ORANGES AND SUNSHINE
At that time the disciples came to Jesus,saying, "Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"
Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them,
and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
Therefore, whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.
But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
Woe to the world because of offences! For offences must come, but woe to that man by whom the offence comes." Matthew 18:1-7
Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but His disciples rebuked them.
But Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them, for of such is the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 19:13-15
My wife, Tessa and I have just recently borrowed and viewed from the local public library a DVD of the 2011 film, "Oranges and Sunshine".
In 1987, a British social worker and author named Margaret Humphreys, from Nottingham, investigated and brought to public attention the British government programme of Home Children.This involved forcibly relocating poor British children to various British Commonwealth countries, including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the former Rhodesia in southern Africa. This was often done without the parents' knowledge - children were often told their parents had died (which in the majority of instances was not so) and parents were told their children had been placed for adoption in other parts of the UK.
According to Margaret Humphreys, up to 150,000 children are believed to have been resettled under the scheme, some as young as three. Somewhere around 7,000 were sent to Australia.
Money saving was one of the motives behind this policy. It was allegedly cheaper to care for these children overseas than in Britain. Whereas it cost around five pounds per day to keep a child on welfare in a British institution, it cost only 10% of that, ten shillings, in an Australian one.
According to Margaret Humphreys, up to 150,000 children are believed to have been resettled under the scheme, some as young as three. Somewhere around 7,000 were sent to Australia.
Money saving was one of the motives behind this policy. It was allegedly cheaper to care for these children overseas than in Britain. Whereas it cost around five pounds per day to keep a child on welfare in a British institution, it cost only 10% of that, ten shillings, in an Australian one.
The Child Migrants Trust was formed, initially financed by the Nottinghamshire County Council, Margaret Humphreys' employer, and later by the British and Australian governments. The main aims of the Trust are to enable former British child migrants to regain their identity, and where possible, to reunite them with their parents and relatives.
Margaret Humphreys published a book in 1994, "Empty Cradles". The book was dramatized in the 2011 film "Oranges and Sunshine", the title alluding to the promise given to the children going to Australia from Britain, that there would be oranges and sunshine awaiting them.
In reality, many of the children were to face terrible conditions of physical, emotional and sexual abuse by those who were supposed to have been providing a safe and nurturing environment for them in their formative years.
Margaret Humphreys published a book in 1994, "Empty Cradles". The book was dramatized in the 2011 film "Oranges and Sunshine", the title alluding to the promise given to the children going to Australia from Britain, that there would be oranges and sunshine awaiting them.
In reality, many of the children were to face terrible conditions of physical, emotional and sexual abuse by those who were supposed to have been providing a safe and nurturing environment for them in their formative years.
Some of the worst treatment of these children occurred in the Fairbridge Farm Schools in country New South Wales and in Western Australia, and perhaps the most notorious place for physical and sexual abuse of children in their care, was at the Bindoon Boys Town in Western Australia. Bindoon was run by the Catholic Church's "Christian Brothers", where, according to a former resident, John Hennessy, who arrived there from England as a boy, the children were subjected to hard labour, or slave labour as he called it - set to work building the series of grand buildings that Bindoon became.
Another of the victims was a man named Harold Haig, who started looking for his mother when he was 18. "She was the only woman I ever wanted to meet", he says. "She was the only one who could fill the void". Sadly, he started his search too late. Both his parents had died by the time he found details about them. But his father had still been alive when he went looking in England in 1974. Some of his story as an adult searching for his identity was portrayed in the film "Sunshine and Oranges" by Australian actor, Hugo Weaving, as Jack. David Wenham, also acclaimed Australian actor, played the part of Len, another former Bindoon boy, whose story was based on a real former victim of physical, sexual and emotional abuse by the "Christian Brothers". Emily Watson played the part of Margaret Humphreys in the film. According to Harold Haig, who met and talked with Emily Watson, she did an excellent job in her role. "I could have been watching Margaret", he said.
As an aside, it is a terrible indictment on the history of the church in Australia that members of Catholic clergy, or institution staff, such as the "Christian Brothers". were responsible for much physical and sexual abuse of children throughout the twentieth century. Over the last three years, the revelations brought to light by the Royal Commission Into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse beg the question as to why the current Pope or, indeed, one of the previous popes in the 20th Century did not abolish the requirement for Catholic clergy and Brothers to remain celibate. I am reminded of the words of the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians, chapter 7 in the New Testament of the Bible. "I wish that all men were as myself [unmarried]. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner, and another in that. But I say to the unmarried and to the widows, It is good for them if they remain even as I am. But if they cannot exercise self control, let them marry. For it is better to marry, than to burn with passion". That is not to say, that physical, emotional and sexual abuse did not and does not occur within Protestant churches or affiliated organizations. Sadly, it has, and does, sometimes by married men, and occasionally women - but it would seem that the Catholic Church stands out as the one where much abuse has been perpetrated against young and vulnerable children, scarring their psyches, if not their bodies - for life! The Apostle Peter, from whom the Roman Catholic Church claims apostolic succession in choosing their popes - was married. See Matthew 8:14,15.
After watching "Sunshine and Oranges", Tessa said to me: "No wonder so many people have been put off church - and why, to many, the church has no credibility."
The good news is that the Church of Jesus Christ is meant to be a place of healing, of hope, of restoration to wholeness - and to that end, millions of Christians throughout the world can testify to the goodness of God in their lives as they have been delivered from the deepest pits of despair, of hopelessness, of life and soul destroying addictions, of bitterness, of emptiness within - as they have been "born again" by the Spirit of God, as they have committed their lives into the hands of the Living God, who sent His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to die a cruel death on a Roman cross, 2000 years ago, in our place, the sinless Son of God taking our sin upon Himself, that we might be redeemed by the shed blood of Christ, and restored to fellowship with our Heavenly Father, the Creator God, and to live lives of fulfillment in serving Him.
Through the tireless work of people like Margaret and Mervyn Humphreys and the Child Migrants Trust, former child migrants from Britain, now as adults, have been reunited with parents and relatives. Sadly, this has not been possible in many cases. The story of one child who spent ten years in the "care" of one of the Fairbridge Farm Schools in New South Wales, Len Magee is retold in his book, first published in 1980, and called "Coming Home". After leaving Fairbridge at age 17, Len traversed a tortuous path in life for four years in Australia, in various jobs, succumbing to drugs and alcohol abuse. In the process, one night when he was stoned, he started to read a Bible. As he read through chapter after chapter of the first book, Genesis, the Holy Spirit got his attention, and after reading the acccount of brothers, Jacob and Esau - and the anguish expressed to God by Esau when he realized he had lost his birthright, Len Magee, also in his lostness cried out to God, asking Jesus to help him. He returned to Britain at the age of 21, where his mother initially rejected him again. After a short period of time, however, she too accepted Christ into her life and became a born again Christian. Len went on to attend Bible College, he recorded nine country/ folk gospel albums and became a church pastor. In 1977, he married his wife, Heather. They relocated to Australia in 1981, where they have been involved in full time pastoral ministry in several churches in New South Wales and on Queensland's Gold Coast. Their ministry has borne much fruit for the Kingdom of God, as they have seen shattered lives healed and restored by the power of the Living God. At the same time, they have had to face and overcome various trials and obstacles along the way. For Len and Heather Magee, their lives as Christians - as Len and the other boys and girls who were child migrants in the Fairbridge and Bundoon Schemes,found, - life is not always "Oranges and Sunshine".
If you have read this blog, and would like to know more about the Christian life, and how you personally can commit your life to Christ, may I suggest you log onto the vision.org.au website - Click on the "Grow your faith" tab, then "looking for God". God Bless!
Another of the victims was a man named Harold Haig, who started looking for his mother when he was 18. "She was the only woman I ever wanted to meet", he says. "She was the only one who could fill the void". Sadly, he started his search too late. Both his parents had died by the time he found details about them. But his father had still been alive when he went looking in England in 1974. Some of his story as an adult searching for his identity was portrayed in the film "Sunshine and Oranges" by Australian actor, Hugo Weaving, as Jack. David Wenham, also acclaimed Australian actor, played the part of Len, another former Bindoon boy, whose story was based on a real former victim of physical, sexual and emotional abuse by the "Christian Brothers". Emily Watson played the part of Margaret Humphreys in the film. According to Harold Haig, who met and talked with Emily Watson, she did an excellent job in her role. "I could have been watching Margaret", he said.
As an aside, it is a terrible indictment on the history of the church in Australia that members of Catholic clergy, or institution staff, such as the "Christian Brothers". were responsible for much physical and sexual abuse of children throughout the twentieth century. Over the last three years, the revelations brought to light by the Royal Commission Into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse beg the question as to why the current Pope or, indeed, one of the previous popes in the 20th Century did not abolish the requirement for Catholic clergy and Brothers to remain celibate. I am reminded of the words of the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians, chapter 7 in the New Testament of the Bible. "I wish that all men were as myself [unmarried]. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner, and another in that. But I say to the unmarried and to the widows, It is good for them if they remain even as I am. But if they cannot exercise self control, let them marry. For it is better to marry, than to burn with passion". That is not to say, that physical, emotional and sexual abuse did not and does not occur within Protestant churches or affiliated organizations. Sadly, it has, and does, sometimes by married men, and occasionally women - but it would seem that the Catholic Church stands out as the one where much abuse has been perpetrated against young and vulnerable children, scarring their psyches, if not their bodies - for life! The Apostle Peter, from whom the Roman Catholic Church claims apostolic succession in choosing their popes - was married. See Matthew 8:14,15.
After watching "Sunshine and Oranges", Tessa said to me: "No wonder so many people have been put off church - and why, to many, the church has no credibility."
The good news is that the Church of Jesus Christ is meant to be a place of healing, of hope, of restoration to wholeness - and to that end, millions of Christians throughout the world can testify to the goodness of God in their lives as they have been delivered from the deepest pits of despair, of hopelessness, of life and soul destroying addictions, of bitterness, of emptiness within - as they have been "born again" by the Spirit of God, as they have committed their lives into the hands of the Living God, who sent His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to die a cruel death on a Roman cross, 2000 years ago, in our place, the sinless Son of God taking our sin upon Himself, that we might be redeemed by the shed blood of Christ, and restored to fellowship with our Heavenly Father, the Creator God, and to live lives of fulfillment in serving Him.
Through the tireless work of people like Margaret and Mervyn Humphreys and the Child Migrants Trust, former child migrants from Britain, now as adults, have been reunited with parents and relatives. Sadly, this has not been possible in many cases. The story of one child who spent ten years in the "care" of one of the Fairbridge Farm Schools in New South Wales, Len Magee is retold in his book, first published in 1980, and called "Coming Home". After leaving Fairbridge at age 17, Len traversed a tortuous path in life for four years in Australia, in various jobs, succumbing to drugs and alcohol abuse. In the process, one night when he was stoned, he started to read a Bible. As he read through chapter after chapter of the first book, Genesis, the Holy Spirit got his attention, and after reading the acccount of brothers, Jacob and Esau - and the anguish expressed to God by Esau when he realized he had lost his birthright, Len Magee, also in his lostness cried out to God, asking Jesus to help him. He returned to Britain at the age of 21, where his mother initially rejected him again. After a short period of time, however, she too accepted Christ into her life and became a born again Christian. Len went on to attend Bible College, he recorded nine country/ folk gospel albums and became a church pastor. In 1977, he married his wife, Heather. They relocated to Australia in 1981, where they have been involved in full time pastoral ministry in several churches in New South Wales and on Queensland's Gold Coast. Their ministry has borne much fruit for the Kingdom of God, as they have seen shattered lives healed and restored by the power of the Living God. At the same time, they have had to face and overcome various trials and obstacles along the way. For Len and Heather Magee, their lives as Christians - as Len and the other boys and girls who were child migrants in the Fairbridge and Bundoon Schemes,found, - life is not always "Oranges and Sunshine".
If you have read this blog, and would like to know more about the Christian life, and how you personally can commit your life to Christ, may I suggest you log onto the vision.org.au website - Click on the "Grow your faith" tab, then "looking for God". God Bless!
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