Page: 23107
Ministerial Statement
Mr MILTON ORKOPOULOS (Swansea—Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, and Minister Assisting the Premier on Citizenship) [2.22 p.m.]: It is with great regret that I inform the House of the passing of Nancy de Vries. Aunty Nancy was an inspirational leader and passionate advocate for members of the Stolen Generation. Nancy de Vries was taken from her birth mother as a 15-month-old baby. She lived in 22 places before she was 18 years old. It was a shameful 53 years before she was reunited with her mother. Nancy de Vries was the human face of past government policies of dispossession. In 1997 the New South Wales Parliament issued Australia's first apology to the Stolen Generation. Some members will recall the time Aunty Nancy addressed this Chamber, becoming the first non-elected woman since Elizabeth II to address a special sitting of State Parliament. On that day she spoke movingly about her experience as a member of the Stolen Generation and the confusion, isolation and loneliness of growing up as an Aboriginal child in a non-Aboriginal environment. Aunty Nancy documented the experiences of her childhood and separation in the book Ten Hours in a Lifetime. The title refers to the too few accounts of time Nancy was able to spend with her mother.
Aunty Nancy may have faced many hurdles in her lifetime, but she achieved many things. She became a nurse and community health worker and was the first Aboriginal person to graduate in nursing from the University of Western Sydney. Aunty Nancy overcame great injustice in her life and became an inspirational community leader. Her determination to find her mother and her loyalty to her roots should serve as an inspiration to all Australians. It is fitting, therefore, that the Government contributes to the funeral expenses. The Department of Aboriginal Affairs will be in contact with Aunty Nancy's family to offer assistance. I offer my profound sympathy to Ms de Vries' family, friends and admirers around the State. Her great personal strength and kindness allowed her to overcome tremendous difficulty with dignity and humility. She was an inspiration to us all.
Mr BRAD HAZZARD (Wakehurst) [2.26 p.m.]: The State Coalition joins with the Minister in expressing sorrow at the passing of Nancy de Vries. Nancy was an inspiration in Australia's reconciliation journey. Many honourable members in the Chamber will remember her coming into this Chamber in 1997 when we met in a bipartisan effort to send a message to Australia that this Parliament believes that reconciliation is the way forward. Nancy generously gave us her time, which was something she said had been taken from her in her youth.
She told us emotionally but generously that she had been removed from her mother when she was but 15 months old. I think she referred in her autobiography to the fact that she was taken as an Aboriginal child simply because she was fair. I recollect she had been living in Marrickville and later ended up in the Bidura children's home. What a journey she took. She eventually managed to attend the University of Western Sydney and obtained a degree in nursing. She then gave back to both the black and white communities as a nurse. She worked as a psychiatric nurse for more than 20 years.
Any of us who were in this Chamber on the day when Nancy spoke will remember the emotion with which she addressed the gathering, but, more important, the sentiment and emotion felt by all honourable members. This Parliament has proudly led the way on reconciliation by offering the first apology to the stolen generations. It is appropriate today that we reflect on Nancy de Vries, who was such a great ambassador for reconciliation and who wanted black and white Australia to find its way forward and grow through a profound understanding of the need for reconciliation. We thank Nancy and her family for what she contributed. Our thoughts and prayers are with them.
Mr SPEAKER: I thank both the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and the honourable member for Wakehurst for their contributions. In view of the historic significance of the contribution of Nancy de Vries to reconciliation and her address to this Chamber, I ask the members and officers to stand as a mark of respect.
Members and officers of the House stood in their places.