Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 8 Hansard (26 August) . . Page.. 2374 ..

MRS MILLS (continuing):

Koonibba Lutheran Day School. Early in her youth she was sent to Yorketown as a domestic servant, and was confirmed in 1931, then aged 12 years. She returned to Koonibba in 1938, aged 19 years. One year later, she married a non-indigenous man. She was 20. She gave birth to her first child in September 1941, two years later, and had five children from this marriage.

She maintained strong family ties with her family at Koonibba, which we know is the strength and basis of indigenous cultures and societies. Her children were baptised in the Lutheran Church. She also raised them in the knowledge of her family, culture, language and beliefs. At the age of 30 years, my mother became a sole parent, her husband leaving her and his responsibilities for his five children. From what I understand, she eventually returned to Koonibba and her extended family with her five children.

To move freely in the wider community outside the mission, my mother sought permission from time to time from the Protector of Aborigines for an exemption. She was eventually granted unconditional exemption in 1944. Mr Speaker, I have a copy of an unconditional exemption form, and I would like to read the conditions for which an exemption is granted. It is called "Unconditional Exemption from the Provisions of the Aborigines Act, 1934-1939". It states:

In pursuance of the powers conferred by Section 11a of the Aborigines Act, 1934-1939, the Aborigines Protection Board, being of opinion that [the said person of the said address], by reason of his character and standard of intelligence and development, should be exempted from the provisions of the Aborigines Act, 1934-1939 ...

It goes on to say:

... that the said [person] shall cease to be an aborigine for the purposes of the said Act.

Mr Speaker, my brother has provided me with information from his records which states that my father was sentenced to six months' gaol in 1949 for habitually consorting with a female Aborigine. What I want to draw your attention to is the fact that non-indigenous Australians were gaoled for consorting with Aborigines who had not been granted exemption. It was not long after that incident that there were to be major changes in our lives. State welfare officers moved in and removed my brother and three sisters from my mother's care - my brother being nine years old and my three sisters, eight, six and four. I was 21/2 years old. This is where my story begins.

According to copies of my records, which I have obtained from the State Department of Family and Community Services, I was committed as a ward of the State of South Australia until I was 18 years of age. The reason: Destitute. On my brother's records, noted under general conduct and facts of child at committal, were the comments:

Boy has led very unsettled life, having been taken from place to place over a number of years.

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .