MEDIA RELEASE 27. 11. 2009
Stolen Generations give back to the Australian people
Saturday the 28th
November 2009 will mark the handover to the Australian
National Museum of the Albert Namatjira Painting “
Arreyonga Paddock, James
Range”
by the “Girls” who were previously residents of the Cootamundra
Aboriginal Girls Training Home.
This painting was presented by the artist to the “Girls” in 1957
and hung in the
main dormitory of the home until its closure in the early 1970s. It remained in the
custody of DoCS until May 1998 when it was handed back to the “Girls”
by the
then Minister of Community Services - Faye Lo Po.
From
that time
-
until June 2009
it was
in
the
safe keeping of NSW State
Archives waiting for
decision to be made by the “Girls”
as to where it should be
permanently displayed.
A decision was made, that due to the painting’s historical significance, it would be
donated in perpetuity to the Australian National Museum for the benefit of all
Australians. A Deed of Assignment was signed between the Girls, the Museum
and Jenny Mason (the Director General of DoCS)
on the 6th of June 2009 at a
ceremony held at the State Archives.
Federal funding was made available through OATSIH to enable some of
the Girls to travel to Canberra for tomorrow’s handover ceremony, which is
being coordinated by the Stolen Generations Council of NSW/ACT and
Link-Up NSW. Additional funding was provided by Human Services –
Community Services (previously DoCS) to have prints made of the painting
to be given to all former residents of the home.
The NSW Minister of Community Services, Linda Burney said,
“this is a very
generous gift from the Cootamundra Girls for the benefit of all Australians. The
girls' decision to donate this valuable and important painting by one of our
country's greatest artists to our national museum says much about their spirit and
courage despite the suffering they experienced as members of the stolen
generation"
More:-
Lola Edwards the Secretary of the Stolen Generations Council of NSW/ACT
said,
“I hope that this gift will not only help to heal some of the anguish
and
trauma that many of the Girls suffered through their removal from their families –
but that the gesture will help to build relationships between Aboriginal people and
all other Australians.”
The painting conservatively valued at $80,000 dollars will be officially handed
over at 10am on Saturday
28th
November 2009 at a ceremony to be held at the
museum.
For Media Comment
Lola Edwards - Secretary SGC – mobile 0406 089 314
The Aboriginal Child, Family and Community Care State Secretariat (AbSec) is the
peak NSW Aboriginal organisation giving voice to and supporting children,
families and their communities within the social services sector.
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