The Wire

Indigenous and non-indigenous Australians are mourning the loss of one of the key figures in the Stolen Generations debate, who passed away this weekend. Mr Gunner, now known by his people as Kwementyay Gunner, was involved in a key landmark case that went all the way to the Federal Court in 2000. In the case involving Mr Gunner and Lorna Cubillo, who were both members of the Stolen Generations, alleged that the Federal Government took them from their communities in 1947 and 1956. However, the court ruled that the Federal government was not liable for the suffering that both Mrs Cubillo and Mr Gunner endured. Despite this the case, helped throw a spotlight on the issue of Australia’s treatment of indigenous people and the country’s continued inability to confront past mistakes. To this day, the Stolen Generations are still seeking recognition and compensation from state and federal governments. Ray Minniecon is the Co-Chair of the national Sorry Day Committee, a group which lobbies on behalf of the Stolen Generations and seeks a formal apology from the government. He recounted the life of Mr Gunner to Erica Vowles.