On Thursday, 28th July, the Year 9 cohort was fortunate enough to be enlightened and educated by Sheila Humphries, an Aboriginal Nyoongar Woman from the Yuat tribe about her experience and the suffering she endured as part of the Stolen Generation. Mrs Humphries brought her son, Bill, with her whilst she voiced her heartbreaking story. Hearing about the conditions that they lived in, the punishments that they endured and the way that they were mistreated brought tears to some, but astonished us all. It is crucial that our generation is educated about the Stolen Generation so that their struggle and story is not forgotten.
Mrs Humphries was placed in an orphanage in New Norcia by her mother along with her sister when they were small. They were badly mistreated and trained to work as servants for whoever needed them. Many of the girls were made to work in the laundry daily, ironing, washing and drying over 200 shirts. When government officials were instructed to check the orphanage that the girls were imprisoned in, the nuns decorated the facility with items such as bars of soap, towels, toothbrushes and toothpaste but removed them once the officials left; just as the girls were forced to dress in clean, ironed clothes but ordered to get changed as soon as the inspection was over.
Personally, one of the most heartbreaking aspects of Mrs Humphries experience was the agony that she and her sister endured when their mother died. The two young and vulnerable girls were abruptly told by one of the nuns, “Your mother is dead, get back to work” and they were expected to show no emotion and they were given no time to grieve their loss.
As well as being a highly respected lady, Mrs Humphries is an honoured Aboriginal artist and she is recognised worldwide for holding the Guinness World Record in 2007 for creating the largest Australian Aboriginal artwork along with artists Fatima Drayton and Deborah Nannup in New Norcia on Australia Day, 2007.
We were extremely fortunate to be able to learn about the Stolen Generation from Mrs Sheila Humphries and grateful that she shared her experience with us.
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