Leanette Sandy (Episode #3)

Leanette Sandy was taken and placed in Sister Kate’s as a child, and returned there to record this interview.

Sister Kate’s Children Cottage Home was established just 10km outside Perth in 1934, and was intended for Aboriginal children with one Aboriginal grandparent or great grandparent.

Separated from her baby siblings, Leanette was eventually fostered out to her aunty.

But this was just the beginning of a terrible cycle; what she calls going round and round in circles through the system. For a while, she thought it was for her own good, until she understood that she too was part of the Stolen Generations.

During this conversation with Tony Hansen, Leanette talks about how she came to understand what her mother went through during this time, and shares the highlights of her career that followed.

Yarns with Stolen Mob is produced with the assistance of the Community Broadcasting Foundation. Find out more at cbf.org.au.

Listeners are advised that Stolen Generations testimonies about their forced removal as children from family, and their confinement in institutions, is distressing. If you are feeling worried or no good please call the 13YARN crisis support line to talk with an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Supporter, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call 13 92 76 or visit 13Yarn.org.au for more.