Tripping over feathers : beginning a biography of Janaka Wiradjuri (Joy Williams)

Peter Read

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    Doretta Williams was born in Cowra NSW in 1920, of the Wiradjuri Aboriginal people. At the age of seven she and two sisters were removed from their mother and placed in the Cootamundra Training Home for Aboriginal Girls. At the age of sixteen she was sent into domestic service and in 1942 she began working as a housemaid in North Sydney at a Rest and Recreation establishment for soldiers. On 1 January 1943 she fell pregnant to a soldier of the Sixth Division. Her daughter Eileen, later known as Joy, was born in September. Three weeks later Eileen was taken to the Bomaderry Children’s Home managed by the Aboriginal Inland Mission. When Joy was four, in part due to overcrowding in the Home, the Bomaderry matron asked that she be transferred to the Lutanda Home managed by the Plymouth Brethren. There Joy grew up. When she was about twelve, she was told that she was of Aboriginal descent. Isolated, and aggressive and believing herself unattractive, Joy had a sad and lonely upbringing.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)141-156
    Number of pages16
    JournalZeitschrift fur Autralienstudien
    Volume21-22
    Publication statusPublished - 2008

    Keywords

    • Aboriginal Australians
    • stolen generations (Australia)
    • Wiradjuri (Australian people)
    • Williams, Joy Janaka Wiradjuri, 1943-2006

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