Sunday Nights with Rev Bill Crews – Interview with Leonie Sheedy
Rev Bill Crews talks to Leonie Sheedy co-founder and CEO of Care Leavers Australia Network, who was in attendance when Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan fought back tears during a rare joint sitting of parliament to mark a historic apology to children who were neglected or abused while in institutional care.
Click here to listen or download the podcast.
Click here to listen to the Parliamentary apology to care leavers.
Dear Clannies,
Please note that CLAN will be closed on Wednesday 21 February 2024 for staff training. The office will reopen again at 9am on Thursday 22 February 2024.
You can still leave a message and staff will return any calls upon their return.
Have a safe weekend.
Hooroo
The CLAN Team
Thank you to Cath from of Fully Promoted, Geelong rushing to get our new T-Shirts done by laser printing in time for the Victorian Apology on 8 February 2024.
Cost is $30, postage is additional.
We have S M L XL 2XL & 3XL at the Australian Orphanage Museum.
The words on the back read “Justice & Redress for ALL Australian Care Leavers”.
Free buses to Parliament House
Buses will be available to transport people to and from the following regional cities:
Bendigo – Arrival 8:00am for 8:15am departure: Bendigo Railway Station, Railway Place, Bendigo. The bus will be parked opposite the Bendigo Railway Station, in front of Woolworths Bendigo Market Place.
Ballarat – Arrival 8:15am for 8:30 am departure: Ballarat Railway Station, Lydiard Street North, Ballarat. The bus will be parked within the station grounds, in a location for buses only.
Geelong – Arrival 8:30am for 9:00 am departure: Geelong, Corner Ryrie Street and Fitzroy Street, Geelong.
There is free parking available located in Ballarat and Bendigo Railway Station for you to leave your car for the day.
Parking near the corner of Ryrie and Fitzroy Street in Geelong is limited. However, additional options are found in the surrounding streets. We recommend allowing yourself sufficient time to secure parking before the bus departs.
On Thursday 8 February, Premier Jacinta Allan will make a formal Apology in Parliament to Victorians who experienced historical abuse and neglect as children in institutional care.
You can register to attend a regional gathering in Geelong, Ballarat or Sale to watch the live stream of the Apology.
To register and for more information, visit: www.dffh.vic.gov.au/Apology-live-stream.
The Apology will also be available for anyone to watch on the day via live stream online at: https://new.parliament.vic.gov.au/.
Dear Clannies,
If you wish to attend The Victorian Apology please contact the CLAN Office to register/RSVP –
1800 008 774 or support@clan.org.au – BY 12th January 2024.
If you are in or near Geelong, there will be more information coming regarding transport from the Australian Orphanage Museum.
If you are unable to attend you can view The Victorian Apology Online at new.parliament.vic.gov.au, as it will be streamed live.
Dear Clannies,
Your safety online is importance to us, and we want to ensure that you stay protected from cyber threats. Recently, we’ve become aware of a potential scam targeting our members through text messages.
Scam Alert: Fake CLAN Texts! 🚫
If you receive a text message claiming to be from CLAN, requesting personal information such as passwords, account details, or any sensitive data, please be advised that it is a scam. CLAN will NEVER ask you for such information through text messages.
🔍 How to Identify the Scam:
The scam text may appear similar to the example below:
IMPORTANT: CLAN will never request sensitive information via text!
Your safety is our priority, and together, we can create a secure online environment for everyone. If you have any concerns or questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to CLAN through trusted channels.
Stay Safe! Hooroo!
Explore our latest Annual Report for the 2022-2023 fiscal year. Please click here to access our About Section, where you can find a comprehensive list of our Annual Reports.
CLAN’s Annual General Meeting on:
Saturday 25th November, 2023 at
BANKSTOWN SPORTS CLUB
Greenfield Parade, Bankstown
Boggabilla Room, Level 1
1.00pm – 4.00pm.
Hi Clannies! Unfortunately the latest newsletter is going to be late due to the editor being sick. Here is some latest news from Leonie via X (formerly known as Twitter) for those who aren’t on there.
This includes Terry and John’s experiences in Victorian orphanages, and Margaret’s donation to the Australian Orphanage Museum of books related to care in Ballarat orphanages.
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State Wards abused in care urge Victorian government to follow through on #Redress promise @abcnews
CLAN member Terry👏stolen from his parents at 2 months put in 4 Vic Orphanages
He revisited St Joseph’s #SurreyHills 1st time since 1969 #SpringSt https://t.co/FFNtrMNQcf— CLAN 🇺🇦 (@CLAN_AU) October 31, 2023
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Clannie Terry #Geelong went back to StJoseph’s Orphanage Kent Rd, #SurreyHills hadn’t been back since 1965,
T moved to StAugustine’s Geelong
Sr TheresaVeronica loved to use a cricket bat on small boys
@RichardMarlesMP
@geelongaddy #Redress #SpringSt #violence pic.twitter.com/eTS2tMgEPA— CLAN 🇺🇦 (@CLAN_AU) November 1, 2023
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@JacintaAllanMP
John was placed in #Northcote #Children’sHome #BacchusMarsh & #Burwood #BoysHome
He called in the Australian Orphanage Museum #Geelong today 1st visitI asked him Qs about an #Apology
Have a listen to the answers
@RichardMarlesMP #SpringSt pic.twitter.com/oGnOCOuGtp— CLAN 🇺🇦 (@CLAN_AU) November 1, 2023
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Hi Clannies & supporters
Please find details of the zoom practise runs we are holding prepare 4 our AGM
Please note the different times for each state
Hope to see lots of lovely Clannies faces 😁 on 14th or 15th November
If you need help with zoom ring the office 1800008774 pic.twitter.com/7AWNKMOvwl— CLAN 🇺🇦 (@CLAN_AU) October 31, 2023
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Many thanks Margaret of #Corio for donating 3 photo albums of Mary Delvin & Margaret’s own photos
Both ladies worked at #Hayslee #LisaLodge #Warrawee #BallaratChildren’sHome in #Sebastopol #Ballarat in 1970’s & 1980’sSadly not alot of names in albums#SpringSt
#EllaGeorge pic.twitter.com/Pkc0nySBPv— CLAN 🇺🇦 (@CLAN_AU) November 1, 2023
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A broken promise for children abused in Vic’s institutional care @abcnews
CareLeavers “We had to grow up without our Parents & pretend it didn’t matter”
Emotional AbuseAlso if you need support after listening to AM please ring CLAN 1800008774 https://t.co/HTiH1RQtOs
— CLAN 🇺🇦 (@CLAN_AU) October 31, 2023
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A new temporary exhibition opened at Australian Orphanage Museum on Tuesday 6 June 2023.
Our Lives, Our Stories: Geelong Care Leavers Talking Back to Their Records features stories from people who lived in some of Geelong’s thirteen children’s Homes and Orphanages. The exhibition enables the voices of Care Leavers to be heard, reflecting on and talking back to the archival records of their childhoods.
Further information on the exhibition can be found on the AOM website.
Come and see the exhibition and the museum during opening hours, Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm.
The exhibition will continued until late 2023.
Australian Orphanage Museum gratefully acknowledges the Local History Grants Program and Public Record Office Victoria, supported by the Victorian Government through the Community Support Fund.
Did you know that the green jacket worn by ex-Royal Commissioner Jennifer Coate is in Australian Orphanage Museum in Care Leavers Activism Room? Jen also donated $150 towards the framing of the jacket for the exhibition.
Thanks to Jen for this kind donation!