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'Stolen' Aborigine apology demand 'Stolen' Aborigine apology demand
(20 minutes later)
A woman from Cwmbran is demanding an apology after discovering she was separated from her parents as a baby by the Australian government.A woman from Cwmbran is demanding an apology after discovering she was separated from her parents as a baby by the Australian government.
Leonie Pope was removed from her white father and Aboriginal mother in the country's "stolen generation" scandal.Leonie Pope was removed from her white father and Aboriginal mother in the country's "stolen generation" scandal.
Now she now wants compensation from the Australian government and is planning to emigrate and rejoin her siblings.Now she now wants compensation from the Australian government and is planning to emigrate and rejoin her siblings.
Premier John Howard has previously said his generation cannot be held responsible for what happened. Prime Minister John Howard has previously said his generation cannot be held responsible for what happened.
Ms Pope, a mother-of-three from Cwmbran, was adopted as a child and brought to Wales, over 30 years ago.Ms Pope, a mother-of-three from Cwmbran, was adopted as a child and brought to Wales, over 30 years ago.
Now she is preparing to move her husband Michael, 37, and children Joshua, eight, Matthew, seven, and Ffion, three, to be with her long lost siblings in Brisbane, Queensland.Now she is preparing to move her husband Michael, 37, and children Joshua, eight, Matthew, seven, and Ffion, three, to be with her long lost siblings in Brisbane, Queensland.
"It is going to feel like a complete story," said Ms Pope, 35, who has lived in Cwmbran for 20 years. "It is the ending we are all looking for.""It is going to feel like a complete story," said Ms Pope, 35, who has lived in Cwmbran for 20 years. "It is the ending we are all looking for."
It was good to know, to finally know that I did belong to people and that they were still there Leonie PopeIt was good to know, to finally know that I did belong to people and that they were still there Leonie Pope
In the period from 1910 to 1970, it is estimated that between 10-30% of indigenous children were forcibly removed from their families by government agencies in an attempt to "breed out" their Aborigine blood and give them a better life.In the period from 1910 to 1970, it is estimated that between 10-30% of indigenous children were forcibly removed from their families by government agencies in an attempt to "breed out" their Aborigine blood and give them a better life.
This policy was particularly focused on "mixed race" families. Ms Pope - whose mother was Aborigine and her father was white - said the Australian authorities should apologise.This policy was particularly focused on "mixed race" families. Ms Pope - whose mother was Aborigine and her father was white - said the Australian authorities should apologise.
Her adoptive parents, Neil and Gloria Pope, were told that her real mother had abandoned her at hospital.Her adoptive parents, Neil and Gloria Pope, were told that her real mother had abandoned her at hospital.
She began researching more about her roots as a teenager and after a long process she discovered her natural mother had battled hard to get her back only to be told her baby was dead.She began researching more about her roots as a teenager and after a long process she discovered her natural mother had battled hard to get her back only to be told her baby was dead.
The removal or Aboriginal children has been criticisedThe removal or Aboriginal children has been criticised
Her mother died before she could learn of her daughter's existence, but Ms Pope continued her search and, in 2004, discovered that she had six siblings.Her mother died before she could learn of her daughter's existence, but Ms Pope continued her search and, in 2004, discovered that she had six siblings.
Her sister Rosemary who had also been searching for her wrote her a letter.Her sister Rosemary who had also been searching for her wrote her a letter.
"I was nervous at reading it but all the information in there was just to say 'we are out here and we do want you'," she said."I was nervous at reading it but all the information in there was just to say 'we are out here and we do want you'," she said.
"It was good to know, to finally know that I did belong to people and that they were still there.""It was good to know, to finally know that I did belong to people and that they were still there."
Ms Pope first met five of her six siblings, who were all taken from her mother, at the start of this year.Ms Pope first met five of her six siblings, who were all taken from her mother, at the start of this year.
She also met other relatives, including her uncle Jeffrey Dynevor who became the first Aborigine to win a gold medal in the Commonwealth Games in 1963.She also met other relatives, including her uncle Jeffrey Dynevor who became the first Aborigine to win a gold medal in the Commonwealth Games in 1963.
When I flew back it was really difficult leaving. I must say if it hadn't have been for my children I would not have returned Leonie PopeWhen I flew back it was really difficult leaving. I must say if it hadn't have been for my children I would not have returned Leonie Pope
"When I landed in Brisbane... waiting for my luggage seemed to be the longest part of the journey knowing that my sister was on the other side of the glass waiting for me," she said."When I landed in Brisbane... waiting for my luggage seemed to be the longest part of the journey knowing that my sister was on the other side of the glass waiting for me," she said.
"Then I walked out and she was there. I found it was not a difficult process at all. It felt like I had always been there."Then I walked out and she was there. I found it was not a difficult process at all. It felt like I had always been there.
"When I flew back it was really difficult leaving. I must say if it hadn't have been for my children and husband I would not have returned.""When I flew back it was really difficult leaving. I must say if it hadn't have been for my children and husband I would not have returned."
The plight of the so-called Stolen Generations was dramatised in the Philip Noyce film Rabbit-Proof Fence, which was released in 2002.The plight of the so-called Stolen Generations was dramatised in the Philip Noyce film Rabbit-Proof Fence, which was released in 2002.
The policy was only publicly acknowledged in 1997, when the results of a judicial inquiry were published. The policy was only publicly acknowledged in 1997, when the results of an inquiry were published.