orphans of the storm

Not every child who got off the boat to Australia came with mummy and daddy. This statute, outside the Maritime Museum in Fremantle, recognises the thousands of children who came with nothing more than a suitcase and the clothes on their backs.

Many found a better life.  But many didn’t; the fresh start they had been promised degenerated into servitude, hard labour - and worse.  They became known as the forgotten Australians and thankfully their plight has finally been recognised.