- “Unfolding Lives” memorial sculpture back on public display
- Artwork pays tribute to the children who historically experienced harm in State care
- Care leavers chose its new home in the Perth Cultural Centre precinct
The State’s first memorial to honour children harmed in institutional care has been restored and returned to a place of prominence outside the WA Museum Boola Bardip.
Attorney General John Quigley today invited care leavers to unveil the restored “Unfolding Lives” sculpture at a rededication ceremony at the museum.
The sculpture, also known as the Chatterbox, was Western Australia’s first memorial honouring the Forgotten Australians, those children who sadly experienced harm in State care.
Commissioned after a Senate inquiry into the past treatment of these children, the memorial was first unveiled at the Perth Cultural Centre in 2010.
The distinctive artwork by sculptor Judith Forrest resembles a child’s paper ‘chatterbox’, a fortune-telling game that reveals hidden messages.
Care leavers advocated strongly for the memorial to be reinstalled after the memorial was removed and stored during the WA Museum’s redevelopment.
The Departments of Justice, Communities, Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries, and the City of Perth worked with the care leavers to have the restored Chatterbox returned to the Cultural Centre precinct less than 50 metres from its original location.
The Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries contributed $140,000 towards restoring and repainting the surface of the memorial.
As stated by Attorney General John Quigley
“I commend the Forgotten Australians whose personal involvement, strong support and fierce advocacy led to the reinstatement of this significant public artwork.
“I also thank the Office of the Commissioner for Victims of Crime for championing the cause of the care leavers for placement of the memorial back in the Perth Cultural Centre precinct.
“This State Government recognises the significance of this memorial to the Western Australian community, and in particular the Forgotten Australians.
“Its reinstallation demonstrates the McGowan Government’s ongoing commitment to supporting care leavers, and all victims of crime.”
As stated by Culture and the Arts Minister David Templeman
“I wish to thank the victim-survivors for their understanding and patience during the redevelopment and restoration process.
“I am pleased that it is now in a permanent and accessible location so the broader community can engage with it and understand the importance of the stories it tells.
“This restored memorial is a valuable contribution to the cultural significance of the Perth Cultural Centre.”
As stated by Child Protection Minister Sabine Winton
“I am pleased the memorial has been restored and can serve as a reminder of the experiences of the victim-survivors who were so terribly harmed in State care.
“The reinstallation of the “Unfolding Lives” memorial sculpture in the Perth Cultural Centre precinct will support the community and government to reflect on and learn from the past.
“Listening to the stories of the victim-survivors, and their hopes for the future is so important to supporting children currently in out of home care.
“The safety and wellbeing of children is a priority of our Government, and we continue to implement the recommendations relevant to Western Australia from the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.”
