Sometimes I wonder whether or not our politicians including our new Governor general have read the report on the inquiry into Forgotten Australians.
Maybe Quinten Bryce has read of our plight and is too busy to do anything; with dignitaries coming from various parts of the world she just wouldn't have that much time on her hands.
The fascination is the number of politicians who were there at Parliament house when a number of us bared our souls to the then Government of the day. Apparently there wasn't a dry eye in the house the number of senators that had wept after hearing of the grief and pain we went through.
After hearing our submissions and also reading them as well, 39 recommendations were handed down. In the state of Victoria one of those recommendations has been met that being a formal apology from the then Premier Mr. Bracks.
However, before this apology was handed down the sorry's act had been amended before the State Government would formally apologise. One could guess the reason for the amendment to the act, although politicians I'm sure would say they did this with good intentions in mind.
We are coming out of our closets, the shame these perpetrators put us through has taken us a long time to put our hand up. But we are coming forward. On the Government books there were 500,000 of us although one could argue it was a hell of a lot more.

STAND UP, STAND UP, WE ARE THE FORGOTTEN AUSTRALIANS

I'll be a FORGOTTEN AUSTRALIAN till the day I die.

CARELEAVERS WE ARE NOT, as nobody gave a toss about us or CARED for us PERIOD.

In the words of Nelson Mandella "Any country that doesn't care for its children does not deserve to be called a country"

Dear Bazzah,

My heart goes out to you and your family,
and to all the
Forgotten Australians, and their families.

I've emailed the Prime Minister regarding
this subject in the past.
Sadly, with no positive results.

And, as you say, nothing appears to
be currently happening, either.

What is needed perhaps, is media attention.
And a lot of it.

A light need to be shone on politician's
inaction.

Television programs like, Today Tonight,
Insight, Compass, even Andrew Denton's,
Enough Rope - are all looking for stories
to tell. And yours would be one that
be attract attention. Or at least cause a
push for some political action.

Good Luck.

Bazzah “Politicians and the Forgotten Australians”

A word to the wise,

Don’t wait for anything to come your way from any politician, ever.

If you want the best life possible, there are three things I can suggest

rely on yourself (personal empowerment)

behave ethically in your dealings with others (personal growth) and

love your children unconditionally (personal heritage).

Everything else, especially anything concerning government, will see you waiting around for someone else (giving power to them).

Your life is too short to wait. Get on and live it (exercise your power for yourself and your family).

Ive written to the PMs office many times and received no reply even on an empty Defence gun cupboard...almost totally devoid of guns for the citzens in time of an incursion by Indonesia/China.

I think bureacracy is too big for the small man and woman to get much of a listen.

God bless you Bazzah.

Many christians feel for the Forgotten Australians and do actually go out to help.

Dear Bazzah....

we ALL feel like 'Forgotten Australians' at times.

Some of us are made to feel that way by others who simply delight in making us or our children feel that way.

Is there a difference between having an identity crisis due to a mixed heritage as an Aboriginal and one with a different bi-racial background?

I don't think so. If I told where being rejected by White Australians and Accepted by Asian Australians led to for my own son, your ears would tingle.

On a broad level Cols advice is very sound. My only addition would be make your peace with the Almighty, and love and cherish whatever family you have. God does not seek your vote.. just your heart.

Don't expect anything from politicians except empty promises designed to produce votes.
Don't feel you are the only forgotten Australians.. and please please don't dwell on it as if you are. You will become morbid, depressed and .... u can fill in the gaps.

Bazzah,
I first became aware of the 'Forgotten Australians' here on OLO by the efforts of huffnpuff. I think there were quite a few posters here, including myself, that sent letters/emails to various politicians supporting recognition of the injustices suffered.

For my part, I received very little response except for acknowledgement of letters received, which is dissappointing but to be expected as politicians have many issues with which to deal and to take up their time.

The situation is likely to stay that way unless you can get media support for your cause, which will bring it to the forefront. I know you should not have to, but that is the reality of todays political world.

But do not give up, keep trying, one day you may just strike a cord or maybe there will be opportunity to get it before the media.

I have been trying to get the issue of young girls still being subjected to FGM here in Aus and no action taken, with very little response from politicians or media. I will keep at though when I can, but remember not to let it consume all my life.

I think Cols advice is good. Try to get some other positive things going as well.

I thank each and every one of you who have read my post and put their thoughts online for me to read. I think many of you that have read ‘Politicians and the Forgotten Australians’ think that I am forever depressed, I am far from this. I do have a life; at the moment I teach old people and some Forgotten Australians how to get savvy with the PC.
So please do understand I do enjoy my life, but I will never hide who I am ever again, for too long I had done this worried about the stigma that came with it, when all the time it was what the perpetrators that wanted us to think we would never have the courage to come forward and tell others of our plight.
I am probably just one of the lucky ones amongst so many of us that were humiliated abused and tortured to their whims. I have come out the other side not afraid any more to let the world know what these institutions done to us.

I am and always will be a FORGOTTEN AUSTRALIAN until the day I die.

And to all you Forgotten Australians out there I say,

STAND UP, STAND UP, WE ARE THE FORGOTTEN AUSTRALIANS

We will have our day

Bazzah

Good on you for raising this important issue again; and thanks to others for their support and respect.

It’s all very well for people to tell you to get over it. I’ll bet they’d think differently if they were raped, sodomised and brutalised when placed in the ‘care’ of the State or the churches.

Tell them to visit Will Will Rook cemetery at Broadmeadows where lie the bodies of hundreds of infants who died in ‘care’. Many of them without a full name. (http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~pobjoyoneill/WillWillRook/wwrindex.html)

Or send them to Ballarat Cemetery where 26 Orphanage inmates were given a decent burial only this year when most had died as children in ‘care’ decades ago.

Tell them to read the 600 first-hand accounts of abuse and neglect in the Senate Inquiry.
http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/clac_ctte/completed_inquiries/2004-07/inst_care/index.htm

Tell them to stand on the steps of Parliament as we do every month waiting to be acknowledged by politicians who scurry by.

Ask them how they would get over being used as human guinea pigs by CSL and others illegally testing new vaccines.

Ask them how you can show love as a parent when you never had any as a child but learned to 'control' emotions.

Ask them how you can make peace with God when servants of God raped you. Ask them why God betrayed you.

Ask them how they would have survived, after a life of abuse and neglect, shoved out at fifteen with no knowledge or skills to cope in the real world.

Tell them the Senate Committee which made 39 recommendations on the Forgotten Australians in 2004 is currently inquiring into what Commonwealth and State governments, churches and charities have done to implement those recommendations.

Tell them the Senate Committee won’t have a big job because very little has been done. Most of it swept under the carpet in the name of community comfortableness.

Tell them to write to the Senate Committee (community.affairs.sen@aph.gov.au ) and give them a message of support in calling governments and churches to account for the massive violation of trust of vulnerable children.

That was incorrect Spikey.

Not all ministers/pastors are failures in their walk with The Lord.

You cant lob them all, who taught with the Aborigines, into one basket and suggest all are sex deviants...which mostly you did.

Some were deviants and some are, even now... but not a great number as a percentage of the overall church population in regards to missionaries in Australia.

God brings everyone into Judgment.

He doesnt protect his ministers/pastors if they fail. Ive seen God Judge and its frightening.

I know many fine Christian folk who work amongst the Forgotten Australians and they have done marvellously well.

Dear Bazzah and Spikey,

Has anyone ever done a full length Feature article
here in the Forum Article section, on the
Forgotten Australians?

If not, why not?

Perhaps Graham Young, the Forum Administrator
could be approached regarding this topic?

More people need to know the full details of
your cases.

Doing a feature article might help.

Just a suggestion ...

Hi Gibo
I think you might have misread what spikey had posted, nowhere has he stated that it was all the ministers/pastors.
He is merely explaining in general, what happened to him and many others that were placed into institutions that were run by priest, brothers, nuns, salvation army and many others.

These were people who were suppose to be a representation of the Church. These people had failed dismally in the duties that they were suppose to carry out.

I might also add Gibo, Spikey is probably the last person who needs to be reminded of the power of God. I'm sure he will agree with me that he had the wrath of God rammed at him every day he was in the institution, and only to be abused by the same people who were telling him what a wonderful person God is.

So one does need to fully understand where Spikey is coming from, and also he is speaking from the heart.

I am and always will be a FORGOTTEN AUSTRALIAN until the day I die.

And to all you Forgotten Australians out there I say,

STAND UP, STAND UP, WE ARE THE FORGOTTEN AUSTRALIANS

We will have our day

Keep yelling out Spikey until they all hear

Hi Foxy
Last year I done a feature on the Forgotten Australians whilst I was at University, if whoever gives the thumbs up I would be only to happy to put it on line, the feature story was on the apology and how one felt about it. I wrote in the first person, although I did have to get uni approval to do it this way.
Well it worked out well as I received a high distinction for it and was also awarded a 'Certificate of Merit' from the university.

I said: "Ask them how you can make peace with God when servants of God raped you."

Gibo replied: "That was incorrect Spikey. Not all ministers/pastors are failures in their walk with The Lord. You cant lob them all, who taught with the Aborigines, into one basket and suggest all are sex deviants...which mostly you did."

I think you need to read more carefully Gibo. I don't think you'll find anything remotely like what you allege in my writing. That's Ok, we're used to misrepresentation.

As for your intended consolation: "God brings everyone into Judgment", we Forgotten Australians would much rather that the criminal courts brought the perpetrators to justice here on earth.

Im sorry... but I saw it as a beef against christian ministers/pastors/leaders/disciples/teachers and lay folks etc.

One of my best friends is a pastor who goes out the far west of QLD and into northern NSW preaching to the Aborigines.

An incredible guy he is and I relate strongly with him and his heart for the Aborigines.

He's pentecostal, small time, not connected with any of the institutionalised "churches" that may have been connected to abuses etc.

I think the few are the few and the greater number do whats right.

Sorry if I offended anyway Spikey/Bazzah.
I'll study some of those references. I only know good christian folks.

Dear Bazzah,

Your article sounds excellent.

If you're interested in having it
put online in The National Forum,
try contacting:

admin@nationalforum.com.au

or

graham.young@onlineopinion.com.au

Good Luck.

Bazzah,
Glad to see you are enjoying your present life. You did sound a little down to me in your first post and I know from experience just how frustrating it can be when dealing with polititians.

I for one did get a copy of the "Forgotten Australians" report and I suggest to anyone reading this to email their local Federal member and ask them to get you a copy. It really is compelling reading and I was shocked and very moved by it.

I think someone did mention to get in touch with the current affairs TV programes and offer to do live interview in relation to your experiences. It may also be worthwhile to contact the columnists of the major newspapers re the "Forgotten Australians" and offer an interview.

Good luck with your endeavours and I hope you will post here from time to time, just to remind us and keep us up to date. If I see posts relating to it on other blogs I certainly will advocate readers get a copy of the report.

Thanks Banjo,
Our problem Banjo is, we need someone who can do an interview, be very articulate. Words are very important, especially when you are being interviewed, the need to be alert and have forward thinking in the approach of any answers that may be given in such an interview.
There are some of us that have gone on to University to study writing and other various elements of getting on in society; it’s these people we need to seek out so they can articulate for us.
Public interviews is an art form, just look at the many people in the media that do this every day, they also do a lot of research on the subject before they even consider an interview.
We need someone that is at the helm for us to be able to fight our fight, one who will fight the good fight, be able to debate and also put our case out there for all to see.
Yesterday Mr. Brumby apologized to the people who suffered from asbestos poisoning and still suffer today, I endorse what he has done, the Government has admitted that they had a duty of care and I congratulate them for doing so, also very happy that these people have had their day in the sun. We Forgotten Australians have received an apology yet the government still refuses to admit ‘duty of care’. Never mind the millions of dollars that was given to the states by the Federal Governments over the years to fund these institutions. They still wipe their hands.

I am and always will be a FORGOTTEN AUSTRALIAN until the day I die.

And to all you Forgotten Australians out there I say,

STAND UP, STAND UP, WE ARE THE FORGOTTEN AUSTRALIANS

We will have our day

Bazzah,
Don't sell yourself short. The best interviews I have seen are those where the person being interviewed was genuine. The interviews would not be hostile, especially if the interviewer has read the report. The interviewer could not help but to be favourable to you. So make sure they get a copy beforehand.

Go for it! and remember the more you do the better at it you will get.

I think both you and Spikey would come over very well.

Hi huffnpuff
IN ANSWER TO YOUR POST 05/09/2008 Quentin Bryce must work to derail the republican movement
I have read many of your articles you have posted online here. You write from the heart and draw no quarter, I admire the fire you have regarding the plight of Forgotten Australians.
The classic part with our Governor Generals if they are seen to take a stand they are seen to favouring one party over another. Although this might not be the case this is the way it is seen.
A couple of days ago I was reading an article written by Andrew Bolte who I must admit, has not the greatest idea about life in general. But he got wind of our new Governor General siding with the Rudd Government and immediately he starts to bag her. He accuses her of taking sides rather than look at the real issue and maybe see there is some merit in it, instead he would prefer to bag her than admit that she was right.
Don’t get me wrong I hope to god she does take a stand for us, heaven knows we need someone that has some clout, not like the useless senators that heard our submissions and also read them, all they let us do was open our hearts and souls for them , reliving our morbid past in the hope they would help but all they did was wept and have done nothing since.
Jump back on line huffnpuff keep yelling there are still more of us and sooner than later, like a Tsunami they wont be able to stop us.
Remember when we were kids they thought we would never talk because of the fear and shame put into our minds. Well guess what huffnpuff “we can talk” maybe that should be our slogan for Forgotten Australians “WE CAN TALK”

I am and always will be a FORGOTTEN AUSTRALIAN until the day I die.

And to all you Forgotten Australians out there I say,

STAND UP, STAND UP, WE ARE THE FORGOTTEN AUSTRALIANS

We will have our day

Hi Polycarp
Sorry about my slow response, but for the life of me I cannot see what Forgotten Australians and what you posted has anything whatsoever to do with what I had posted.
I have read your post about 10 times and I don’t see any relevance at all. If we were to go along with the adage of never expect anything from a politician, the children that were raised in institutions in Ireland would never have succeeded into getting the Irish government to compensate them for wrongs that were done to them.
Today in Ireland these children that were raised and abused in these institutions have everything that we are trying for here. If Ireland can do it, there is no reason why we as Forgotten Australians can’t do the same here.
And as long as I’m alive, I will dwell on the past, so I can ensure what happened to us as children will never happen again.
I am 62 and I can assure you I do enjoy my life, and I might add I am enjoying it more so now that I ever have. As long as I have breath in my body I will keep telling those that will listen what happened to us as children, and whether you want to know of it or not it is a very important part of Australian history. This is my way of filling in the gaps.

I am and always will be a FORGOTTEN AUSTRALIAN until the day I die.

And to all you Forgotten Australians out there I say,

STAND UP, STAND UP, WE ARE THE FORGOTTEN AUSTRALIANS

We will have our day and it will be like a Tsunami

Dear Bazzah,

I just came across an article that was done
by Dr Ben Mathews on 9 Sept. 2004 entitled:

"Senate report into the forgotten Australians:
Child abuse in institutional care."

You can find it on:

http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=2531

That was four years ago. And, although it's a
good article, I still feel that people need to
know through an updated article, on what hasn't been
happening to date.

Please, think about doing this...