Social events: Mary Talence's 10th birthday (Wednesday, 27th January 1937) Sunday, 31st January: Went to church,

as you must be very Christian. They go to a Baptist church and pray with the Baptist missionary. Mary Talence's went to school at Bomaderry primary school. Sunday, 13th February: Church picnic at Hosskisson. Thursday, 18th February: Sports carnival Historicalevents: Mary Talence lived in a place called "Bomaderrychildren'shome " Bomaderrychildren'shome: Also know as Bomaderry Babies Home and United Aborigines Mission Home. Friday, 12th February: Men from the protection board took girls to the girls' home at Cootamundra CootamundraHomefor girls Established in 1911 KinchelaBoyshome Established 1924 Institutions Historically Aboriginal children were separated from their families from the earliest days of the colony. Governor Macquarie established the first Native Institution in Parramatta as early as 1814 and in 1823 another Native Institution was started in Blacktown. Both institutions were considered failures, one reason being that once parents realized their children wouldn't be allowed to come home, they wouldn't give them up to the institutions. Stolengeneration Policy document that legalised removed of children The depression and drought years of the 1920s and 1930s were particularly difficult for Aboriginal people. Conditions in the reserves remaining from the soldier settlement land redistribution, were poor, often overcrowded, and it was easy for the government to prove neglect and remove Aboriginal children. In 1937, in response to public pressure from academic and missionary groups sympathetic to Aboriginal people, a meeting was convened of State and Commonwealth Aboriginal authorities. The result was an official assimilation policy formed on the premise that "full-blood" Aborigines would be soon extinct and the "half-caste" should be absorbed into society. Meanwhile the Aboriginal people were organising to become a force of resistance. http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NL_OnGjuImk Jinny jones' name calling. Abo, abos are dirty, filthy dago,

Aboriginesprotectionboard(1883) The Aborigines protection board has been controlling Aborigines from 1883 until 1969. There was a protection board in every state. Those who were mix racist were taken to institutions and missionary homes by the Aborigines protection board. In 1940 then changed its name to Aborigines welfare board. Historicaldays: AnzacDay- 25th April Anzac Day goes beyond the anniversary of the landing on Gallipoli in 1915. It is the day we remember all Australians who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations. The spirit of Anzac, with its human qualities of courage, mateship, and sacrifice, continues to have meaning and relevance for our sense of national identity. On Anzac day, ceremonies are held in towns and cities across the nation to acknowledge the service of our veterans. Melbournecup- 2nd November The Melbourne Cup is Australia's major thoroughbred horse race. Marketed as "the race that stops a nation". It is the richest "two-mile" handicap in the world, and one of the richest turf races. Conducted by the Victoria Racing Club on the Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Victoria. The event starts at 3pm (daylight saving time) on the first Tuesday in November. Melbourne cup has been held every year since 1861.

Armisticeday - 11th of November

Armistice day (also known as Remembrance Day) is held on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, which attained a special significance in the post-war years. The moment when hostilities ceased on the Western Front became universally associated with the remembrance of those who had died in the war. This first modern world conflict had brought about the mobilisation of over 70 million people and left between 9 and 13 million dead. Armistice day is a day to give a minutes silence to remember the day when Germany signed an agreement with the Allies to stop The Great War. Significantplacesin the book: Sydneyharbourbridge The Sydney Harbour Bridge, also affectionately known as the 'Coathanger', was opened on March 19th 1932 by Premier Jack Lang, after six years of construction. Made of steel the bridge contains 6 million hand driven rivets. The surface area that requires painting is equal to about the surface area of 60 sports fields. The Sydney Harbour Bridge was designed by a man called John bradfield. The bridge is almost 1500 feet long and about 460 feet above water level. During the six year building process 16 men died and 1 man fell into the water but lived. "Who am I" is a fictional diary of a young Aboriginal girl in Sydney, 1937. This book introduces primary school-aged readers to the experiences of Australia's Stolen Generation. "Who am I", the story of a girl named Mary Talence, separated from her family as part of the Australian governments policy to assimilate indigenous children into the white population. The Diary of Mary Talence also depicts what her life was like and many events during 1937 and 1938. Mary Talence was taken from her family and sent to Bombaderry Aboriginal Childrens Home at the age of five, 10 year old Mary Talence is now to leave her friends at the home so that she can live with a white family in Sydneys North Shore. Lonely and confused, Mary doesnt understand why she has had to change her name and abandon her heritage so that she can fit in.

The Diary of Mary Talence deals with many confronting issues in addition to the obvious focus on the Stolen Generation. Occasional references are made to events that highlight gender discrimination as well as religious and ethnic intolerance. Mary also learns about the growing movement amongst Indigenous people to be given equal rights which culminates in Marys attendance at the Day of Mourning conference on Australia Day 1938, the sesquicentenary of European settlement in Australia.