Full-circle for former Sister Kate's Children's Home

9/5/04
The site of the former Sister Kate's Children's Home for Aboriginal children has been leased today by a group that wants to develop an aged care facility for the now elderly people who grew up at the institution.
Housing and Works Minister Nick Griffiths said the lease of the Queens Park site by Sister Kate's Children 1934-1953 Incorporated demonstrated the strong bonds formed between the children during their forced institutionalisation.
"Sister Kate's Children's Home was opened in 1934 to care for Aboriginal children who had been taken from their parents under the Government policy of that day," Mr Griffiths said.
"It operated until 1974, after which the site was renamed Manguri and was used by the Manguri Corporation for the Development of the Aboriginal Community.
"Today, the Uniting Church Synod of Western Australia, which was bequeathed the land in 1953, leased the site to Sister Kate's Children 1934-1953 Inc in support of their proposal to develop a 30-bed aged care facility.
"The facility will house seniors who spent their childhoods at Sister Kate's, allowing them to reside where they grew-up and be surrounded by what is, for many of them, the only family they have ever known.
"The proposed development of this facility is a gesture of appreciation to the group's older members, who in the absence of a traditional family structure, cared for and nurtured the younger members at the home."
Mr Griffiths said the Department of Housing and Works' community housing branch was helping the group to get the proposal for the aged care facility off the ground.
"Development of a feasibility study and a conceptual plan are progressing; however, in the meantime, the handover of this lease is a major step forward in the progress of this project," he said.
Minister's office: 9222 8950