Sense of Story

Hazel Mackinnon, Bob Randall's wife, is an artist and a listener. She says

Listening to people's stories, people who are relatives of Bob Randall and live in the desert region, I created the exhibition of Sculptures and Silk, The Stories of the Stolen Generation. There are a few people who can talk but most are deeply traumatised and affected by their treatment now and in the past. Our aim is to give these people a voice, for when they are heard, the healing can begin.

WAITING MOTHERS.

We cannot imagine the living hell that mothers go through waiting for their children to come back. Some mothers in their grief stricken minds visualise their child coming back as they were taken as a baby. Many, many mothers are still waiting for their stolen children.

Records of institutions are sometimes destroyed so names and histories are lost making it impossible for people to find their way home.

This is Miss Eagle's favourite piece. So poignant!

STOLEN

Bob Randall was taken away from Angus Downs station in 1939 by Constable Bill Mckinnon. He was put on a camel, taken to the Bungalow in Alice Springs and to Croker Islander on the Top End. He found his way back after forty years, but his mother had died. He now lives in his rightful land as a traditional owner of Uluru.

Miss Eagle commends Spiritual Songlines.

If you do nothing else towards Reconciliation between Settlers and the First Nations, visit this exhibition. Talk with Bob and Hazel. Glimpse the heartfelt feelings for the land and the wounds of its people. Learn how this country can transform and heal all of us if we just slow down, stop, and allow ourselves to listen and experience what has been provided for us.

Sense of Identity

Further to the previous post, Sense of Place , special guests at Kinross House - Uniting Arts Toorak are Bob Randall and his wife, artist Hazel Mackinnon. Hazel and her work will be the subject of a separate post. Bob is probably best known for his song Brown Skinned Baby which came into being out of the pain of the Stolen Generation. As the Rev. Anneke Oppewal of the Toorak Uniting Church explains in her background to the exhibition in the catalogue,

Bob Randall's life has been a journey seeking to reconcile aboriginal roots and new Australian culture. Passionate about his people, he has supported the weakest and most vulnerable in his community by organising practical aid and by working tirelessly for greater understanding of aboriginal issues. He has opened up discussion and provided information, through his music, the writing of a book, a children's book, an ABC televised documentary and now the production of a movie. Himself one of the 'stolen generation' children, he grew through hardship and difficulty into a man who is able to see both sides of Australian culture. He combines a deep sense of aboriginal spirituality and connectedness to the land with relatedness to Christian vlaues of love, justice and reconciliation.

Bob and Hazel were en route to the Sydney Film Festival where the film of Bob's story, Kanyini, will be shown.

The film will be previewed on Monday at the Toorak Uniting Church on Monday 19 June at 7.45pm. The Gallery at Kinross House will be open that night from 6.30pm. Prices are $10 and $5 concession. This gives admission to the both the film and the Gallery. There will be an opportunity to talk with Bob afterwards.

There will be two other opportunities to meet Bob this week. On Friday 16 June from 7.30pm to 9.00pm, Bob will be conducting a workshop on understanding Aboriginal culture. This will take place at Kinross House and admission will be $10. On Sunday 18 June at 9.00am everyone is welcome to a Family Service at Toorak Uniting Church where Bob will tell his story and perform his music.