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Lady Edeline Hospital for Sick Babies

The Lady Edeline Hospital for Sick Babies was a government children’s hospital at Nielsen Park, in Vaucluse, in an historic house called ‘Greycliffe’. It began in 1914. It had 40 cots and was intended as a hospital to nurse babies who were sick with gastroenteritis, which was common in Sydney summer. It closed in 1936…

Tresillian Mothercraft Homes, Royal Society for the Welfare of Mothers and Babies

Tresillian is an organisation that provides support to families caring for children under the age of five years. Tresillian’s proper name is the Royal Society for Mothers and Babies, which was formed in 1918 to save the lives of infants by promoting health and education. Tresillian Homes were affiliated with most of the hospitals and…

Charlton Boys’ Home, Ashfield

Charlton Boys’ Home, Ashfield was established in 1966 by the Anglican Home Mission Society. It had earlier been located in Glebe, and moved into a property that been formerly the Milleewa Boys’ Home. In the late 1970s this property became known as Robinson Home. Charlton was run by the Anglican Home Mission Society, and the…

Frank Weston interviewed by Catherine Johnson in the NSW Bicentennial oral history collection [sound recording]

Born in Sydney, Weston speaks of his family background, childhood, break up of parents’ marriage, life in Sydney, being placed in Westmead [St Vincent’s] boys home by his mother, being classed as “a naughty boy”, conditions, life and work, education, in home ; running away and his life out of care, including marriage. Access Conditions…

Apology to Australia’s Indigenous Peoples, Parliament of Australia

On 13 February 2008, then Prime Minister Kevin Rudd opened the Parliament of Australia by apologising to the Indigenous peoples of Australia. The Prime Minister said: We apologise for the laws and policies of successive Parliaments and governments that have inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss on these our fellow Australians. We apologise especially for…

Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia and Papua New Guinea

The Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia and Papua New Guinea (ISMAPNG) was formed on December 12, 2011 from a number of congregations of the Sisters of Mercy across Australia and Papua New Guinea. ISMAPNG is a congregation of Catholic women who aim to serve people who experience injustices related to poverty, sickness or…

State Children Relief Act 1896, New South Wales

The State Children Relief Act 1896 amended the State Children Relief Act 1881 to provide clearer regulations around the boarding out and apprenticeship of state children. It provided for state children to be cared for in cottage homes, and created a system for dealing with the money earned by apprentices. It also allowed children to…

Redfern Aboriginal Children’s Service

Redfern Aboriginal Children’s Service was established in 1975. It was established out of the Aboriginal Legal Service, as a result of a high number of Aboriginal children escaping from custody or from fostering situations and coming to Redfern to search for their families. Many Aboriginal children were either placed into the care of non-Aboriginal families,…

Dr Dill Macky Memorial Home for Children, Auburn

The Dill Macky Memorial Home for Children, Auburn, was established by the Australian Protestant Orphans’ Society in June 1917. It had previously been the King Edward VII Home but was renamed after the death of the founder of the Australian Protestant Orphan Society and the King Edward VII Home, Dr Dill Macky. The Auburn home…

Bush Church Aid Society

The Bush Church Aid Society is a Christian ministry that has provided religious education, flying padres and counselling, welfare and medical services across outback Australia. In 2012, many of its workers are Aboriginal. It also ran children’s hostels, providing accommodation and residential support for children who had to leave their homes for their education. One…