Child Migrants' Memorial - Valletta Waterfront, Malta
Posted by: 
holy-ghost
N 35° 53.446 E 014° 30.558
33S E 455713 N 3971944
A monument dedicated to 310 Maltese child migrants which migrated to Australia between 1950 and 1965.
Waymark Code: WMCBPC
Location: Malta
Date Posted: 08/19/2011
Views: 14
310 children were emigrated from Malta to Australia between 1950 and 1965 under the 'Child Migration to Australia Scheme' following an agreement between the Australian Catholic Immigration committee and the Emigration and Labour Minister on 9 December 1949.
Most of the Maltese children sent to Australia under this scheme came either from government orphanages or Church children's homes and all were said to have left with their parents' consent.
The Australian government had offered to welcome Maltese boys, aged between eight and 11, and girls aged between five and 10 years into Catholic institutions and promised to offer them employment supervised by the responsible Catholic authorities.
One of these children became a priest and many others embarked on a career though many grew up hurt knowing that their parents had consented to their departure from home.
The Maltese emigrants were included in the Australian Prime Minister's 2009 public apology to those who suffered abuse at the hands of their carers in institutions, orphanages and foster care.
(source: Wikipedia)
Text of the plaque:
CHILDS MIGRANTS' MEMORIAL
Inaugurated by
the Hon. Lawrence Gonzi
Prime Minister
2 March 2008
Website with more information on either the memorial or the person(s) it is dedicated to: [Web Link]
Location: Valletta Waterfront
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