’s First Interim Report.

Senator Smith said he wishes to assure survivors who contribute to the Second Interim Report that all requests for confidentiality will be respected.

For further information, phone the Committee Secretariat on (02) 6277-4549 or visit their website at: aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Joint/ National_Redress_Scheme

Second Anniversary Review of the National Redress Scheme A mandatory review of the National Redress Scheme, required by the legislation, commenced two years after the start of the Scheme.

The process is being conducted by independent reviewer Robyn Kruk AO, who has gathered input from survivors, advocates and support services via written submissions and oral evidence.

Tuart Place participants, advocates, and members of staff contributed feedback in video conference interviews during August 2020.

Tuart Place’s formal written submission, provided to the Review in September, highlights key issues arising at the service delivery level, and identifies ways in which the Scheme’s systems and processes can be improved.

Although submissions have now closed, an online feedback survey will be available throughout October.

The Review is due to report its findings in early 2021.

Further information is available at nationalredress.gov.au/ about/second-anniversary-review

Sarah Regan with Dot Bagshaw, a longstanding advocate for members of the Stolen Generations and their descendants

11

UnitingCare West – Leading the way with records This story has a pretty happy ending!

‘Peter’ had lots of unanswered questions about his childhood, and always wondered why he had not been adopted, as some of his siblings were.

A Ward of the State from the age of two, Peter spent his childhood in a series of institutions and foster care placements.

After submitting an application to the National Redress Scheme, with assistance from Sarah at Tuart Place, Sarah was notified that records of Peter’s time at ‘Mofflyn’ had been located, and were available for access.

The Redress Scheme then facilitated contact with UnitingCare West – the holder of historical records for Mofflyn.

A helpful letter soon arrived from UnitingCare West, in which the organisation acknowledged that Peter had requested these records in 1992, but had been denied access at that time.

Peter’s records were sent to him via Tuart Place.

Peter said he found some of the material confronting, but that it had answered some of the questions he had about his past.

For example, Peter learned that his sisters had visited him at Mofflyn and Ngala, and had tried to keep the family together.

Precious information indeed.

A call to institutions holding records of out-of-home care Tuart Place congratulates the National Redress Scheme and UnitingCare West for their work on behalf of ‘Peter’, and calls on other past provider institutions to also voluntarily offer to provide records to redress applicants.

As things stand, these records are ‘protected information’ under the Scheme. However, there is nothing to prevent institutions following the lead of UnitingCare West and voluntarily offering applicants access to a copy of the historical records that they have recently collated and provided to the Scheme.

Such a move would be in keeping with the Royal Commission’s recommendations and DSS Best Practice Guidelines developed alongside the ‘Setting the Record Straight’ initiative.

Take a look at the Out of Home Care Records webinar recently published by Find & Connect: https://www.findandconnectwrblog.info/2020/09/ out-of-home-care-records-webinar/

The webinar provides information on how governments and regulators can make it easier for care leavers to access their personal records. CLAN Vice-President Frank Golding OAM provides an expert’s perspective on the importance of easing access to records for those about whom they were created.

A tribute from Gloria Nicolau “If you build a legacy, you will be remembered forever”

12

Someone once said to me, when I was bemoaning my miserable life, “You can sit down and feel sorry for yourself, or you can get up and make the most of this one life you have been given.”

Too many of us have died afraid to speak out. I want to pay tribute to two amazing women who endured the same ordeals and trauma as I: Margaret Peterson (Watts) and Ann (Lucy) McVeigh.

Ann and Margaret, you had the guts to take on bureaucracy and institutions. You never gave up in your quest to establish the basic human rights of those who were ‘disposable children’.

The difficulties you experienced were extreme.

Many times you sought access to official records hoping to find the key to your identity and family history. You were dismissed and let down time and time again.

Your dogged persistence and belief in justice led you to set up your own organisation – ICAS – the Institutional Child Abuse Society. Other groups then followed: VOICES, CBERS, CLAN, and wonderful Tuart Place.

You were true pioneers of the historical Forgotten Australians and Child Migrant apologies, followed by the Redress WA scheme.

You undertook a mammoth task and gave us all cause for hope.

You deserve much more recognition and I applaud you both. We, the no-longer-Forgotten-Ones, owe you a debt of profound gratitude.

You did not seek praise or remembrance, but as the saying goes: “If you build a legacy, you will be remembered forever”.

Thank you Ann and Margaret. I am in awe of your resilience, strength and determination.

You fought for justice, recognition, truth, and the basic human right to know who we are: to claim our identity.

by Gloria Nicolau (Brooker)

Thank you to Derek Smith Many thanks to Derek Smith, VicePresident of the Old Fairbridgians Association (OFA WA), for donating a framed copy of the Australian National Apology to Survivors of Institutional Abuse.

The Apology is beautifully presented in a solid Jarrah frame and is now proudly displayed at Tuart Place.

Fairbridge was a major provider of institutional care in WA, with 3,580 children being sent to the Kingsley Fairbridge Farm School near Pinjarra between 1913 and 1982.

Many of the residents were child migrants sent to Australia under UK schemes.

The OFA WA Committee, led

by President Richard Hinch, maintains a support network of former ‘Fairbridge Kids’ and advocates strongly for their members.

Derek Smith fulfills what must be a unique role in supporting access to records for Fairbridge exresidents and their descendants.

Over the years, Derek has worked with the Battye Library to create a highly effective system for assisting people seeking historical records.

We salute your work Derek and Ric, and that of your committee.

Tuart Place’s 2020 weekend camp at Fairbridge A group from Tuart Place just scraped in ahead of the COVID-19 shutdown to take part in this year’s annual weekend camp at Fairbridge, held in midMarch 2020.

OFA WA Vice-President Derek Smith kindly arranged ‘mates rates’ for members of the Tuart Place group to stay at Fairbridge House.

Thank you to John Ryall of the Tuart Place Social Activities Group and all those who pitched in to make this year’s camp a very pleasant weekend away.

PHOTOS: the group at Fairbridge House and visiting Michael Bowman’s grave at Serpentine.

Fairbridge: Seeking contact Jennifer (Jenny) Edwards lived at Fairbridge Pinjarra in 1980, when she was seven years old, and is hoping to make contact with others who were also at Fairbridge, or St Joachim’s High School.

Jenny now lives in the UK, and is seeking contact by phone, or, preferably, by postal mail.

Jenny writes: “I moved all over Australia, so anyone can write. I have no photos. I would like to be pen pals or chat by phone. Do you remember me? Please write!”.

If you can help, please call Jenny on +44 7766 128 359, or write to: Miss Jennifer Edwards, First Floor Flat, 522A Holderness Road Hull, East Yorkshire HU9 3DT ENGLAND 13

Scotland: Still leading the way Scotland continues to lead the way with its compassionate and comprehensive national response to survivors of historical institutional child abuse and neglect.

The Scottish Government commenced an advance payment redress scheme in April 2019, and continues to provide other forms of practical support to survivors, as the work of the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (SCAI) continues.

Unfortunately, due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the Inquiry’s Child Migration Case Study was temporarily postponed in March 2020. SCAI Chairperson Lady Smith is currently assessing whether it can be completed via remote hearings.

Tuart Place has contributed to this case study via a formal submission on Scottish child migration, available at https://www.tuartplace.org/about-us/reports-and-

The Scottish Advance Payment Scheme (APS) is available to survivors who are terminally ill or aged 68 and over, and provides access to a fast-tracked redress prepayment of UK£10,000.

In its First Anniversary Statistics, the APS reported that, as of 25 April 2020, a total of 417 advance payments had been made to survivors of institutional child abuse or neglect in Scotland.

Thirteen per cent of applications were from survivors living abroad, most of them in Australia, with 34 applications received from former child migrants.

The great majority of these applications have been supported by Tuart Place and, by the end of July 2020, Tuart Place Admin Assistant Natalie Tonking had helped 28 Scottish former child migrants to receive an advance payment from the scheme.

Every APS claim requires proof of residency in a Scottish orphanage, and many have been complex. A number have involved applicants under Power of Attorney arrangements, requiring considerable liaison with case managers and authorised guardians.

14

Following its Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry (2014-16), a long-awaited redress scheme commenced in Northern Ireland at the end of March 2020.

From 2016 onwards, Tuart Place and FACT Board member Ann McVeigh, along with other former child migrants, worked alongside Professor Patricia Lundy of Ulster University, and Rosetta Trust Chairman Gerry McCann, to advocate for improvements to the NI redress scheme, many of which were adopted in the final model.

Northern Ireland’s scheme is open to eligible former child migrants and the family members of those who have died since April 1953.

Tuart Place has responded to many calls and inquiries about Northern Ireland’s new scheme, and Admin

submissions/scottish-child-abuse-inquiry/, and through video-conference evidence provided to the Inquiry by former child migrants, and Tuart Place Director Philippa White.

The Redress for Survivors Bill, currently being considered by the Scottish parliament, seeks to establish a financial redress scheme as an alternative to the civil courts.

People who were abused or neglected in residential care settings before 1 December 2004 (or in some cases their next of kin) will be able to apply for a redress payment with a UK£80,000 upper limit.

Further information on the Bill is available at https://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/ CurrentCommittees/115852.aspx

The POA applications prepared by Tuart Place were the first received by the Scottish scheme, and our advocacy and liaison has resulted in sensible protocols being established for the acceptance of international documents in the future.

Natalie’s diligent work was nicely acknowledged by the APS Team in June 2020, when they approved an advance payment to a very unwell client: “The speed that we were able to process this application was very much down to the excellent work on your part with the quality of the application and supporting documentation, so thank you for that”.

Natalie is also the ‘go to’ person for the Scottish Future Pathways program, and, as of 30 July 2020, had helped 20 former child migrants to access many different forms of assistance from this scheme.

Examples include: a gas hot water system; security screens; electrical wiring and bathroom safety railings; payment of vet bills; travel costs to connect with family; a reclining chair; electronic devices such as iPads, smart phones and computers; and - as you’ll read in our story opposite - a brand new mobility scooter.

News from Northern Ireland Assistant Natalie Tonking has done a great job in gathering and relaying the necessary information.

Natalie has been working closely with Ian Thwaites of the Child Migrants Trust, to whom Natalie has referred many inquiries.

If you wish to contact the scheme directly, call +44-28-9089-3977; email info@hiaadvocate.org.uk; or visit www.hiaredressni.uk

To contact the Child Migrants Trust office in Perth, phone (08) 9472-7582.

International Redress News Scotty Hoban: Riding high

Seeking contact

Scotty Hoban would love to chat with anyone who was at the same places as he was in his younger days: Lasswade in Edinburgh Scotland, and Bindoon in WA. Please contact Tuart Place if you would like to be put in touch with Scotty.

Ian ‘Scotty’ Hoban is a former child migrant who was born in Scotland and placed at Nazareth House in Lasswade, Edinburgh when he was three years old.

He was sent to Australia in 1939, as a nine-year-old, and lived at Bindoon, being briefly evacuated to Tardun during the war.

Scotty now lives in NSW and celebrated his 91st birthday in December last year. His daughter Maxine visited Tuart Place in 2019, and has remained in touch.

Maxine tells us that her dad still plays golf, looks after the church, and does a lot himself.

With help from Natalie at Tuart Place, Scotty has been able to access support from programs currently underway in Scotland.

Maxine emailed us in September to say that her dad is thrilled to bits with the new mobility scooter he received through the Scottish Future Pathways Scheme.

Maxine sent us this picture of Scotty on his new scooter with his little canine friend Digger, who is nine years old.

We especially like Scotty’s cap, which reads: ‘Old with Attitude’.

Go Scotty!

Message from an English Migrant I receive The Tuart Times regularly and enjoy reading all the news.

The obituaries are especially important to me and I guess to your other readers too, as time rolls on and our numbers dwindle.

I look forward to the stories and am always delighted at the reunion of so many of our members with family overseas. I myself was placed in a Birmingham Orphanage at the tender age of two and was reunited with my English family in 1973. I was 30 years old when this happy event occurred.

I was surprised however that there were no stories in response to the UK£20,000 given to us by the British Government. There must be many good stories of how members spent this windfall.

I thought it a generous grant with no conditions attached. I arranged a trip home to see my family, but unfortunately that all fell through with the Virus problem sweeping the world.

The story of the ‘Redress Stadium’ was brilliant and certainly worth its place on your cover. Keep the good work up and let all your readers know that life it meant to be lived with joy despite the shortcomings of our upbringing.

There comes a time when we must decide that what the past holds cannot be changed, and we have no real control of the future for it is not ours and may never be. We do however own completely the present moment and it is all we have, so I suggest we treasure it and enjoy it.

Yours sincerely, English Migrant (Tardun 1953 – 1963) 15

Thank you Senator Rachel Siewert We would like to thank Senator Rachel Siewert for her dedicated work and outstanding achievements over 15 years as a Greens Senator for WA.

Rachel announced in August 2020 that she would not be nominating for pre-selection for the next federal election.

Rachel is a champion of social justice and will be a great loss to federal politics. She is a strong and compassionate advocate for people facing disadvantage.

We are proud to have Rachel as one of three Patrons of Tuart Place, and appreciate her keen interest and advocacy on behalf of Forgotten Australians, former child migrants, and members of the Stolen Generations and their descendants.

Rachel at a Tuart Place Christmas party

Clontarf Heritage Update

by Mike Carroll, Secretary, Clontarf Old Boys Heritage Committee (COBHC) The Heritage Committee continues to move with the times, in the spirit of its humble beginnings as the Clontarf History Project in 2004.

The current work of the Committee includes engaging with the Indigenous Land Council (ILC), which was represented by Roger Stein at our last meeting on 16 September 2020.

The primary role of the COBHC at present is to request, through the ILC, that portions of the Clontarf site be included in the Heritage Council of Western Australia’s forthcoming assessment and survey. This is to ensure an appropriate Management Category is allocated to each portion of the site.

Of particular interest to the COBHC is the assessment of Michael Bowman’s grave and the category in which this portion will be contained and in particular how it

16

will it be managed. The last survey by the Heritage Council was completed in 2015.

The ILC representative, Roger Stein, has assured the Committee that our request will be followed up. The Committee realises that the inclusion in the Scope of Listings by the Heritage Council of Michael Bowman’s grave site and other portions of the Clontarf site may take time to assess.

In the meantime, the Committee’s secondary role is to provide opportunities for Old Boys to meet up for lunch at the Cafe Central in East Victoria Park.

Our goal is to maintain social cohesion within the group and in particular to support those Old Boys who may feel isolated.

COBHC members Mike, Kevin, Dennis & Dougie

Were you in care in Queensland?

Forde Foundation: 20 years of support to care leavers from Queensland Institutions The Forde Foundation was established following the Commission of Inquiry into the Abuse of Children in Queensland Institutions, known as the Forde Inquiry, which tabled its Report in 1999.

The Forde Foundation is a perpetual and independent charitable trust that aims to improve the quality of life for people who were in the care of Queensland Institutions or foster care as children.

Its Vision is to directly help improve the quality of life through advancing health, education and welfare for people who were abused or neglected in care and to acknowledge the disadvantages many care leavers have had

to face as a result of their childhood experiences.

The grants program provides Australia-wide assistance and targeted financial support in the areas of education, employment, health and wellbeing.

Three types of grants are available: dental, personal development, and health and well-being.

If you were in care in Queensland as a child, and would like to know more about the Forde Foundation, including eligibility and registering for grants, you can visit www.fordefoundation.org.au, or contact Vicky at Tuart Place.

Historical Photos: Thank you Michael Doonan Many thanks to Michael Doonan for contributing images of Bindoon to our Historical Photos Collection.

Michael says he was “like a Bower Bird” at Bindoon and has always been a keen collector of photos and memorabilia.

The photos brought in by Michael included several from the early 1960s that we had not seen before.

This one was taken in 1963 and shows L-R: Ian R, Joe M, Augustine R, Michael Doonan, John P and John N, about to leave for a WAFL game in Perth.

This was a rare treat “if you behaved yourself”. Michael is an East Fremantle supporter, but is wearing a West Perth footy jumper in this picture.

We are grateful to Michael and others who have kindly shared photos from their own collections.

These images are unique and precious.

We handle them with great care and ensure that originals are returned to the owner promptly.

Please contact Vicky or Natalie at Tuart Place if you can contribute to our Historical Photos Collection.

Seeking contact: Benmore Children’s Home Katherine West would like to have contact with others who were at Benmore Presbyterian Children’s Home in Caversham WA in the late 1950s.

Katherine’s name at the time was Kathleen Edgar. She lived at Benmore for three years, from 1957, with two of her sisters: Leslie and Carol.

If you can help, please call Katherine on 0488 549 392, or contact Tuart Place.

17

Catching up with old friends Paddy Cannon is a former child migrant who worked alongside the late Laurie Humphreys as a founding member of FACT Inc.

Paddy has worked hard, over many years, to advance the interests of all care leaver groups: Forgotten Australians, members of the Stolen Generations and their descendants, and former child migrants from the UK and Malta.

Paddy maintains a strong network of colleagues involved in behind-the-scenes support, as well as being active in media advocacy and in raising public awareness about issues affecting care leavers.

A professional singer and entertainer in his earlier years, Paddy has a great sense of occasion and has taught us a thing or two over the years.

Always generous with his praise, Paddy is the first to offer thanks and acknowledge the work of others.

Paddy wrote to Tuart Place recently to say thankyou for the series of gatherings at Cicerello’s in Fremantle: Dear Tuart Place management and staff,

On behalf of all members, thank you for the wonderful work on the reunions at Cicerello’s restaurant.

It has brought great joy to the older ladies and gentlemen and the rest of our members. What great lunches we have had!

Paddy Cannon (standing) with Terry Humphreys at Cicerello’s in Fremantle

Some of our members have not seen each other for a very long time and it gives us great joy to get together. It is great to be able to have a few yarns with everyone again and talk about our time in the orphanages and other institutions.

Thanks for your wonderful work and care you’ve given over the years.

Let’s keep it going - I look forward to the years to come.

Yours, Paddy Cannon

Volunteer Position:

Tech help at Fremantle Library Would you like to help people understand essential technology learnings and help familiarise them with their own smartphones, laptops, tablets and other devices?

With rapid advance of technology, many older people can be left behind.

They can feel overwhelmed, apprehensive or even socially isolated, especially, if they have no one who can help them.

Through sharing your knowledge, you can make a difference to a person’s life by building confidence and helping them thrive, step by step, in our tech-driven world.

If you’re interested in volunteering and helping others, you’ll be part of a team who enjoying meeting people from all backgrounds and cultures.

Time commitment: 1.5 hours per week Location: Fremantle Library

For more information email info@fremantle. wa.gov.au or phone 9432-9999 18

Lucky Lee’s Lotto: All in a good cause Local business owner Kok Wai Lee has operated Somes Newsagency in the West End of Fremantle for over 10 years and is a keen supporter of Tuart Place.

Lee was in the news recently, after he picked the numbers for a $1 million winning Lotto ticket he sold to a lucky local syndicate.

Although we haven’t had a ‘big win’ like this yet, at least we know that our Lotto money always goes to worthy causes via Lotterywest.

As the only State Government owned and operated lottery in Australia, the profits Lotterywest makes from every jackpot, draw and ticket are returned to the WA community.

Lotterywest played a major role in the establishment of Tuart Place between 2010 and 2018, and supported us throughout this time.

Lotterywest also supports awesome projects like Home Stretch, which gives young people the option of extending out-of-home care from 18 to 21 years.

Thank you Lotterywest!

by Tuart Place Receptionist Vicky Fox

Book Launch ‘Droplip’ by Robyn Keating Robyn (Robby) Keating is the daughter of the late Peter Keating, a former child migrant who was sent to Bindoon after arriving in Australia in 1947. Peter passed away in 2005.

Robby’s relationship with her father wasn’t easy, and she left for the streets at age 14. Her education was mainly ‘hands on’ learning, leading her into a journey of extreme ‘ups and downs’ over three decades.

Robby started writing poetry, lyrics and tunes at the age of 28, which began a new chapter in her life, leading her into the arts world. She has been writing and creating for the last 20 years.

Robby’s new book ‘Droplip: Take it or leave it’ took 16 years to finish.

It is a book “full of little pet loathes, loves and funnies about the many different hiccups and challenges of everyday life. It is an A-Z collection of thoughts from the mind of a boggled-up, botched-up survivor-to-thriver who knows there’s got to be some point to all this mish-mash we all put ourselves through”.

Robby has three children and six grandchildren. She lives in the Moreton Bay Islands in Queensland, and her goal is to finish all her creative works, bringing them all to fruition.

Droplip: Take it or Leave It Author: Robyn J Keating 248 pages Self-Help Paperback ISBN: 978-1-925707-10-6 RRP $24.95 Sid Harta Publishers Melbourne Australia 19

VALE NOTICES Elizabeth ‘Chips’ Rafferty (Coleman)

2-4-53 – 28-7-20

Ann McVeigh writes:

“Elizabeth was farewelled by family and friends in a requiem mass at St Joseph’s Church in Subiaco, followed by a respectful wake at the Wembley Hotel.

About 10 Joey Girls attended the Mass, and were acknowledged during the Prayers, and by Elizabeth’s son Shamus during the Eulogy, which I thought was very touching. All in all, it was a wonderful service and send off, of which she would have been proud”.

Joseph (Joe) Sarsero

10-11-40 – 12-9-20

Joe Sarsero was born in Hamrun, Malta. He arrived in Australia under the child migration scheme in 1953, aged 12, and was sent to Bindoon.

Joe’s wife Anne describes him as a very happy-go-lucky man, a real character.

A Maltese flag Joe donated to Tuart Place in 2014 still hangs in the common room area, and always reminds us of Joe and his fellow Maltese child migrants.

Joe passed away peacefully, with Anne and their children by his side.

Troy Connell

8-10-76 – 25-7-20

We were shocked and saddened to lose Troy in a tragic skateboarding accident in July.

Troy was free spirit who was always keen to help others. He often introduced other care leavers to Tuart Place.

Troy was well-known and well liked in Fremantle and had many friends. He was frequently seen around the streets riding on his beloved skateboard.

Our condolences to LuLu and Troy’s family.

Daniel Lackenby

8-2-55 – 30-8-20

Ann McVeigh writes:

“Daniel was 65 years young and a Forgotten Australian who came from Kalgoorlie and lived at Clontarf as a child.

As a young boy he was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy, which affected him all his life.

Daniel was quite a character and we were fond of him at Tuart Place. Rest peacefully now Daniel, your suffering and hurt is no more”.

20

Remembering Alf Zammit Alfred (Alf) Zammit

13-2-44 – 12-8-20

Alf Zammit was born in Qormi, Malta, and was sent to Australia under the child migration scheme in 1953, when he was nine years old.

Alf lived at Castledare, then Clontarf, before being reunited with his parents when they migrated to Australia in 1955.

Alf was a great supporter of Tuart Place and a regular volunteer at fundraising events. He is greatly missed by his many friends at Tuart Place.

Our sincere condolences to Alf’s wife Lee and the family.

Noel Brenzi writes:

“I first met Alf at Castledare, and we were friends for 67 years.

We were the same age, and were transferred to Clontarf at the same time.

Alf had been sent to Australia to learn English and he picked it up quickly.

After we left school I dated Alf’s sister for a while and we even got engaged. When we went on dates Alf had to come along as chaperone. He knew he could trust me.

Alf was always a good businessman. At age 17 he built a bicycle from spare parts salvaged from the tip, and sold it to me for 10 pounds. It was an excellent bike.

He went on to have his own business selling cookware, then sewing machines.

Alf and I lost contact for some time, and met up again through Tuart Place about eight years ago. We stayed in contact from then on and I had many good times with Alf and Lee.

Alf was very involved in the sausage sizzles at Bunnings and we used to do the onions together.

I will really miss my good friend Alf.”

Lee & Alf Zammit at Tuart Place in May 2019

Ann McVeigh writes:

“I met Alf through Tuart Place about six years ago, and knew him as a kind and gentle person.

Alf always spoke very fondly of his wife Lee, so it was good to meet her at one of our gatherings.

Alf liked his visits to Tuart Place to catch up with fellow child migrants from all institutions. He loved our social events and came to the ten-pin bowling morning we had at Melville.

Alf was a great contributor to our sausage sizzles at Bunnings, and also donated two sewing machines to Tuart Place.

Lee, I am so sorry for your loss. I feel very privileged I felt to have met Alf. His kindness knew no bounds, and he was always willing to help wherever he could.

Rest in peace Alf.”

21

FACT Inc Board of Governance 2020 Office Bearers

Vice-Chairperson Dale Lynch

Treasurer Ross Stagno Accountant

Chairperson Cevrina Reed

General Board Members

Kevin Collins

Lyn McLaughlin

Lyn Sherwood Executive career coach

Ann McVeigh

Chris Williams Lawyer

Dr Katrina Stratton Social work researcher

About our Board

22

John Ryall

Tuart Place is governed by the Board of Forgotten Australians Coming Together (FACT) Inc.

The FACT Board comprises Australian-born care leavers and former child migrants, as well as professional members elected for their expertise in areas such as law, accounting and management.

Tuart Place is a leader in co-production of support services with care leavers, and peer leadership plays a central role in service design.

All Board Members are elected as individuals and are valued for their qualifications, skills and life experience. Board Members do not represent the interests of any other organisation with which they may have an association.

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

Computers: Get in the know with Tuart Place Whatever your skill level (even if you’ve never turned on a computer before) you can get individual tuition from Tuart Place.

Our friendly volunteers can assist with your iPad, mobile phone or digital camera, or help you learn skills such as browsing the internet, sending emails, scanning photos and accessing services online.

Contact Program Coordinator Jo Hocking to book an individual appointment with one of our IT volunteers at Tuart Place, or to receive help over the phone.

Staying in touch with Facebook The Tuart Place Facebook page has become increasingly important over the last few months. It enables us to share useful information about services provided by different local government organisations to people in high-risk groups, health advice and updates from the WA Government, and details about Tuart Place outreach services, including our group chats on Zoom.

But it wasn’t all serious – there were also virtual tours of palaces and castles around the world, links to online jigsaws, and a performance of Waltzing Matilda by a virtual choir.

The Armchair Antarctica video was a particularly big hit.

We regularly share useful and interesting information and photos from events on our Facebook page so if you haven’t already, then please Like us. We’re at: https://www.facebook.com/TuartPlaceFremantle/

If you don’t know much about Facebook and would like to learn more, please contact Tuart Place and I will organise an appointment with a volunteer who can show you the ropes.

Jo Hocking, Program Coordinator 23

Mailout of the ‘COVID-19 Special Edition’ of the High Street Happenings newsletter in May 2020 L-R: Natalie, Dave, Jo, David and Kevin. Thanks everyone!

Thank you to our volunteers

by Tuart Place Program & Volunteer Coordinator Jo Hocking We are very fortunate to have a wonderful team of volunteers who support Tuart Place.

We would like to acknowledge the hard work of our volunteers and say “thank you”.

You make an enormous difference and we couldn’t provide such a great service without you.

On behalf of everyone who benefits from the services provided by Tuart Place, we would like to thank: the FACT Board for their strong governance and stewardship; Dr Lesley Silvester (WA Genealogical Society) for family tracing; lawyer Gary Dean for pro bono legal support; and counsellors Dickon, Catherine and Romi for their work with our Phone Outreach Service.

Thank you to our mailout volunteers: David M, Kevin C, Ron A, Wayne R, Dave L, John R; and the Bunnings Sausage

sizzle team: John & Epe R, Ann McV, Mary M, Noel B, Alf Z (dec), Peter B, Julie D, Kevin C, Iren H, and many others for their great fundraising work.

Thank you to Trish, Mary, David B, Hasitha, Emily, Florence, and Yoyo (IT support and Zoom meetings) and Vera and her ‘Krafty Ladies’ for creating and organising presents for end-of-year raffles and Xmas lucky dips.

In addition to his role on the FACT Board, Kevin Collins has assisted in many areas - most recently installing five new hand sanitiser dispensers at Tuart Place.

The help of longstanding Tuart Place volunteer David Moir has been invaluable during this time.

David has been on-site at Tuart Place regularly, and his ongoing help with cleaning, maintenance and other tasks is greatly appreciated by all of us.

Tuart Place lending library The Tuart Place lending library is full of great books, jigsaw puzzles and games. Feel free to browse our selection and borrow items.

We are grateful to Rosyln Hackett for sorting and reorganising the books and other resources.

It has made a world of difference to our library.

24

Phone counselling and social support Telephone counselling and support from Tuart Place has become more important than ever since COVID-19 caused us all to change the way we interact and connect with others.

When the initial period of lockdown started in WA, Tuart Place staff and volunteer counsellors swung into Vicky in Reception at Tuart Place action and reached out by phone to participants who would normally attend the Centre in person, or who may need help to link with essential services.

As State Government restrictions have started to ease, we have been able to resume face-to-face appointments with individual people on site.

We’re looking forward to the 2-square-metre rule being lifted so we can once again have social and group gatherings at Tuart Place.

In the meantime, telephone counselling and support continues to be a large part of our Catherine work, and we have discovered ‘Zoom’ video-calls as a way to bring small groups of people together for a friendly chat.

If you would like to find out more, or to book an individual phone call or group video-chat

by Zoom, contact Vicky or Natalie at Tuart Place.

Dickon

Contact Tuart Place to find out more about remote support options, or to book a call with our Phone Outreach counsellors Dickon and Catherine

Like us on Facebook Have you liked the Tuart Place Facebook page yet? It’s a great way to stay in touch.

We post lots of photos from events and also keep you up to date with relevant issues and forthcoming events. Find us at www.facebook. com/TuartPlaceFremantle

Wanted: Volunteer bus driver Do you have a C Class License and might you enjoy driving people to outings in a small bus? If so, please contact Jo at Tuart Place. We are looking for a back-up driver for the Social Activities Group.

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

It’s full of interesting articles and photos of things that have happened via 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.

25

Tuart Place’s 2020 Christmas Party Save the date:

Monday 14th December 2020

An extraordinary year calls for an extraordinary Christmas Party!

As we may not be able to gather on-site as a large group this year, our Xmas party will be held at the Esplanade Hotel in Fremantle.

Bookings will be essential for this two-course seated luncheon, and numbers will be capped at 150 this year.

Keep an eye out for your invitation in the mail, and book in early with Vicky at Tuart Place to reserve your seat.

‘Tech Help for All’ at Fremantle Library A Be Connected initiative Every Tuesday 9.30 – 11am at Fremantle Library

2020 End-of-Year BBQ Save the date:

Sunday 15th November 2020 Annual end-of-year barbecue at Waterford Playing Fields 12noon to 3pm Free sausage sizzle provided Giant Raffle Entertainment by Fred Rea Family and friends welcome

This will be our 15th annual BBQ at Waterford!

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.

Do you need help using a computer or understanding how to use the internet and email?

Join our Tech Help for All group sessions to learn beginner digital skills and improve your confidence using technology.

Bring your own Windows laptop or borrow one of the library’s laptops.

One-on-one mentoring sessions are available after your group session to practice your new skills and feel more confident and connected in our tech-driven world.

Call 9432-9766 to ask one of our friendly library staff members to book you into one of the sessions or visit fremantle.wa.gov.au/techhelp • 13 Oct: Using a computer with a mouse: • 20 Oct, 27 Oct, 3 Nov: Internet for beginners • 10 Nov, 17 Nov: Setting up MyGov (one-on-one sessions) • 24 Nov: Using MyGov • 1 Dec: Create and send email 26

Tuart Times enquiries Newsletter Editor: Philippa White Newsletter enquiries/contributions: via email to admin@tuartplace.org

Free legal advice by phone With lawyer Gary Dean, by appointment. Call Vicky to book a phone or Zoom consultation to discuss any general legal concerns or questions with Gary.

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 (between 12.30 and 4..00pm). This service is free of charge.

Next sessions in 2020: • Monday 26 October • Monday 23 November • Monday 21 December

What happens at Tuart Place?

Tuart Place is the State funded service for care leavers: the Forgotten Australians, former child migrants from the UK and Malta, and members of the Stolen Generations and their descendants.

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

Counselling with Susy on Wednesdays Bookings essential during COVID-19 restrictions.

Contact Vicky for an appointment with Susy.

knowmore Legal Service: Free legal support with the National Redress Scheme National Redress Support at Tuart Place If you would like to know more about the National Redress Scheme or get help completing the application form, book a confidential appointment with Jan or Sarah at Tuart Place.

Jan and Sarah can also provide support throughout the process, in accordance with the individual wishes of each person.

Sarah and Jan are both highly experienced and sensitive to the needs of people undertaking redress processes.

To find out more, contact Reception at Tuart Place.

knowmore is an independent legal service that

provides free and confidential legal help to survivors of abuse, and offers information and advice about the justice and redress options that may be available.

knowmore also offers free financial counselling to people engaging with the National Redress Scheme.

knowmore has offices across Australia.

Contact details for the Perth office are below.

knowmore Legal Service Level 5, 5 Mill Street Perth WA 6000 Free advice line: 1800-605-762 web: www.knowmore.org.au

27

Tuart Place 24 High Street Fremantle WA 6160 Phone (08) 6140-2380 Freecall: 1800-619-795 Email: admin@tuartplace.org Web: www.tuartplace.org

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.

Blue & white lechenaultia near Toodyay, WA Photo courtesy of David Moir