Stolen Generations Survivors reunite but urge Australia to learn from past mistakes

Stolen Generations Survivors reunite but urge Australia to learn from past mistakes 

When Uncle Sonny Morey was removed from his family, on a station near Alice Springs, he recalls he is still unable to forget the look of shock and horror on his cousins face as he was being taken away. 

As a young boy, aged just 7 or 8, Sonny was forcibly removed to a mission, near Alice Springs, before being moved again to another mission in South Australia. 

Torn from his family, and fostered out from the mission at aged 13, Sonny then excelled in AFL. 

Sonny’s experience of removal is one that was repeated time and time again across the country, in all states and territories – where governments removed thousands of children from their families, their Country and their communities, under past government policies.

Sonny reflects that this true history of Australia’s past must be taught in schools. 

He said Stolen Generations is a part of our history. “We need to understand our history so we can learn from our mistakes.” 

Mr Morey, who lives outside of Adelaide, travelled to Ngunnawal/Ngambri Country (Canberra) for a two-day Stolen Generations Survivor Event. The event, hosted by The Healing Foundation, was held in the days before the 18^th National Apology Anniversary breakfast event, at Parliament House on Friday 13 February. 

Mr Morey has never attended the annual Apology Anniversary in Canberra before, but felt it was important to come to this significant commemorative event. 

He said he really wants to meet Kevin Rudd, the former Prime Minister who delivered the apology to the Stolen Generations back in 2008. 

He wanted to congratulate Mr Rudd on his bravery in saying sorry all those years ago, when so many politicians before him had failed to say sorry.   

Mr Morey was delighted to be reunited with others from St Mary’s Hostel, including Audrey, Mary and Nora. 

Learn more about Mr Morey's story and St Mary's Hostel group on the ABC website.

Survivors take strength from each other and learn about services at two day event

Sonny joined almost 100 Stolen Generations survivors from across Australia at an event hosted by The Healing Foundation. Attendees learnt about priorities of redress, trauma informed aged care, records access and Stolen Generations organisation sector support. 

They also yarned with Aged Care and Social Justice Commissioners, and learnt about records access from AIATSIS, National Library Australia and National Archives. 

Most importantly, they gathered strength from each other, made many connections, and some even met long lost family members and former dormitory brothers and sisters. 

The survivors finished their time in Canberra at the 18^th National Apology Anniversary breakfast at Parliament House on Friday 13 February.