The stolen generation

DURING my last trip to Alice Springs, I took a tour of the old telegraph station.

The tour was conducted by an elderly Aboriginal man. After the tour concluded I found myself alone with the tour leader.

He told me that he was part of the Stolen Generation. He had been taken away and educated, then had a successful working life, homeowner, and raised a family.

He had nothing but admiration for the system, also telling me that his brothers and sisters had died prematurely when they were not taken away.

I said why don’t you put your story out there.

His reply was, the Aboriginal Hierarchy does not want to hear it.

Here are some things stolen.

Smoking ceremony, stolen from the Hawaiians.

One Nations People, stolen from the North American Indians.

Totems, stolen from the Canadian Indians.

Mark Horrock