My father's secret: Julie Janson and Shane Smithers

In 1950’s Boronia Park, Julie Janson’s father would have lost his job if his Aboriginal identity had been confirmed. Because of this secret, as a child she never endured being “put down” for being Aboriginal: “That was a kind of a gift, but it’s so sad.” Now she is searching for her missing ancestor from the 1820s but she is not sure if she will ever find the last link. For her second cousin, Shane Smithers, growing up in Riverston in the 1970s it was more acceptable to be Aboriginal.

Keywords: Identity; childhood; racism; values; heritage; working; early settlement

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All the video recordings on this website were made at least a decade ago. Some are fifteen years old.

What the speakers say on camera was based on their own knowledge and researches at the time each video was made. Since then a great deal of information has come to hand which may make some of the information first recorded now outdated. Therefore please regard this website as a period piece presenting knowledge held and believed at the time of recording.