I was born upon this land, that my ancestors lived on for thousands of generations peacefully, freely and constructively, not recognized as a citizen of the new world that was forced upon us. I was born an unwanted baby and grew up in a society where it was accepted to be labeled an ‘Abo’, a time when you were being classed as a half-caste, as I was known, a quarter-cast or 16th caste as my sister was known, a time when it was policy to take the children away, a time when you were made to be ashamed of who you were, shame of your people, of the color of your skin, and shame of language and culture
I was an unwanted baby and put up for adoption the day I was born. Born in the old Cunummalla hospital, which is now divided into 4 homes in the corners of the town. My mother’s people are of the Koama Tribe, and my grandmother was born under a tree on the banks of the Bokhara River about 10 kms outside Goodooga NSW. My mother is the 4th eldest child of 8 children.
Cunnumalla had 2 camps one at the bottom end of town and the other at the top end, my people were of the bottom camp and lived as fringe dwellers.
Basically left to themselves with easy access to alcohol they were allowed to do as they wanted as long as they didn’t hang around town all was good. Their homes were shacks, hastily built shelters, not much timber to use and all with dirt floors.
My birth mother’s older sister was the first blood relative I meet, and I love her dearly. My birth mother has had mental health issues most her life and though we spent a good 10 years in a special bond we shared as mother and daughter, we no longer communicate. I get my feistiness and stubbornness from her, and she will always have a special place in my heart.
I was 6 month’s old when I was sent to Brisbane to an orphanage and put up for adoption. At 18 months old my adoptive parents, whom will always be mum and dad to me, came to the orphanage to take me home. As new Australians with 4 children of their own, mum and dad wanted to give back to the country who gave them shelter after WW2. Mum was a teenager when with her parents and siblings, mum is the eldest of 10 children, travelled from Holland to Australia 1950, by boat. So that feel of big family has always been with me. Dad came to Australia by boat after WW2 where he was a seaman in the Dutch Navy. He is the second eldest of 4. With my sister Leeann who was brought into the family a year after me, and with our older sisters and brothers, we were raised in a happy, secure and stable home. With the thought that all adopted children had it like us, I was sadly mistaken. We were one of the lucky ones. We also mixed in with the local Indigenous families in Ipswich were we grew up, going to Opal camps, joining in on sports days organized by NADOIC and visiting regularly with families.
My birth father’s people are of the Wakka Wakka Tribe S.E. QLD. Known as Baramah Station before it became Cherbourg Settlement. Cherbourg is situated on Wakka Wakka country and our people can be traced back 4 generations through when white man first came to the area. We were lucky as we were not moved from our country. Mission life was strict. Most children were taken from their parents and placed in the dormitory to be raised. Residents needed a pass to come and go from the Settlement, weather for work or for health reasons. A time when our people never received proper wages, and would have to ask the Native Affairs office for financial assistance, for the minimal price of $5 in today’s currency, to travel with sick child to hospitals in Brisbane or to just see a doctor, they had to travel far away. The contrasts between my mother’s upbringing and my father’s upbringing and my upbringing has made me who I am today and given me the strength to be me.
I was 12 years old when a friend asked me weather I thought about my ‘real’ mum. I hardly did, well I never dwelled on it, I was happy and stable were I was. But from that day onwards my curiosity got the better of me and I felt a strong desire to know where I came from. A strong connection gripping me.
My mother was sent on a train the day after I was born to far north QLD, I was so anxious to meet her.
The journey of finding myself has been a long one which continues today as I am still discovering new things about myself and meeting new family members
At the age of 14 I ran away from my adopted family in search of my people of my identity, and lived on the streets of Ipswich and Brisbane. With a big chip on my shoulder, thinking the World and everyone in it owed me big time. All it did was get me in trouble and my first taste of being locked up. If you ran away from home during the eighties you were locked up in Wilson Youth Hospital for 3 months then sent to a foster home. While in the home I learnt new tricks on how to survive on the streets and along the way making lifelong friends. It was a cycle I lived for the next few years. At 17 I had my first taste of prison. Another cycle I lived for the next 5 years, only this time I was off the streets and living in a relationship, which ended up being an abusive one which set off a pattern of abuse for the next 30 years. At the age of 22 I gave birth to my first son, and after one more stint in prison I never went back. I broke the cycle of prison life. Four years ago I broke the cycle of domestic abuse as I now live a single and happy life, it has made me more confident within myself.
With my ex we raised our children on 40 acres we purchased in the Scenic Rim. We cleared and fenced 80% of the land. Bought a removal home build 3 dams and made a home for our family. This was when I founded Our Dream Time. With a love of my people and pride in my culture I wanted to share this with the World. I ran my business from home, and in 2000 we produced and printed 5 editions, in January, February, March, April and May 2000. The opening was held in the Ipswich City Mall in January to coincide with the 1st edition printed. It was opened by the then Lord Mayor of Ipswich John Nuggent.
That 11 years away from my people, as a child, left a hole in my heart and can never be replaced. Today I make up for it as I travel this beautiful and mystical country of ours and collect positive stories and information on our people.
Tania Hopkins.
Our Dreamtime 