Man Finds His Aboriginal Family

By Eugene Boisvert

Topic: Stolen Generations

Thursday, 28 May 2026, at 6:23 am

In short:

Iain Seymour found out he was adopted and met his Aboriginal family.

He and his brother, Allen Edwards, are involved in Indigenous education.

What's next?

A march will be held this weekend in Adelaide.

It was a happy moment when brothers Allen and Iain met after 55 years.

Warning: This story has images of an Indigenous person who has died.

The Stolen Generations policies hurt many Indigenous families.

Iain said it's very emotional and still affects him.

Allen said, 'My legs went to jelly.'

Iain said it was a pretty good day when they met.

Brothers Iain and Allen met at Colebrook Reconciliation Park.

Connections led to their meeting.

Iain and Allen's mother, Avis, was taken from her mother in 1945.

Avis was brought up at Colebrook Home in Adelaide.

Avis became pregnant in 1964 and gave birth to Iain in 1965.

Iain was adopted, and Avis moved back to Adelaide.

Avis had Allen and two daughters later.

Avis Gale as a teenager.

Iain did a DNA test, found out he had Aboriginal heritage, and met his family.

A counsellor helped Iain find his relatives.

The counsellor recognized Iain's mother's name on his birth certificate.

Iain said the counsellor knew his brother, Allen.

Water flows like tears at Colebrook Reconciliation Park.

Allen and the counsellor's families were close friends.

Allen and Iain met at Colebrook Reconciliation Park in 2024.

Stolen Generations policies hurt many Indigenous children.

Avis says in a voice recording that it was hard in the home.

Avis was a prominent advocate for Indigenous rights.

Colebrook Home was run by an evangelical Christian organization.

The organization tried to make the children white.

Colebrook Home in 1969.

The Blackwood Reconciliation Group formed in 1994.

The group organized a rally at Colebrook Home in 1997.

Avis was among the 2,000 people who turned out for the rally.

Avis continued to be involved with the group until she died.

Avis speaking at Colebrook Reconciliation Park.

Allen is part of the group, and Iain has become involved too.

New meaning to sad words.

Avis is named on a plaque at Colebrook Reconciliation Park.

There is a plaque with a poem written by Avis.

The poem says, 'My baby, my baby, please give back my baby.'

A mother's words fell on deaf ears.

Hearts break, tears fall, fear cries out.

Feel the pain, touch the ache, caress the tears.

Ignorance and indifference hurt family life.

Flowers were left for Mother's Day at the park.

Before Allen knew Iain, he thought the poem was about Avis's story.

Allen said Avis told no one about her baby.

Allen will look at the plaque differently now.

Avis got to know her mother and connected with her heritage.

Education through personal stories.

Colebrook Reconciliation Park is owned by the Aboriginal Lands Trust.

The park runs educational tours, mostly for school groups.

An Indigenous person shares their story during the tours.

Allen and Iain are involved in the tours, like their mother before them.

Allen feels committed to building on the site.

The site has a renewed meaning for Allen, knowing his mom was there.

The Blackwood Reconciliation Group has met for over 30 years.

The Stolen Generations policies still affect people today.

Allen said his mom was first generation Stolen Generation.

Allen's children are learning about their grandmother's story.

Reconciliation process continuing.

Mike Lawson was among the earliest members of the BRG.

Mike said it's essential to have Indigenous people involved.

Mike recalls becoming friends with former Colebrook Home children.

Mike said they learned from people like Avis and Lowitja O'Donoghue.

The BRG holds a march during National Reconciliation Week.

The Blackwood Reconciliation Walk is being held on May 31.

A documentary was made about the brothers' story.

Thursday, 28 May 2026, at 6:23 am

Thursday, 28 May 2026, at 8:10 am

Promotion

Pagsasanay sa pakikinig