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'She was punished for being neglected. She survived to be heard.'
In 1945, 12-year-old Ivy Getchell was cast into the grim confines of Parramatta Girls Training School, deemed a victim of 'neglect and moral danger.' Stripped of her dignity and longing for her stolen mother's locket, Ivy's only hope was escape through fostering.
What followed was a relentless cycle of institutionalisation and betrayal. From a brief respite at Thornleigh, where kindness and a love for the violin bloomed, to a brutal foster placement culminating in an attempted rape and a return to Parramatta as a 'criminal.' Even amidst degradation, Ivy found strength, rising to school captain, then seeking freedom with 'Skinny'—a union that led to an abusive marriage and the heartbreaking loss of her children.
But this isn't just a story of suffering. It's a testament to the enduring power of love. Fueled by the memory of her parents' affection, Ivy's spirit, though stunted, yearned to flourish. With Frank, she finally found freedom from abuse and the courage to reclaim her voice.
Decades later, The Forgotten Australians Inquiry and a Royal Commission offered a platform for Ivy to share her truth, confronting the stigma she carried for so long. Through extensive research, this powerful narrative reveals a shocking truth: very little has changed. Children as young as ten are still being taken from their families and incarcerated.
This is Ivy's story – a love story of enduring resilience, a searing indictment of systemic failures, and a call to action for a future where no child is forgotten.
'From state ward to survivor—her story will break and lift your heart.'
'From stolen childhood to stolen voice—this is the haunting, heartfelt journey of one girl's fight for freedom, justice, and love in the shadow of Australia's darkest institutions.'
In 1945, 12-year-old Ivy Getchell was cast into the grim confines of Parramatta Girls Training School, deemed a victim of 'neglect and moral danger.' Stripped of her dignity and longing for her stolen mother's locket, Ivy's only hope was escape through fostering.
What followed was a relentless cycle of institutionalisation and betrayal. From a brief respite at Thornleigh, where kindness and a love for the violin bloomed, to a brutal foster placement culminating in an attempted rape and a return to Parramatta as a 'criminal.' Even amidst degradation, Ivy found strength, rising to school captain, then seeking freedom with 'Skinny'—a union that led to an abusive marriage and the heartbreaking loss of her children.
But this isn't just a story of suffering. It's a testament to the enduring power of love. Fueled by the memory of her parents' affection, Ivy's spirit, though stunted, yearned to flourish. With Frank, she finally found freedom from abuse and the courage to reclaim her voice.
Decades later, The Forgotten Australians Inquiry and a Royal Commission offered a platform for Ivy to share her truth, confronting the stigma she carried for so long. Through extensive research, this powerful narrative reveals a shocking truth: very little has changed. Children as young as ten are still being taken from their families and incarcerated.
This is Ivy's story – a love story of enduring resilience, a searing indictment of systemic failures, and a call to action for a future where no child is forgotten.
'From state ward to survivor—her story will break and lift your heart.'
'From stolen childhood to stolen voice—this is the haunting, heartfelt journey of one girl's fight for freedom, justice, and love in the shadow of Australia's darkest institutions.'
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