A group of indigenous mothers and grandmothers who actively campaign to stop the forced removal of aboriginal children from their families have been recognised with a justice award.
Grandmothers Against Removals (GMAR) were recipients of the Aboriginal Justice Award at the Justice Awards in Sydney this month.
The group were recognised for their advocacy against indigenous children being forcibly taken away from families as well their contribution to guiding principles for strengthening the participation of local Aboriginal community in child protection decision making.
Laura Lyons, a member of GMAR Sydney, told Asia Pacific Report earlier this year of the forced and unjustified removal of her children and the abuse they faced in a residential care facility.
‘Proud moment’
She said the award was a “proud moment” for the group and believed their ancestors were present to witness it.
‘On our way to the awards we saw a rainbow,’ Lyons explained.
“It was actually Bianca (Lyons daughter) who looked up in the sky and said, ‘mum there’s the rainbow’. I said to her, ‘that’s our ancestors with us’ and I knew we were going to win the award.”
‘Ongoing’
Lyons said her case with the Department of Children Services (DoCS) is ongoing but GMAR continues to be busy travelling to other communities to assist and support families.
GMAR have set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for transport costs to visit other families who need their help.
- Guiding principles for strengthening the participation of local Aboriginal community in child protection decision making
- Laura Lyons case: ‘stolen generations’
- Still stealing the generations – the abduction of Indigenous Australian children goes on
- Stop Stolen Generations
