HEALING COMMUNITY AND TRULY HEARING THE STOLEN GENERATIONS

On Wednesday 16 November, 50 Year 10 History students, Mrs Jennifer Butt and I were privileged to truly listen to and ‘hear’ the lived experience, witness and inspiration of Mrs Joanne Abraham, a proud Ngarluma woman, Sacred Heart College parent and a member of the Stolen Generations. 

Mrs Abraham’s first presentation for 2022 (due to COVID-19 restrictions) inspired and moved many of the students. Her own personal account of one of the darkest chapters in Australian history, the forcible removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander or First Nations’ children by successive Australian governments, was presented with humility and courage.

Please find below some of our Term 4 Year 10 History students’ reflections on Mrs Joanne Abraham’s recent visit:

• “What resonated with me most about Mrs Abraham's presentation was the effects the Stolen Generations has had on both Mrs Abraham and her family. It was interesting to hear Mrs Abraham’s perspective about growing up and how she is now a proud Indigenous woman who took time out of her day to talk to our classes about her challenging experiences”.
• “I was personally really, really touched by the devastating actions taken by European Australians toward the Stolen Generations including Mrs Abraham. I now have a better emotional connection and understanding of the devastation caused by her story”.
• “Listening to Mrs Joanne Abraham's experiences as a member of the Stolen Generations was extremely interesting and moving as it came from a first-person perspective. Hearing about the modern stories of injustice personally resonated with me most. In class, we often learnt about experiences from the past but hearing the unfortunate occurrences of the Stolen Generations really put things into perspective and allowed us to sympathise”.

Yours in humanity and voice, treaty, truth.

Mr Grant Miocevich

Head of Learning Area - Humanities