Allan Allaway interviewed by Rob Willis in the Forgotten Australians and Former Child Migrants oral history project (2010)

[Taken from the NLA catalogue record]

Allan Allaway, born 1941, in Townsville, Qld., talks about the background to his birth; being removed from his mother by State Children's Department and placed in Neerkol Orphanage; the implements used at Neerkol for punishment purposes; provision of clothing for the children, visits by bureaucrats, conditions endured during parade and punishment for non compliance; food provided and the constant state of hunger; the daily routine; being told that his mother was dead; the District Inspector; the range of children, the system of breaking down the character of the child, the staff; being called by number not by name; no acknowledgement of birthdays; hygiene and medical treatment; the lack of trust; the buildings at the orphanage; punishments carried out by the Sisters; working in the laundry; the role of bells; bathing routines; boxing matches; incidents of abuse by a priest; working for a farmer after leaving Neerkol, his chores, treatment, hours worked and wages; meeting his mother, her child maintenance payments to the department and her death (1962); his contract work in the bush; his marriage and his family.

Allaway discusses his campaign for the recognition of mistreatment of children at the orphanage, the process and support; the establishment of Children's Commission; the Forde Inquiry; the establishment of Lotus Place, meetings with ministers to promote Child Safety in Communities; training sessions at Warilla Training Centre; his ability to survive and his personal situation today; his advocacy for children; the need to be a positive role model; his advocacy work at Lotus Place; the Historical Abuse Network; the Alliance for Forgotten Australians and funding; the Catholic Church, duty of care; reunion celebrations at Neerkol Orphanage; learning about life after leaving Neerkol; his reaction to the National Apology, the need for a redress scheme and concrete action; Anna Bligh; Out of home care programs; the duty of care of bureaucrats and politicians; locating his files under the freedom of information; what he would like to be remembered for.