Former Child Migrants commemorative lunch set to honour the 1947 arrivals

26 Apr 2017

By The Record

The Asturius. 70 years after they first arrived in Western Australia, Former Child Migrants who arrived in Fremantle from London on board the Asturius and the Ormonde are gathering for a special reunion luncheon. Photo: Dr Barry York PhD, OAM, Historian

Seventy years after they first arrived in Western Australia, Former Child Migrants who arrived in Fremantle from London and attended Catholic Orphanages are gathering for a special reunion luncheon to acknowledge not only their personal journey, but also their extraordinary contribution to Western Australia.

The children, 330 in total, were sent from the United Kingdom to Western Australia in 1947 on three distinct ship journeys, on board the Asturius in September, the Ormonde in November and the Asturius again in December.

Upon their arrival, the children were met by then Archbishop Redmond Prendiville and, following a welcome meal in St Patrick’s Parish Hall in Fremantle, were dispersed to Catholic Orphanages throughout WA.

These were St Joseph’s Orphanage in Subiaco; Nazareth House in Geraldton; Tardun and Bindoon Farm Schools and Clontarf and Castledare Orphanages.

The date chosen for the reunion, 27 May, marks another very special event, because on this date in 1997, 40 former residents of St Joseph’s and Nazareth House joined together, to plan and execute a return visit to the Orphanages from where they had come.

This was named their “Sentimental Journey”

Maureen Colgan, who is a member of the 2017 organising committee, told The eRecord that from the moment the women stepped on the plane to London and the ensuing visits to their ‘home’ orphanages in 1997, they were treated with deep respect and a wonderfully warm welcome.

“Extraordinary media coverage around the world was positive and affirming,” Mrs Colgan said.

Mrs Colgan also noted that the spontaneous, sincere and compassionate apology delivered by Canon Fisher, in Westminster Cathedral Hall was profound.

This was followed by an apology from then Cardinal Basil Hume (now deceased) who presented the women with a personally autographed history of Westminster Cathedral from 1895 -1995.

This year’s Reunion marks the 20 Anniversary of the Sentimental Journey and the 70th year since their arrival in 1947.

The Organising Committee is looking forward to welcoming this special group of people to the Reunion which is being held in their honour.

There will be opportunities for attendees to have photographs taken as a way of acknowledging their story.

For more information, on the Reunion lunch, please contact Maureen Colgan on (08) 9317 2753 or 0409 317 774 or via email at mcolgan@westnet.com.au