Link-Up (Qld) supported Stolen Generations descendant Len Utz in discovering his Aboriginal heritage and facilitated a return to country reunion at Charleville in 2013 to visit the birthplace of his mother. Twelve years on, we caught up with Len to reflect on his healing journey:
“My name is Len Utz. I was born and raised in Brisbane and I’ve lived here all my life. When I grew up not identifying as Aboriginal, that was mainly because Mum, being removed when she was a young girl, was never spoken about within the family. We were told we were American Indians – it was a little bit hard to comprehend. I just grew up with that.
I always knew it was in my heart. I’d heard a couple of little things when I was younger, and so I knew there were Aboriginal people in the family.
I wanted to find out more about Mum’s Aboriginality. I thought – I didn’t know what I was going to do and how I was going to do it. Without Link-Up, I would have never known any of the information I have.
Above: Len Utz accompanied by his son on his Link-Up (Qld) reunion trip to Charleville in 2013.
When I was given the opportunity to actually go out to Charleville, I had really no idea what would happen. I didn’t have expectations. But I was also given the opportunity to take a support person, which was my eldest son. He was always pretty spiritual. I then got to actually walk onto the Country where my mum was born. And to do that, and then pick that earth up and run it through my hands, it was an unbelievable experience. You know, because I didn’t have connection to Country as such, or pride of it. Because all that was denied.
Above: Len Utz on his Link-Up (Qld) reunion trip to Charleville in 2013.
I could never speak highly enough of Link-Up for what they’d done, especially for me personally. And then now, throughout the years, seeing other people and speaking to other people who’ve done the same stuff and been supported by Link-Up. You couldn’t ask for more support from all the staff. If you have a problem, you’ve only got to ask, and help is there.”
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Published June 2025.
