| Summary |
Frank Golding talks about his parents and their backgrounds; life before his institutional years and eventual separation from parents; with brother Bob being made Wards of the State, foster parenting; moving to Ballarat orphanage; father's recruitment into army, WWII; his memory of entering Ballarat Orphanage for the first time and associated trauma; treatment of children; the division of children into age groups; orphanage life, routines, behaviour and initiation; the nature and character of carers/custodials at orphanage and physical discipline; inmates and injustice, food and diet, illnesses, counselling; treatment of children by staff and teaching staff including abuse; digging trenches at orphanage, rationing and working for the war effort; schooling at the orphanage; the discipline meted out; religious education; his love of reading; his move to secondary school outside of orphanage, sense of freedom experienced; orphanage work on the farm, vegetable garden and selling milk; moments of enjoyment; sports and training; visits from charity workers; acceptance into outside families; a sponsored trip to England and its impact; return to care of parents and family life; dealing with life as a former Ward of State.
Golding discusses studying at university and teacher training, teaching to the Wimmera region; early promotion, return to city and move into lecturing and administration; educational reform; transfer to South Australia and into teacher education; personal relationships; travel to UK for further study and return to South Australia, educational developments; his work with the Catholic Education Office in SA and multi-cultural education, return to work in Victoria to child migrant education; government attitudes to education; his reasons for leaving the Education Department in Victoria; writing his book An Orphan's Escape; research into government files on Wards of the State, foster families, his family and his past; the evolution of his role as an advisor and advocate; public talks about his book; Care Leavers of Australia Network (CLAN); VANISH Inc.; advising others in research of government files; personal experiences and community impact of care leavers; fear of institutions; compensation claims from State, churchs, and charities; views on the future of Forgotten Australians.
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