I was asked to write a brief overview of the history of the Apology Alliance for the Without Consent Exhibition currently on show at the National Archives in Canberra.

The Exhibition is  amazing and something that I never dreamed I would see in my lifetime:  the truth finally being presented to the public. To see the cruel, barbaric and previously hidden history of the theft of thousands of newborns from their young healthy mothers for the purpose of adoption finally exposed is one more step in our healing process . Our story is truly one of a stolen generation of White Australians.  As was stated by an Aboriginal Elder at a National Adoption Conference held back in 1994: “No wonder they did it to us (the Stolen Generations) they did it to their own”!

You can access the history at the following URL  https://apologyalliance.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/overview-of-the-apology-alliance-australia-3.pdf

The Exhibition came about because of the Federal Apology and was opened to coincide and commemorate its 2nd anniversary.

The Federal Apology was truly remarkable and a turning point for many of us.  I was very proud to be part of the Working Group that was involved in drafting the formal part of the apology given by the then Prime Minister Julia Gillard to the nation on March 21, 2013.  The above photo features the Working Group and my granddaughter is standing beside the former PM

Dr. Christine Cole

Convenor  – Apology Alliance Australia