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C-BERSS EX-PRESS
December 1999
Issue 4, Vol 2
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All Newsletters : December 1999 : Get-Together At St Catherine's College
Get-Together At St Catherine's College
C-BERSS ExPress Supplement
A summary by the Chairperson of the Management Committee of what participants had to say at the Get-Together on 8 October 1999 at St Catherine's College.
To start with what some of the men said was not so good were the
following:
- Some people did not get a newsletter and wondered why
We can only send newsletters to those whose addresses we have been given -
and who have informed us of any changes of address.
- There was a concern expressed about impartiality
I only hope that our commitment to impartial and professional conduct was
conveyed well enough.
- Availability and identification of photographs.
We are working on improving this.
- Too few informal get-togethers
We will have another meeting early next year, similar to the one held on 8
October to provide feedback in response to the suggestions listed in this
insert. We plan to have similar intermittent meetings throughout the year.
And what was really good?
- The newsletter
- The understanding approach of all staff at C-BERSS.
- Enabling men to keep in touch with people they had lost track of.
- The good job that C-BERSS does
- Impartiality
And ideas for the future
- More Opportunities to Meet
There was a general agreement that meetings such as this were a great idea.
We will certainly have another gathering like this again and will probably
do so twice a year.
- Advocacy
Some people thought that C-BERSS should advocate more strongly for the rights
of the men. In particular, it was suggested that we should fight to stop the
pension being suspended for the time when the men are abroad. This information
has now been clarified and staff at C-BERSS can advise you which entitlements
are suspended and which are not. Meanwhile, we will continue to adovocate
wherever we can.
- Information
The newsletter was strongly supported and thanks went straight to where they
belonged - to Mary Kearns (previously Hogan) who is the inspiration.
There was a strong request for more information to be provided on the following
lines:
Updates on what's happening in the UK
Regular updates on indexing for individuals by the agencies
Regular report backs to former migrants by C-BERSS - 6 monthly minimum
Information on British Government and International Social Services (ISS)
Legal opinion/information on inheritance rights (family of origin) of child
migrants sent from British Isles and Malta
- Accommodation
It was suggested that C-BERSS address the need for homeless/aged care facilities
and for overnight accommodation in Perth.
Better services that the men would like to see:
Provision of counselling after hours
Support groups for partners
Family member to be funded a trip back to country of origin when migrant dies
(to comfort the family).
Support for children of former child migrants:
Education fund for children of migrants who have died so that the father's
wishes for their children's education can be fulfilled.
A special meeting for children of former child migrants where some of their
questions can be answered eg lack of grandparents; why Dad was sent out to
Australia, etc.
Publish old photographs and develop a photo journal of old photos
Funeral fund - It was proposed that C-BERSS have a special fund because many
men don't wish to approach the Christian Brothers directly.
Extend C-BERSS to Eastern States.
- Apology
It was suggested that C-BERSS organise a gathering of Former Child Migrants
and their families where the Archbishop, bishops, government representatives
(British, Maltese and WA) can apologise to the Men. A genuine apology to the
men by the Archbishop would go some way towards healing the rift that so many
of them have with the Church.
- Child Mirgant's Memorial
Need for a memorial to honour them and the contribution that they made.
- Trips
There were a lot of suggestions about trips, all of which are listed:
Support and contact in UK and Malta (say for 1st week)
More preparatory support before travel (Five men have offered to work with
George Horton to talk more about this)
Emergency contact information
Information session and booklet
Travel kit with maps, etc and info
Feedback from previous travellers/trips
Important to get the feel for place as well as family (videos)
Need to meet up with family more than once - first trip can be a blur
Accompanied trips
Cost of meals, accommodation, transport, hire cars, etc
Peer support prior to going
Collate info from those who have been, give info pack
More time overseas
Off peak season is dreadful, weather especially important as people ago
(Some) financial support for partners to accompany men on trips
- Records
Medical reocrds whilst at institutions (prior, during and after - updated)
Access numbers to PHIND
- Publicity
Develop more network in order to locate former child mirgants who don't know
of the services available to them.
C-BERSS to put a feature in "Where are they now" in the West Australian
Saturday edition asking for contact from child migrants.
In summary
Thanks to everyone for their suggestions. All of the ideas are being considered.
Some of the ideas are more difficulat to put into effect than others but we will
be progressing the ones we feel we can do. We will keep the above list in mind
At the Get-Together: Paul St John, Wilf Cox, and Tom Haydon.
Joseph, Charles, Irela, and Alf Debono.
John Hawkins, Jim Gilroy, and Frank Marshall with Sandy.
Bernice Butler with Maria Harries.
Article by Maria Harries
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