The Convict Children

Did you know that the youngest convict child banished to Australia was a boy nine years old? This book goes some way in telling a story from the perspective of the children on these convict slave ships that were needed to establish the colony of Australia. Anne Kerr has been a kindergarten teacher for 34 years. This book follows on from three previous books- Sorry, Sorry, Walking to Corroboree (a co-authored venture with Adnyamathanha woman and friend, Rhanee) and The Didgeridu Crew. While The Convict Children is from the perspective of the convict children and their forced separation from family and all that was familiar to them, it highlights their resilience in the face of harsh, cruel conditions and treatment by the adults in their lives. The presumption by the British Government that Australia was empty of people and therefore free to "take over" also comes under the microscope, leading, hopefully, to further research and discussion to determine the truth. It's an uncomfortable history we have here in Australia. This is a shared history that can foster a shared sense of belonging if we are brave enough to explore it and pass it on to new generations.