Former residents of Darwin institution at centre of child sex abuse allegations begin legal action

By Sally Brooks And Xavier La Canna
7 News
October 05, 2014

https://au.news.yahoo.com/a/25186992/former-residents-of-darwin-institution-at-centre-of-child-sex-abuse-allegations-begin-legal-action/

Indigenous Australians perform traditional dances at the former

Indigenous children housed between 1946 and 1980 at a former Darwin institution now at the centre of child sex abuse allegations are pursuing legal action against those they say are responsible for their suffering.

On Saturday, alleged victims from the Retta Dixon home met at the site where the facility once stood.

An Aboriginal smoking ceremony to cleanse the area was held and traditional dances were performed.

Retta Dixon was a home in Darwin that operated for more than three decades and housed mainly Aboriginal children, many of whom identify as being from the Stolen Generation.

Irene Pearson, a former resident of the home, said the gathering marked an important part in the healing process.

"I am here for all my mob, because we all suffered the same. Some were a lot worse than others and we [are] all in grief, and this is the first time ... that we've ever had anyone listen to us," she said.

Barbara Cummings, also a former resident of the home, said the group wanted the land the home once stood on to be returned to the community.

"What we would like to do have is a cultural centre that we can display our history and other sites of significance around the Northern Territory as well as a community centre," she said.

The Northern Territory government said talks on possible future uses were underway with Indigenous groups.

Royal commission hearings in Darwin recently heard numerous allegations of child abuse – both sexual and physical – at Retta Dixon.

Only one man, Reginald Powell, who was handed a $250 fine and a three-year good behaviour bond in 1966, was convicted for actions there.

The current head of the Australian Indigenous Ministry (AIM), Reverend Trevor Leggott, has apologised to people who were harmed at Retta Dixon but said his group does not have the funds to pay compensation.

The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse was given documents showing that AIM had net assets of about $4.4 million last year.

Rev Leggott indicated properties were mostly held by trusts and local churches, not by AIM itself.

Former residents are taking legal action and have formed a group to investigate their options called the Retta Dixon Claimants Group.