February 13th 2008 was a momentous day in Australian history. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, on his first day in Parliament, gave his apology on behalf of Australia to the stolen generation – an apology that was long overdue.
His initiatives in measuring the gap, reported on annually in Parliament, show some progress in areas but none in others. There’s talk about including racism and culture as additional measures. Bring it on!
Art Mob has some close associations with Aboriginal artists who are part of the stolen generation. You can view the full exhibition by following this link: https://www.artmob.com.au/artists/Sorry-Day-10th-Anniversary/index.html
Marilyn Davies (Clarke) was not only taken from her folks but her firstborn baby too was taken away. She discovered her living just blocks away in Darwin many years later…
Barbara Weir, daughter of the late Minnie Pwerle, was taken by social security staff at 3 years of age whilst getting water from the creek. Not even time to say goodbye… It took until she was married that she rediscovered her mother.
Zita Pengarta Wallace was taken away from Titjikala, south of Alice Springs, to the Tiwi Islands to be brought up by the nuns in the mission. Look at the cord cursive writing on the back of her paintings! Zita was the key advisor to Kevin Rudd in forming the apology.
Greg Matthews is our Tasmanian connection with the stolen generation. He was brought up in institutions and eventually learned about his Aboriginal connections on his mother’s side.
We commend these paintings to you on the tenth anniversary of this Apology to the Stolen Generation.
