THE AUSTRALIAN ARK – Federation to the Modern Era | 1900–1982
‘The tragic, and often shameful, discrimination against Australians of German origin fostered during the World Wars had many consequences. No doubt, some of you carry the emotional scars of injustice during those times as part of your backgrounds or family histories. Let me, as Governor-General, say to all who do, how profoundly sorry I am that such things happened in our country.’ – Governor-General Sir William Deane at the inaugural Australian Conference on Lutheran Education, Gold Coast, Queensland, 26th of September 1999
Concentration camp at Torrens Island, South Australia. Prisoners were interned in tents in very uncomfortable conditions. In 1915 a new commanding officer shifted the camp to another location on the island and conditions deteriorated. Guards were routinely offensive, violent and brutal but when an American internee was flogged he wrote to the US Consul and the conditions were brought into the open. The camp was quietly closed in 1915 and all official records destroyed. [SLSA B-9001]
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