When Evelyn Dodds first reached out to Link-Up (Qld), she sought answers her family had been denied for generations. Her father, Patrick Dodds, had been just one year old when he was removed from his mother in 1927 and placed into the Bomaderry Aboriginal Children’s Home. From there, he was sent to Kinchela Aboriginal Boys Training Home, where he spent the remainder of his childhood.
Above: Evelyn Dodds (left) with daughter Christine Kanofski in Walgett on her Link-Up (Qld) reunion.
“He grew up not knowing very much about his mother or any of his Aboriginal family or connections,” Evelyn shared. “It was actually my daughter who suggested I approach Link-Up (Qld). I wanted to find out where my grandmother was buried and learn more about our family history.”
Like so many others impacted by past government policies of forced removal, Evelyn and her family had grown up with missing pieces – gaps in identity, memory, and belonging. What she didn’t know was that the journey she was about to take would offer not only answers but healing.
Link-Up (Qld) helped Evelyn by providing a detailed family history report that shed light on her family’s past.
““I will be forever grateful for the extensive family tree and family history research. I learned so much about my grandmother, her brothers and sisters, our great-grandparents, and our connection to the Walgett area in New South Wales.”
– Evelyn Dodds
What struck Evelyn most was discovering how her father had been misled. “The people who ran the institutions he was placed into told him he was not wanted by his parents. But I found out through Link-Up (Qld)’s research that his mother never stopped trying. She wrote again and again to the Aboriginal Protection Board, asking for her son to be returned to her, or at least to know if he was okay.”
The reunion journey began in Sydney, where Link-Up (Qld) had found the resting place of Evelyn’s grandmother in Rookwood General Cemetery.
Above: Evelyn and Christine at the resting place of Evelyn’s grandmother in Rookwood General Cemetery.
“I was surprised to learn I was nine years old when she passed away. I would have loved to have met her. Visiting her grave was deeply emotional. I felt like I was the only person to have visited her in a very long time. I was sad for the times we never had together, and for a woman who never got to raise her son.”
But the journey didn’t stop there. Evelyn travelled with her daughter Christine and Link-Up (Qld) Caseworker Latia Schefe to Walgett, NSW – country that her family had once called home.
After flying to Dubbo and driving to Coonamble for an overnight stay, the trio made their way to Walgett, where they met Aunty Dot Gibbs and Noreen Ward-Kennedy – descendants of Evelyn’s great-uncle, Arthur Dodd.
“It was so heartwarming to be welcomed by Aunty Dot and Noreen. They showed us all around the town, including the cemetery where many of our ancestors are buried. We shared stories over lunch, and I showed Aunty Dot the family tree Link-Up (Qld) had helped me put together. They even invited me back to visit any time.”
It was a trip full of powerful emotions – grief, gratitude, and a quiet sense of fulfilment.
“My whole trip was a truly amazing journey of discovery and healing. I just wish my father could have experienced this with me, but I think he was there in spirit.”
Through Link-Up (Qld), Evelyn not only uncovered her grandmother’s story but also found her place within a broader family and cultural legacy. The journey helped her stitch together a part of her identity that had always felt just out of reach.
“Most of my life I had a longing to know more about my grandmother’s Aboriginal background, where she came from, and why my father was taken from her. Thanks to Link-Up (Qld), a lot of my questions have been answered. My sense of belonging and connection has only been strengthened.”
Left: Noreen Ward-Kennedy, Evelyn Dodds and Christine Kanofski in Walgett, NSW. Right: Christine Kanofski, Evelyn Dodds with Aunty Dot Gibbs spending time together in Walgett, NSW.
Evelyn expressed her deep appreciation for the team who walked with her on this journey.
“I would like to thank Link-Up (Qld) CEO Pat Thompson, Research Officer Kali, Caseworker Latia, and all the staff at Link-Up (Qld) for the truly amazing and vital work you do. I will never forget what you’ve given me.”
Published April 2025.
