FED: Child migrants get British help = 3

AAP General News (Australia)
12-15-1998
FED: Child migrants get British help = 3

One child migrant, former ABC head David Hill, welcomed the British governments decision
but warned reunions between children and parents were fraught with danger.

"Quite often the expectations are high and the cases are very traumatic," he said.

Mr Hill, who gave evidence to the British parliamentary committee, migrated to Australia
aged 12 in 1959 with his twin brother and 14-year-old brother under the Fairbridge Farm School
scheme.

He said he was part of the lucky five per cent of child migrants because he was reunited
with his mother in Australia after about three years. He never knew his father.

"I think its good that the inherent problems are now being recognised," Mr Hill said.

"More important than money is recognition that there were inherent problems in those child
migrant schemes," he said, pointing to the social isolation and emotional problems created by
the schemes.

AAP cm/jd/it/de

KEYWORD: UK ORPHANS AUST N/L 3 SYDNEY (REOPENS)

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