Alleged victims of Darwin children’s home demand memorial site

By Amos Aikman
Australian
October 02, 2014

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/indigenous/alleged-victims-of-darwin-childrens-home-demand-memorial-site/story-fn9hm1pm-1227077054542

FORMER residents of a Darwin missionary home where Stolen Generations and other children were allegedly serially sexually abused have threatened demonstrations if the site is not given to them and turned into a community centre and a “sea of flowers”.

A group marched on a Darwin police station yesterday demanding action against convicted pedophile Donald Henderson, who a royal commission has heard molested children at the Retta Dixon Home in the 1960s and 1970s.

The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse concluded yesterday after nearly two weeks of hearings into alleged abuse at the home operated by Australian Indigenous Ministries inside Darwin’s Bagot Aboriginal reserve.

The commission heard children were routinely beaten, chained up and subjected to shocking viol­ations, including being raped repeatedly, being rubbed with feces and forced to eat their own vomit.

Nine former residents testified that much of the abuse was committed by the missionaries and the protagonist was Henderson, a house parent, now 78.

At the site near Darwin airport, a few concrete slabs remain. Several years ago, former residents blocked plans to dedicate the area to the Queen Mother, and erected a sign naming it Karu Park.

Discussions have explored giving the land, estimated to be worth several million dollars, to the Northern Land Council to administer as part of the Kenbi land claim. Planning has also begun for future development.

However, former resident Sue Roman and others called for the site to be given to them as a memorial and Aboriginal community centre. It was not clear who would pay for this.

Northern Territory Chief Minister Adam Giles said talks had begun with indigenous groups.

Former residents are expected to expand demands for compensation at a Karu Park ceremony on Saturday.

The commission heard yesterday that victims could apply to a Territory government compensa­tion scheme paying up to $40,000.