Dilys Budd (Part 2 of story)

Story

Part 2 of Story

Years later in a TV documentary called ‘Lost children of the Empire’ I was recognized as one of the children coming down the gang way with many of my friends already lining up on the dock. I do remember feeling quite miserable & wondering how long we were going to stay & when I could see my sisters again. I was promised that my sisters would come on the next boat, but it never happened. In fact, we were actively discouraged from trying to contact any family members. I spent the next 5-6 years at St Joseph\’s Orphanage in Subiaco.

I believe that most of the nuns at St Josephs tried their best, but we did not readily submit to their discipline & spent most of our waking hours working out how we could upset them. I was considered one the main ringleaders & the nuns told me that I had the devil in me & they would ‘break my spirit\’ (They did not succeed). I was regularly sent to the Mother Superior\’s office to get the cane. I was also punished most Sundays by being locked in the linen cupboard during playtime, so I couldn\’t influence the other children.

When I was 13 years old I spent many nights from 6.30pm to 6.30 am on duty in the orphanage\’s foundling home. The ages of the children ranged from 2 to 5 years & the majority finished up in the orphanage. I ran away from the orphanage several times – although I always hoped to be caught before dark. I once refused to come down off the roof & a fire hose was used, causing me to fall on to a wood pile where I was cut on my back & arm. I still have the scars today. The orphanage did one thing that still endures. Because we were alone with no family to turn to, a very close bond developed between us. This bond continues just as strong today over 50 years later.

At the age of 15 we were sent out to work Ð in factories, shops & domestic work. I was one of the fortunate ones that started in a State Government Office. It was a lonely time at first as I was not used to life outside an institution. I also missed my friends & we would try & meet regularly to comfort each other. I worked in the State Health Department for 5 years & was encouraged by a disabled officer & his wife to study & better myself. I studied at night school for a couple of years, then Business College & joined the Army Nursing Corps Reserve.

I decided to leave WA in 1957 & arrived in Melbourne with very little money. I took a nursing job at the Kew Mental Hospital where there was live-in accommodation. I did another business course & after passing a typing test I secured a job in the Victorian Tax Office. I then moved into a boarding house in Kew where I met my future husband, Bob. We have been happily married since 1959.

My husband\’s job was transferred to Canberra in 1965 & we settled in Curtin. Our 5 children grew up & were educated in Canberra & at last count we have 10 grand children. Bob stayed with the Public Service for a number of years & later worked in non-government organizations & as a math\’s teacher. In 1970, I joined the Department of Trade, later to become Foreign Affairs & Trade, & worked there for over 30 years.

I re-established contact with my sisters in the late 1970\’s (the detective work involved in this search is a story in itself). In 1976 I returned to the UK accompanied by my family & after 30 years we were together again. It was amazing how much alike we were. It was a very happy reunion & since then we have endeavoured to meet every two years. I usually make the trip to Wales with Bob but on three occasions we brought my sisters out to Australia.

Through my childhood & early teens I experienced many unpleasant & unhappy times. However, I have enjoyed a wonderful family & friendships which are more important & lasting than the bad memories. I ceased to ‘look back in anger\’ a long time ago & believe that; overall, the fates have been very good to me. If I could meet up with the three men that came to our classroom in 1947 I would say ‘thank you\’

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