NT Stolen Generations survivor Eileen Cummings welcomes historic class action settlement

After being cruelly snatched from her mother’s arms at the age of four, Eileen Cummings pushed for the families of other Stolen Generations survivors to share in a historic $50m settlement.

Stolen Generations survivor Eileen Cummings will share in a historic $50m class action settlement with the federal government. Picture: Che Chorley

A historic $50m Stolen Generations class action settlement has been hailed as a victory not just for survivors of the shameful act of state sponsored cruelty, but their families as well.

The NSW Supreme Court this week approved the settlement reached by the commonwealth government and the descendants of children removed from their parents in the NT between 1912 and 1973.

Stolen Generations survivor Eileen Cummings was taken from her mother in the Arnhem Land community of Bulman aged just four, and did not see her again until fate intervened and she was able to track her down as a teenager.

“Some of my cousins were at Kormilda College school (in Darwin) and when we were playing softball they came up to me and told me who they were,” she said.

“They said ‘You’re our family Eileen’, and I said ‘Where’s my mum?’ and they said ‘Your mother’s still alive, she’s still out there.

“So as soon as I was able to, I drove out there to Mainoru and to Bulman to see my mother and then after that just kept on taking the children and my grandchildren out there so they could know where I came from and they could meet my family.”

Ms Cummings fought hard for the children of other members of the Stolen Generations who passed away before they had the chance to reconnect with their families to be included in the class action, who she says suffered just as much as her.

“When you were on the missions and institutions you were never taught how to be mothers, parents, there was no love and affection in those missions,” she said.

Eileen Cummings with other members of the Stolen Generations as children. Picture: Supplied

“A lot of the young women got married really early because they wanted to escape the institution because they thought they’d have a better life.

“Some people did, some people didn’t, but for most of us it was the trauma of being removed from your mother and your people and your country, told you’re not allowed to speak you language.

“You’re not allowed to even see your mother again and never go back to your country, those were the things that were instilled in our head.”

Joint head of class actions at Shine Lawyers, who litigated the case, Vicky Antzoulatos, said it had been an opportunity “to confront the appalling race based policies lurking in the not too distant shadows of Australia’s past”

“The Stolen Generation is one of the darkest chapters in our country’s history, which no amount of money will ever make up for,” she said.

“It’s our hope though that this settlement will go some way towards helping with the healing process.”

Originally published as NT Stolen Generations survivor Eileen Cummings welcomes historic class action settlement