Martin2005

I should bloody think so

I was absolutely shocked that this happened. Certainly cast a new light on our supposed 'halcyon years'

cster

All I can say is that words are cheap.
Unfortunately these are the types of policy you get, when the ***** in government think they know what is good for others.

David Lock

Yes a truly awful part of our history - relatively recently as well.

Does anyone know why this happened to start with? I don't think they were all kids from unmarried mothers or were that from families with other problems? Did Australia take them willingly as free labour although I see it must have cost them when some kids were very young.

There is an irony of course in that many in the UK would support shipping out all the young chavs and kids that mess up our society. What a joy that would be.

dl

Martin2005

They were largely the poor, many of them orphans. Australias racist immigration policy resulted in them being desparate for 'White' immigrants to bolster their population

Leslie

Certainly a shameful episode and it is a good thing to face up to giving those apologies. Just to think of children being sent off while being told their parents are dead makes me wild.

Les

Lee247

There was a lady talking about her experiences on Breakfast TV, before I went to work.
To see her still so upset, was terrible

Trout

iTrader: (1)

I was put up for adoption in the '60s - knowing this I realise how lucky I was not to be pure white stock otherwise I would be posting this from some backwater near Alice Springs, holding a tinny, driving my 'Ute and reflecting on the ease at which I could ***t myself at a moments notice.

hodgy0_2

Yes -- it makes a mockery of this constant harking back to the mythical past where everything was golden (always 25 years ago you will find)

All warm beer, hot summers and proper cold winters – was rubbish when it was spouted in the 70’s & 80’s and is still rubbish now.

hodgy0_2

i suppose, on the bright side -- back in those dark dark days, when this shameful policy was devised and executed Britain was well, British --- whiter, if you know what I mean

Martin2005

Dave, sorry fella but you are unbelievably wrong here, it's absolutely RIGHT for both governments to apologise, simply because the victims are alive and desparately wanted the statements of apology from both leaders, would you deny them that?

I wish you'd just park your hatred for a minute to just consider the victims of this appalling episode. You know some things are just the right thing to do irrespective of politics!

The Zohan

Dave, He gets carried away from time to time

Oh and Red Ken beat brown and Blair to it - have a read; http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2...on.humanrights And Kenny was not one to apologise for very much, including insulting a jewish photographer comparing him to a **** concentration camp guard - the cynic in me might think he was playing to the media

Now the govenments have apologised:
How about finding and punishing those responsible for the lies and disception
How about finding and punishing those respobnsible for the child cruelty and abuse
And punishing these buggers!

This went on until the early 60's so some of the perpetratiors will still be alive, why not go after them...

The Trooper 1815

iTrader: (31)

The Canadians where doing this but stopped in the 1930's. The Aussies panicked after WW2 because of the yellow tide from east asia and where trying to redress the balance of colour.

Many where not orphans and where told their parents where dead! I listened to a man yesterday who discovered his father had died after he had been sent to Oz and he had brothers and sisters back in the UK.

If you think this was bad watch a film called "Rabbit Proof Fence" or "The Magdalene Sisters". This was going on until the mid-1970's.

Trout

iTrader: (1)

Dave,

look at it from the perspective of the victims. They absolutely want someone to accept responsibility for a dreadful episode from history. In many cases a legalised version of child trafficking.

The apology is not by Rudd or Brown, it is made by them on behalf of Government. It is the office, not the person, rightfully making the apology.

This at least allows some acceptance of responsibility to be taken and an official acceptance of the victims plight.

Trout

Leslie

Do you actually remember those times yourself, or even earlier perhap's.

Les

hodgy0_2

yes I do

and I remember people saying how much better everything was "20 years ago" all through the 70's 80's and 90's

and in 20 years time they will be saying it about the present

off course we always eulogise about the past but I always think it is an easy and trite comment to make especially in a discussion about the relative merits of past and present society.

it’s not perfect now, by any means, but by god its better than it was

take infant and child mortality -- in the 50’s 60's and 70's the biggest killer of children was disease (in all its forms)

now it is pretty rare for disease to kill children -- so rare that it usually makes the headlines

Incidentally, I believe the biggest killer of children now is cars

Trout

iTrader: (1)

A question for you then - if there is no 'apology' which in itself is nothing more than a word - how do you think the victims get recognition/acceptance/responsibility for their plight?

As a victim this can be a very important part of healing. It is not the only way but for many it is the easiest way.

greenonedave

I had met one of the boys who had been sent to Australia under this scheme, back in 1974, he had been in jail once or twice, he went back to Australia and commited a pretty serious crime and was jailed for life, Needless to say that if you do some research into the conditions that some of these lads endured it kind of explains why some of the worst criminals in Australian history are lads that went to certain correctional homes
after being sent from the UK.

dpb

or was it the british who put up this slogan - queen head of the commonwealth and all

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

TBH, pretty sick of Brown apologising for stuff he DIDN'T do, but refusing point blank to apologise for stuff he and Bliar did do.

Martin2005

Oh dear I fear our recent meetings of mind have come to a shuddering halt

It cannot possibly be 'sick' to apologise can it??

Martin2005

Sometimes I just don't understand where you re coming from.

Why are YOU trying to make this political?

I couldn't give a flying **** about the government and it's motives (assuming I take the same tragic perspective as you and that daft website/blog you keep insisting as a 'source'). Ultimately the victims wanted the governments to apologise, you would deny them that?

The only 'sick' thing is people using this as an excuse to bash the government

cster

Perhaps the word he was looking for was slick.
I wouldn't be too hard on the poster for assuming Brown has done this for political reasons.
It is the nature of the politic beast and lets face it, this is an area of totally risk free positive capital.
Plus you get the additional laugh of Brown trying to look humble Win win as they say
Can't wait to see the video. Is it going to be on youtube this time?

Trout

iTrader: (1)

Dave H,

your criticism of the political dimension is fair - however you have chosen not to answer my question. Rather than just criticising - what would be your suggestion as to how the victims could be best supported in getting acceptance/responsibility/closure.

If you can answer this then your criticism can only gain weight as there may be an equally powerful and valid alternative.

Trout (still up as when the youngest finally went back to sleep the older one woke up crying - and now it is morning!!)

Leslie

I am glad you remember those times. A lot of what you say is true of course, but I remember back a bit earlier than that and what was so much better was peoples' attitude in general. Most thought of others before themselves, there was less of the "look after number one" and also there was less crime and petty thieving. Mugging with violence of course had not been heard of in this country. People felt in general that they could trust others and that they would not be ripped off. If anyone was seen to be in trouble for some reason, there would always be someone else who would try to help.

It was even felt that politicians could be trusted and that was rarely misplaced. Anyone who screwed up thorough his own fault or who was caught fiddling would resign from the job without question.

Yes the medical abilities and facilities were not as advanced as now of course and we were still learning about diseases and how to cure them. Most lived a fairly healthy life though, not so much of the fast food about which was not a bad thing. Healthy eating then was purely a natural way to live anyway.

When you take an enquiring look at the world today and the way life in general is heading with selfish people jockeying for more and more power and the advantages financial and otherwise which they are only too happy to take full advantage of, there are good reasons for thinking well of earlier times.

We are being herded together now and being fooled also into what will become an Orwellian existence-and I can assure you, that will not be very nice!

Les

hodgy0_2

les -- i wouldn’t really disagree with anything you say (especially the surveillance society) -- but I don’t think it is entirely Gordon Browns fault, who, I actually think, wants to do the right thing, but just has some serious personality flaws to contend with

test match cricket back on terrestial TV would be a start