Apology and unfinished business

Great evil has been done ...

The Australian Government made a National Apology to the Forgotten Australians and former child migrants for the suffering they had experienced in ‘out of home’ care, in November 2009. The year before, the government apologised to the Stolen Generations.

For some, such apologies carry great meaning. For others, they are just words.

Leaving the homes did not mean the homes left those who had spent time there. For good or bad, that experience remained part of their lives.

Although there were good outcomes from these apologies, many issues of justice and healing belonging to this story remain unresolved.

Colour photograph showing a close-up view of clasped hands and a spray of wattle and bottlebrush flowers resting on a person's lap. - click to view larger image

Exhibition graphic panel that reads: 'So can I ask when justice is going to roll?', attributed to 'Submission 286, Senate Inquiry, 2004'. - click to view larger image

Exhibition graphic panel that reads: 'The authorities invented crimes to ensure we could be punished at whim, then covered up the transgressions and abuses of their own. And now we have to see almost all those who have abused us escape justice. Having received the government's 'care' and the government's apology, we cannot expect justice to improve', attributed to 'John Murray, Positive Justice Centre', 2011. - click to view larger image

Exhibition graphic panel that reads: 'At long last someone is listening to us. At long last we can talk about the events that happened to us.', attributed to 'Brian Hart, Salvation Army Home, Western Australia, 1950s.' - click to view larger image

Exhibition graphic panel that reads: 'I believe we do a disservice to those who have been the victims of abuse if in any way we seek to gloss things over,' attributed to 'Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, National Apology to the Forgotten Australians and Former Child Migrants, 2009'. - click to view larger image

Exhibition graphic panel that reads: 'Today I want you to know we admire you, we believe you, we love you,' attributed to 'Malcolm Turnbull, Leader of the Opposition, National Apology to the Forgotten Australians and Former Child Migrants, 2009'. - click to view larger image

Exhibition graphic panel that reads: 'The truth is great evil has been done,' attributed to 'Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, National Apology to the Forgotten Australians and Former Child Migrants, 16 November 2009'. - click to view larger image

A Polaroid photo showing a side view of two men. A man in a suit, on the left, uses a texta to sign an Australian flag being held by the man on the right. Typewritten text at the bottom reads: 'Anthony ‘Sconey’ Forrest holds the flag he brought to the National Apology as it is signed by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd 16 November 2009. Photograph by George Serras'. - click to view larger image

A colour photograph of the South Australian flag. Numerous signatures cover the Union Jack top left, and the state badge, a black and white bird on a yellow circle. More signatures appear along the white strip to the left of the flag. - click to view larger image

Colour photograph showing two men, standing behind a royal blue flag with ensign and insignia, covered in signatures. - click to view larger image

A colour Polaroid image of two women wearing badges and blue ribbons pinned to their shirts. Typewritten text below reads 'Patricia Slatterie (left) and Jeanette Blick wearing handmade crosses in memory of their brother John who died young, tormented by his life in the Home, 16 November 2009.' 'Courtesy Patricia Slatterie' is typed along the left side. - click to view larger image

A photograph of a hand-made crucifix of white cardboard. Handwritten horizontally in black ink is 'John Halliday, 26.10.53-14.9.06'. The number '80533' is written vertically underneath. Attached to the top of the cross is a small piece of white ribbon. - click to view larger image

A colour Polaroid photo of a woman, standing and holding a white piece of fabric in raised arms. 'WHAT ABOUT CHILDREN'S PRISONS' is written on the fabric in black texta. Typewritten text below reads 'Wilma Robb )Cassidy) holds up her protest sign at the National Apology, Parliament House, Canberra, 16 November 2009. Photograph by George Serras'. - click to view larger image

White square damask table napkin with 'WHAT ABOUT / CHILDREN'S / PRISONS' handwritten in black marker pen. - click to view larger image

A photograph of a small rectangular cardboard sign coloured flourescent yellow on both sides. Raised green letters on the front read: 'the forgotten australians' with 'rembers' in pink. Handwritten text in red pen includes 'Acknowlegent of children who died in institutions', 'Failure of Governments and Religious Institutions which they placed me in and under duty of care to me as a state ward and protection'. The reverse is signed 'To Lana M Turnbull' above red handwriting that reads 'Suffer Litte children to Come - NO NOT ONE - unto ME. We were Robbed of our child life/hood'. - click to view larger image

Colour photo showing a pen and felt pen drawing on canvas with a timeline of dates, '1940 / 1950 /1960 / 2005', across the bottom. Various question marks are shown on the work, along with drawings of a baby, a person wearing a blindfold, a nun, a hangman and other figures and symbols. The handwritten text includes 'Traumatic times', 'Innocent deaths’ and words and phrases including ‘cryptic past, isolation, inexperienced, help, under slave act, How old am I?’ The artist's monogram in the lower right hand corner reads 'LSW - ALI'. - click to view larger image

A yellow envelope with blue handwritten text that reads 'C/O ALL / SO CALL ST John of God BrotHers / BRoHers are / 1 BENEDICT / 2 BEDE / 3 B[E]RKmakS / 4 RAFael / ALL OF THem are PEDOPHILES.' 'BURWOOD' is also written at the right side of the list of names. In the top left corner there is a rectangular shaped face crying tears. - click to view larger image

Exhibition graphic panel that reads: 'AFTER THE APOLOGY MY NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOUR WAVED TO ME FOR THE FIRST TIME', attributed to 'Diane Tronc, 2009'. - click to view larger image

Colour photograph showing three women standing outside a buildling. The women on either side wear red tops and Australian flags as skirts. - click to view larger image

Exhibition graphic panel that reads: 'To this day, I believe that someone should be accountable for the tragic occurrences that I witnessed and underwent at that time. When I recall these incidents, I do not believe that any apology given by the government is of any value to me', attributed to 'Janice Konstantinidis, 2011'. - click to view larger image

Exhibition graphic panel that reads: 'We have been listened to. We have been believed. We have been recognised,' attributed to 'Priscilla Taylor, 2009'. - click to view larger image

A hand-drawn map of Australia with the Northern Territory, New South Wales and Victoria coloured pink, and South Australia marked with diagonal pink lines. Written in red felt pen is 'REDRESS! / Only 3 States in Australia / have full redress. / Those states in pink / have no redress!/ Why Not? / Why this discrimination?'. - click to view larger image

A colour Polaroid photograph showing two women holding out white shirts with protest slogans written in black felt pen. The woman on the right's shirt reads 'ABUSED NEGLECTED WHILE IN STATE CARE' and the words 'ROYAL COMMISSION' are partially visible on her trousers. The woman on the right's shirt reads 'WHY ARE WE STILL FORGOTTEN'. Typewritten text under the photos reads: 'Kristina Tucker (left) and Julie Braddock wearing their protest clothing at the Canberra march marking the first anniversary of the National Apology to the Forgotten Australians and Former Child Migrants, November 2010'. 'photograph by George Serras, National Museum of Australia' is printed on the left. - click to view larger image

Polaroid photo showing protesters, with Old Parliament House and Mount Ainslie in the distance. In the foreground, a woman lies face down on the grass, wearing a white T-shirt covered with handwritten text 'NO PRIESTS ALLOWED'. Various protest banners are laid on the grass, and four people can be seen in the middle distance. One of them also wears a white T-shirt with writing on it. Typewritten text under the photo reads 'Kristina Tucker (foreground) and placards at the anniversary march, November 2010'. 'Photograph by George Serras, National Museum of Australia' is printed on the left side. - click to view larger image

A photograph of a piece of off-white cloth with 'NO PRIESTS ALLOWED' handwritten in black capital letters. Safety pins are attached to the top corners. - click to view larger image

Exhibition graphic panel of black handwritten text on a white background reads: 'BLACKFELLAS WILL GET THE WORDS, THE WHITEFELLAS WILL KEEP THE MONEY', attributed to 'Noel Pearson, 'Time Out' magazine (Sydney), May 2008'. - click to view larger image

A photograph of a yellow protest placard with the words in capital letters, 'CHILDREN BRUTALALISED (sic) IN STATE CHURCH + FOSTER CARE TIME FOR A ROYAL COMMISSION'. The post is brown with what appears to be white tape wrapped around it. - click to view larger image

A Polaroid photo of a woman holding a banner on a white cardboard sheet. Typewritten text below reads 'Gabrielle Short holding her placard at the anniversary march, November 2010.' 'Photograph by George Serras, National Museum of Australia' is printed along the left side. - click to view larger image

A placard made of a piece of pale blue cardboard with two computer printouts attached. Handwritten text across the bottom reads: 'DOCTORS ALLOWED TO USE CHILDREN AS GUINEA PIGS IN VACCINE RESEARCH EXPERIAMENTS.' The placard is attached to a piece of rolled brown cardboard with masking tape wrapped around it. - click to view larger image

Exhibition graphic panel in black handwritten text on a white background reads 'Although Australian governmetns have apologised to us, the Stolen Generations, the Child Migrants and the Forgotten Australians, they have yet to apologise to you, the Australian people. You bore not only the costs of the 'care' that failed us, but now the costs for the many who are broken and damaged in all sorts of ways. Homelessness, loneliness, addictions and imprisonment haunt our days,' attributed to 'John Murray, Positive Justice Centre, 2011'. - click to view larger image

A protest placard of white cardboard with black handwritten text that reads, 'SORRY / is not Enough!! / FORgottEN / AustRaLiANS / WANT / CompENSATiON / FOR THE ABuSE / WE SuffERED!!' - click to view larger image

Exhibition graphic panel that reads: 'The government has put on this exhibition using our stories, but it ends here. No justice! Please help us fight! I don't believe the government is sorry', attributed to 'Rhonda Trivett, 2011'. - click to view larger image

A colour photograph of a patchwork quilt made up of various coloured handkerchieves stitched together. The individual handkerchiefs have personal messages written and embroidered on them. - click to view larger image

Exhibition graphic panel that reads: 'Let our histories be visible', attributed to 'Submission 22, Senate Inquiry, 2004'. - click to view larger image

We were in the homes 14:07

This video has no sound. It includes photos by the National Museum’s George Serras and Jeremy Lucas from the National Apology to the Forgotten Australians and Former Child Migrants, Canberra, 2009; the national apology to former residents of the Salvation Army Homes, by the Salvation Army, Canberra, 2010; Forgotten Australians and Child Protection Week Committee Remembrance Day, Brisbane, 2011.

Rhonda Trivett: ‘I started a joke’ 02:58

Rhonda Trivett performs karaoke of the Bee Gees’ song ‘I started a joke’, 2010. John Kovacs. Rhonda was incarcerated for 8 years from the age of 13 in the locked adult psychiatric ward at Wolston Park Psychiatric Hopsital, Queensland. There was no diagnosis of mental illness. View transcript

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