Day 2 of the Meanjin (Brisbane) Truth-telling Hearing included the testimony of two participants – David Wragge and Aunty Ruth Hegarty. 

David, a Wakka Wakka man, started his evidence by describing his grandparents being picked up and sent to Cherbourg and living his younger years happily with family in Cherbourg, saying that Cherbourg had a caring spirit and Elders would look after children. 

After the breakup of his parents’ marriage, and with his granny having multiple children to look after, David entered the dormitory at age 9. 

The struggles of dormitory life 

He remembers the day, “it was terrible because my youngest brother at the time ...was only 3 and a half... [and] couldn’t come into the boys’ quarters with us.... He had to go into the babies’ quarters and that was quite horrific for us and ...would have been horrific for him.  He thought [one of the ladies looking after him], he thought was his mother.” 

David couldn’t see his parents while living in the Boy’s Home. His father, who would go out to work for months, would come to visit but needed a permit.  

He described the process for getting clothes each morning from the communal linen closet, and not having any clothing that was his until going to high school. David stated that, “it impacts you as a child when you don’t even have your own clothing.” 

David recalls there being no love given to the children in the dormitory, no birthdays and having to bathe in the cold river even in winter. He also referred to severe punishments – beating, floggings being part of the daily routine. 

David talked about having wonderful teachers and how that has stayed with him.  

In talking about the dormitory building, he stated that there was no security and the Boy’s Home was open to the community, with men from other locations coming in to stay, enabling abuse.  Physical, sexual and mental abuse. 

“You should never have children with men or adults in the same location... that’s where bad things happen,” David said. 

At 15 years old David was called into the Manager’s Office, which was daunting (as this could mean being sent away), however it led to him leaving the dormitory with his mother and grandfather and moving to Brisbane. 

A focus on education, working, protecting children and helping communities 

In the years that followed, David dedicated himself to finishing his senior education, getting a job 2-weeks after finishing. 

David shared that, “my parents, my grandparents, my community all believe in people working and contributing.” 

David has a life-long passion for protecting children and helping communities. He talked about the need for redress, aged care and trauma welling for the Stolen Generation.  

“Some men and women in the dormitory with us, never recovered, never ever recovered from the trauma. We always acknowledge them when we gather.” 

David concluded by saying, “I'm really proud [about] telling others about the history. Not to make people feel guilty. That's why I really believe in the truth‑telling and the history being told right across Australia, the history of Queensland.... most Queenslanders don’t know the real truth.  And it's really, really important that the truth be told and it goes into curriculum, goes into the schools and university.” 

Lived experience of 95-year old Elder 

Aunty Ruth, a Gunggari woman, shared her story of her grandad being advised by the Sergeant to go to Barambah for a little while, and selling everything to pay for their fare. 

She reflected how he trusted the Sergeant and “this is what I think about a lot, the trust you’re supposed to have in these people. But it didn’t work out.” 

Aunty Ruth was four and a half when she was sent to school, which she somehow knew was to be her salvation as there were no books or toys in the home, but the sad part was it meant she was no longer allowed to live with her mother, but had to sleep by herself in the dormitory.  

Aunty Ruth talked about dropping a spoon to try to get her mother’s attention when in the dining hall or yard. She was 5-years old when her mother was sent away to work elsewhere. 

Trauma of being removed from her mother 

“Who would do that to a child? They just take your mum, they took everyone’s mum. We had no mothers.” 

Aunty Ruth talked about there being nothing much in the pantry and freezing in the winter, with the children putting their mattresses on them for extra warmth. There were no shoes, no socks, and there was always hunger.  

At 14 years old, Aunty Ruth was sent out to work, having to travel alone. She shared stories about pushing her dresser against the door at night, and a Headmaster who was nasty and harassed the girls. 

“We were there to be used and abused, by anyone,” Aunty Ruth said. “A lot of girls came back pregnant… You couldn’t say no or scream out or you’d get punished.” 

“It wasn’t an easy time, it wasn’t an easy life for anybody.” 

In concluding Aunty Ruth said, “We’ve got to live as Australians as people of this country, we’ve been here long enough anyways.  And that’s always my message.  We have to live as Australians of this country.”   

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Article: Inquiry commences its first hearing 

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