24 May 2024
Plumpton High School welcomed Aboriginal Elder Uncle Dennis Dunn to speak at our Sorry Day Ceremony in 2024. Uncle Dennis is from the Stolen Generation below is his story that he delivered at the moving ceremony led by three of our Aboriginal Student Executive Council members. A huge thank you to our Intercultural Understanding Team led by Karlene Rex – Aboriginal Education Officer and Claire Leihn – Deputy Principal who organised the ceremony.
Below is Uncle Dennis’ story that he kindly allowed us to share.
“Before I start, I would like to acknowledge our ancestors and Elders Past & Present and to our Future Elders who are upcoming.
Hi, my name is Uncle Dennis Dunn, Born in Wellington NSW and am a former Stolen Generation survivor, 1960 taken at the early age of 4yrs old now in my 60s. I am a proud Wiradjuri Elder recognised and acknowledged throughout many communities I have visited. I now enjoy talking and teaching our young people of the many things that we endured throughout our lives of trauma and the journey back to our people and Country, our fight for Justice and belonging to make sure our next generation of children do not go through what we did.
I am writing this as it is hard for us to stand and talk about the harsh punishments, we - The Stolen Generation went through. What I am speaking of today are my memories of what is etched within each of our minds - a pain and torment that will never go away.
Like the stories of the world, those who went through Slavery others who were destroyed by war, like us there were many people who have suffered.
But today I am here talking about what was once a proud race of people who were taken from their Families/Tribes and Culture who were assimilated within a different culture.
What we call "The white man's European culture".
The first sadness which I still remember so clear in my mind was to watch our mothers, Fathers, Sisters, Brothers, Aunties and Uncles disappear into the distance from the back window of a welfare/police car.
This was the last memory for some who never returned.
For others it was too late, and they were not to know that they would not see their parents or families ever again.
Once we were taken our sisters and brothers were either split up or separated and put into different Institutions, Homes or adopted out to families where we would do work around their homes.
The women were forced to look after their fostered family's babies, clean the house, do the laundry and cooking.
The men were forced to work in fields on farms or being a yard boy for their fostered parent's - there was always plenty of laborious work to be done.
For those who were left behind - being in the Institutions it was a different story where we had to do what we were told by forceful hands.
What happened to me happened to others - being given the cane "six cuts" - three on the front and back of each hand.
If you were a coward or scared and moved your hands away whilst getting the cane, you were then slashed around the legs with the cane and made to hold out your hands.
This cane was given to me and other boys in the institution until we messed ourselves and peed in our trousers - we would be shaking and crying in front of all the other boys in an assembly. We were then made to stand with our face to the wall. We were not permitted to have a shower to clean ourselves up until we went to bed later that night.
Other times we were made to peel a big hessian bag of potatoes or shovel coal into what we called a "donkey" - otherwise known as the boiler for all the hot water throughout the house as punishment.
The floors of the institution had to be scrubbed whilst we were on our hands and knees - ten boys in a row across. With three to five boys with rags or mops following behind us scrubbing. It was then followed by two boys who would use a polisher to shine the floor. lf there was no floor polisher, they would make boys come behind us with dry rags to dry the floor.
Other jobs which we were made to do were cleaning of the stairs, banisters sweeping the floors. This was checked to ensure that everything was clean. If it wasn't cleaned to a high standard, you would have to do it again till it was how they liked it.
Outside boys were made to keep the grounds looking pristine while the other boys worked in the stables looking after the horses by picking up the horse dung for the gardens and making sure the horses were looked after by hosing them down, brushing them and feeding them.
The kitchen was a place where six to seven boys worked even though we had a cook on site. We had to ensure everything clean and ready to be used. If the truth be told, we prepared the meals the cook only had to put the pot on the big stove than dish it out.
We all never stayed in one place for long. Some of the kids were taken to Kinchela, where a lot went through other types of inhumane punishment, such as being sent down a line between two rows of boys where they were made to punch you - if you never threw a punch, you were sent down the line too.
Smaller punishments which you were disciplined with was if you played up - you would-be put-on detention and not allowed to play with the other boys. Or you would miss out on sweets come dinner time.
If you were considered bad, you were locked up in confinement and given bread and water. After this punishment you would receive six cuts of the cane and not let out till, they were ready to let you out.
A lot of punishments were handed out in different Institutions/Homes these are just a few that I and many of the other boys went through.
Whilst being made to live in these Institutions/ Homes some of us would ask about our parents and families - we were told they did not want us, or they did not know how to look after us, or they simply had just passed away.
Some of us thought we would be there till we died. It was hard for us to understand why?
We had to learn through our own instincts to adapt and follow the older boys who would look after us.
As for the sisters who were taken this is something, they should tell you.
Since I was released, I have heard a lot of stories and known about some of the sister girls who have died through the unforgiven horrors that they went through.
After the sisters were put into society some committing suicide gassing or hanging themselves. I was in the homes with their brothers, the feeling of hate and anger that flowed through me, thanking God I could hold on to live another day.
The stories could go on -too many horrific memories, some we have hidden within our minds. If released, we would surely break down.
Today we stand united with the notion that we must now move forward and create a pathway for our present and future Generation to come.
It is hard but we are fighters, now known and respected as an Elder of many communities.
It is my mission to continue to pass down these horrific experiences of life that I lived with and the knowledge that was bestowed to me through Elders before me.
It is our tradition that must be passed down to the next Generation and to future Generations for our people and society to know the truth.
Today I stand proud knowing I work for Link-Up NSW.
Not because of the money, it is a passion that I am devoted to, in helping my fellow Sisters and Brothers, Mothers and Fathers, Aunties and Uncles who have endured a life of trauma from the days of assimilation of the government policies.
Taken away from our people and culture that we belonged to our rightful heritage.
Now we live through the struggles of others by reconnecting families through Link-Up NSW, without the dedication, love, and passion from the Link-Up family this would never happen.
My Link-Up family that I and many others appreciate and are thankful for from the bottom of our hearts, I feel blessed working with such a wonderful, dedicated team”.
Uncle Dennis Dunn: Acknowledged and respected proud Elder of many communities.
Tim Lloyd, Principal
