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! 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

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.

Paddy Cannon

Volunteer Position: Tech help at Fremantle Library

Yours,

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