Perth woman re-united with mother after 50 years thanks to Child Migrants Trust

16/4/02
The State Government's funding of the Child Migrants Trust has paid off for one Perth woman, who will be reunited with her 86-year-old mother from whom she was separated as a baby.
Marcelle O'Brien left Perth today for the United Kingdom to meet her mother of whom she has no memories and a sister she didn't know she had.
Ms O'Brien arrived in Perth at the age of five as part of the Commonwealth Child Migration Scheme. She had lived with a foster family in the United Kingdom from the age of one until she came to Australia in 1949.
The Child Migrants Trust helped Marcelle to locate her mother.
Community Development Minister Sheila McHale farewelled Ms O'Brien at the Perth International Airport.
In August 2001, Ms McHale announced an additional $36,000 in funding for the Child Migrants Trust on top of its annual allocation from the State Government of $64,000.
The Minister said it was heart-warming to see how the trust assisted the lives of individuals.
"The years of loss and sadness through separation can now come to end for this family," she said.
"It took many years and much hard work for the trust and Ms O'Brien to locate her mother. I congratulate them on their perseverance.
"The trust supports up to 40 reunions with family each year for its clients in Western Australia."
The Child Migrants Trust is an organisation that provides services to former British child migrants.
Between 1913 and 1968 approximately 2,950 British children were sent to WA.
In Australia, the trust operates offices in Melbourne and Perth. A higher percentage of child migrants were located in WA than in other States. The trust currently has 300 clients in WA.
Minister's Office - 9213 6900