New Relase Title “Twelve Years in Care”
Memoir
Sid Harta Publishers Melbourne.
Written a story? SEND US YOUR MANUSCRIPT
From the 1860s to the late 1960s over 150,000 boys and
girls “volunteered” to migrate from the United Kingdom to many colonies of the
then British Empire, including Australia. The abolition of the slave trade in
1803 and the eventual emancipation of individual slaves in the 1830s had left
the colonies with a shortage of labour to be partially filled by these
children.
This diaspora of children rivalled the number of
convicts sent to Australia. We were the unwanted generations; many of us were
bastards/illegitimate by birth and/or from the lowest echelons of society. It
was all quite “normal” and accepted practice; we were surplus to requirements.
Once we were put into institutions we became “fillii nullius” the children of
no one, to be done with as the authorities saw fit. Each of us has a story to
tell; this is my story.
Perfection!
A child’s why?
Is a child’s cry;
For truth.
Truth, brings forth knowledge.
Knowledge, is a precursor to wisdom.
Wisdom seeks truth.
Let us all seek truth.
In order to be wise.
Author’s Preface
“It is my hope that people who read this book will be
far more mindful of children, as children are not things or possessions, they
are simply little people. World peace will never be attained until we adults
learn to love and nurture our offspring no matter what colour, creed, or
nationality, and to show respect for people who think and look different to
ourselves. A reciprocation of understanding by all people is the key to enable
all children to attain an education and adulthood in a world of peace.
Dr Barnardo was the person who established Dr Barnardo’s
Homes in England in the latter half of the 1800s. Many thousands of Dr
Barnardo’s children were emigrated principally to Canada and Australia; some
were sent to other parts of the British Empire.
Barnardos, is now the trading name of Dr Barnardo’s
Homes. To avoid confusion and for brevity’s sake, Barnardos is used exclusively
throughout this book.
To give immediacy and freshness I have used a
raconteur style and have consciously avoided the cleverness’s of the “Gargoyles
and Curlicues,” which seem to have become the template for many modern writers
today. This plain speaking necessitates revealing more of myself than at times
I feel comfortable with; however, the truth will out in one form or another.
It should be kept in mind that my brothers and I never
saw my father and much of the information was only gained and put into
perspective after November 2001. It was only then through the intervention of
the International Social Service organisation that we found we had four
brothers, two sisters and a step mother, all”
2
Twe lve Years in Care | John Bicknel l
of whom got lost somehow when we three brothers
“volunteered”
to emigrate to Australia.
John R. Bicknell
Ex Dr Barnardo’s Homes
Reviews
For people born after World War Two reading ‘12 Years
in Care’ is an eye opener.
It’s a recount of one boy’s/man’s early life
experiences in institutionalised care – plucked from what he thought was family
life to be then sent off to an institution in England before being transported
to the “colonies” in Australia.
John R. Bicknell’s autobiography is also about silent
observance, yet strong determination to survive and about carving his own way
in life with many lessons along the way. By no means a sentimental story, it is
a must for anyone curious about the plight of Dr Barnardo’s children.
Insightful, at times raw and gritty as well as
humorous and uplifting of a child’s/man’s resilience and the light at the end
of the tunnel.
It’s a book, which will broaden one’s understanding
beyond the idea of happy families.
Lee Abrahams,
The District Reporter
WOMBAROO PUBLISHERS
“A compelling insight into the life and times of a
child under the Dr Barnardo’s Homes Scheme.
The experience of living pre and post WW2 as a child
in such challenging circumstances is in itself a moving story.
The living standards, the treatment and discipline of
such young children was extraordinarily harsh. Handing over three young boys to
care seemed such a heartless, inhumane act.
Life in the Dr Barnardo’s Home in comparison appeared to
provide stability and security, both in England and then Australia, and was
such a contrast to the previous uncaring, unstructured existence.
It was great to read about earlier days in the local
area, specifically Mowbray Park at Picton and The Oaks. The author’s inclusion
of so many local identities makes this a fascinating and relatable read.”
AM, Walsh, Gerard (A. Taylor, MP) <Gerard.Walsh@aph.gov.au>
Up to 150,000 children were deported from children's homes
in Britain and shipped off to a 'new life' in distant parts of the British
Empire, right up until as recently as 1970. John was one of these
children who came with his two bothers to the Barnardo’s Farm Training
School at Mowbray Park near Picton. In his new book he takes the reader back to
where it all began in a small house in a small village in southern England,
into their incarceration in English orphanages and then to Australia with
several other children. The chapters describing life in Mowbray Park give the
reader a glimpse into the lives of similar children raised in philanthropic
institutions away from traditional family structure and make their subsequent
social problems easier to understand. This is a timely story for today as we
all struggle to understand why so many children were taken away from families
and countries. John worked hard to overcome his early life to create acceptance
into local communities and successfully run a farm and raise a family but it
was only at a significant cost to himself. Many other children did not. They
all have stories we should know before we can remedy past mistakes and apply
better policies in future.
Doreen Lyon [Many years connected with the Wollondilly
Heritage Centre]
Subject: John R. Bicknell's "Twelve Years in
Care", on the surface, reads like a boy's adventure story. John writes
with a sense of wonderment and humour, at times causing the reader to forget
that this is definitely not "Adventure Time for Boys". Dysfunctional
family relationships, institutionalisation, family breakdowns - these would
cause many an individual to become a burden on society, yet this Barnados Boy
has clearly demonstrated that society has benefited from 'volunteering' this
British Child Migrant. Advocates (assuming there are any) of the system that
produced this British Child Migrant would argue that the system was justified
in its actions, as it produced an upstanding citizen - John R. Bicknell,
however, in spite of that system, as his autobiography demonstrates, flourished.
It is a wonderful, ultimately uplifting, read.
Lynnette Buick, book reviewer in Wollondilly Shire
Twelve Years In Care is a fascinating read !
From the humblest of beginnings, John reveals to us what
it meant to be a child living through the war years, often hungry and uncared
for, becoming a Barnardos Boy, and finally leaving Britain for the far
away land called Australia, which no one ever explained was actually on
the other side of the world. Despite a cool welcome
on these distant shores, John created a new life for himself and worked hard to
find his identity. For anyone interested in the child migrant issues,
this book is a most interesting read and certainly gives a new insight into the
lives of children in care, yet this book is not a’’ woe –is –me” story, it’s
inspirational and uplifting and a thoroughly good read.
Alison Lewis, author “Seasons of Life” &
“Missing”
John Bicknell presents an honest and heartfelt account
of growing up in an institutionalised environment and the normalisation
of abuse at the hands of parents and carers. This book is a poignant reminder
of the many trials and abuses that thousands of children and teens suffered at
the hands of those whose very job was to protect them.
I am glad that John has told his story. As he writes,
"it is necessary to acknowledge the truth of what happened as well as bear
witness to the fact that these injustices occurred to the most vulnerable of
people: children." Our nation has only recently formally acknowledged and
apologised to children like John who migrated to Australia for the purpose of
cheap labour and more often than not were at the mercy of unscrupulous and
often vicious carers.
At the same time, John's account provides a wonderful
insight into the well-known generosity and community minded spirit that is so
evident in Wollondilly, painting a picture of warm, genuine and hardworking
farming families who share in what little they have to give an orphaned boy, a
family. I was saddened to read of the discrimination and suspicion that
Barnardo Boys like John faced in the community. Despite being ostracised John
and no doubt hundreds of other young men in his situation have helped to shape
and build the nation of Australia.
The long-term impact of institutionalised childhood,
of the scars one carries even into later life, is evident in John's account.
That John was able to forgive his mother and father, and his praise of social
workers and staff of Barnardo's nowadays, is a testament to the man that he is.
John Bicknell is a valued member of the Wollondilly community and dedicates
much of his time to helping young high school students as a mentor.
My hat goes off to John for telling his story. A work
of this nature takes courage, dedication and a hope and trust that society and
government will learn from the terrible injustices borne by children like John
and his brothers.
Jai Rowell MP
Member for Wollondilly
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