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Biography of Care Experienced People

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Slipped Through the Net. The story of Melrose Desmond Donley

Elly Inta

2009

In Slipped Through the Net, Ella Inta tells the story of the amazing Des Donley who lived until he was 97 years of age.

Des was a member of the Stolen Generation, taken from his mother when he was six months old. He went into an orphanage, in and out of foster care, and then back into an orphanage when he was 10.

At 14, Des was sent to work on a dairy farm and for 4 years he worked up to 18 hours a day without pay and in appalling conditions. At the age of 94, Des was still agitating the Qld government to return his wages.

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