AustLit logo

AustLit

image of person or book cover 8539038545130284844.png
This image has been sourced from Anita Heiss 2014.
y separately published work icon Took the Children Away single work   picture book   lyric/song   children's  
Issue Details: First known date: 2010... 2010 Took the Children Away
The material on this page is available to AustLit subscribers. If you are a subscriber or are from a subscribing organisation, please log in to gain full access. To explore options for subscribing to this unique teaching, research, and publishing resource for Australian culture and storytelling, please contact us or find out more.

AbstractHistoryArchive Description

'"Took the Children Away", is a moving indictment of the treatment of indigenous children from the 'Stolen Generation' and a song which 'struck a chord' not only among the wider Aboriginal community, but also nationally. The song was awarded two ARIA Awards, as well as an international Human Rights Achievement Award, the first time this had been awarded to a songwriter because of a song. The album it came from featured in Rolling Stone magazine's Top 100 Albums for 1992.

'From the lyrics of this iconic song a very special book for children of all ages has been created. Featuring he heart wrenching lyrics of Archie Roach and the classic artwork of his late wife and soul-mate Ruby Hunter, this book is destined to become a masterpiece.

'Renowned Queensland artist, Peter Hudson has adorned the book with his stunning landscapes of South West Victoria - Archie's traditional lands.' (From the publisher's website.)

Exhibitions

8733014
15517668
19634031
19567105
VIEW ALL EXHIBITIONS

Teaching Resources

Teaching Resources

This work has teaching resources.

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

    • Camberwell East, Camberwell - Kew area, Melbourne - Inner South, Melbourne, Victoria,: One Day Hill , 2010 .
      image of person or book cover 8539038545130284844.png
      This image has been sourced from Anita Heiss 2014.
      Extent: 1v. (unpaged)p.
      Description: col. illus.
      Note/s:
      • 'Took the children away is reproduced with kind permission from Mushroom Music Publishing' (Title page verso)
      ISBN: 9780980564341 (pbk.), 0980564344
    • Cammeray, Cremorne - Mosman - Northbridge area, Sydney Northeastern Suburbs, Sydney, New South Wales,: Simon and Schuster Australia , 2020 .
      image of person or book cover 7125875075590316912.jpg
      Image courtesy of publisher's website.
      Extent: 32p.
      Description: illus.
      Note/s:
      • Published 7 October 2020
      ISBN: 9781760857219
VIEW PUBLICATION DETAILS FOR ALL VERSIONS ()

Related Works

Took the Children Away i "This story's right, this story's true", Archie Roach , 1996 single work lyric/song
— Appears in: Nourishing Terrains : Australian Aboriginal Views of Landscape and Wilderness 1996; (p. 81) Macquarie PEN Anthology of Aboriginal Literature 2008; (p. 134-136) Macquarie PEN Anthology of Australian Literature 2009; (p. 1267-1268) Fire Front : First Nations Poetry and Power Today 2020; (p. 23-25)

'Although not the first song about the enforced separation of Indigenous children from their families, Archie Roach’s song, based on his own life and experience, was released at a time when there was increasing public focus on the Stolen Generations. The significance of the song also resonated outside the Indigenous community with Roach winning ARIA Awards for Best Indigenous Release and Best New Talent in 1991. Took the Children Away received an international Human Rights Achievement Award, the first time that the award had been bestowed on a songwriter.'

Source: NFSA (https://www.nfsa.gov.au/collection/curated/took-children-away-archie-roach). Sighted: 21/02/2019)
VIEW ALL RELATED WORKS (1)

Works about this Work

Archie Roach Encourages Indigenous Prisoners to Look to Community, Culture and Country to Escape Status Quo Kristin Silva , 2020 single work column
— Appears in: ABC News [Online] , November 2020;

'Every time Archie Roach steps inside a prison, there's a little bit of himself he sees in the men and women behind bars.'
Artful Creations Stephanie Owen Reeder , 2011 single work review
— Appears in: The Canberra Times , 3 April 2011; (p. 30)
— Review of How Frogmouth Found Her Home Ambelin Kwaymullina , 2010 single work picture book ; Me and My Dad Sally Morgan , Ezekiel Kwaymullina , 2010 single work picture book ; An Australian ABC of Animals Bronwyn Bancroft , 2004 single work picture book ; An Australian 1, 2, 3 of Animals Bronwyn Bancroft , 2007 single work picture book ; My Island Home Neil Murray , 2010 single work picture book ; Solid Rock Shane Howard , 2010 single work picture book ; Took the Children Away Archie Roach , 2010 single work picture book lyric/song
Off the Shelf : For Children Lorien Kaye , 2010 single work review
— Appears in: The Age , 6 November 2010; (p. 25)
— Review of Took the Children Away Archie Roach , 2010 single work picture book lyric/song
Serious Business for Children Andrew Hamilton , 2010 single work review
— Appears in: Eureka Street , 11 October vol. 20 no. 20 2010;
— Review of My Island Home Neil Murray , 2010 single work picture book ; Took the Children Away Archie Roach , 2010 single work picture book lyric/song ; Solid Rock Shane Howard , 2010 single work picture book
Serious Business for Children Andrew Hamilton , 2010 single work review
— Appears in: Eureka Street , 11 October vol. 20 no. 20 2010;
— Review of My Island Home Neil Murray , 2010 single work picture book ; Took the Children Away Archie Roach , 2010 single work picture book lyric/song ; Solid Rock Shane Howard , 2010 single work picture book
Off the Shelf : For Children Lorien Kaye , 2010 single work review
— Appears in: The Age , 6 November 2010; (p. 25)
— Review of Took the Children Away Archie Roach , 2010 single work picture book lyric/song
Artful Creations Stephanie Owen Reeder , 2011 single work review
— Appears in: The Canberra Times , 3 April 2011; (p. 30)
— Review of How Frogmouth Found Her Home Ambelin Kwaymullina , 2010 single work picture book ; Me and My Dad Sally Morgan , Ezekiel Kwaymullina , 2010 single work picture book ; An Australian ABC of Animals Bronwyn Bancroft , 2004 single work picture book ; An Australian 1, 2, 3 of Animals Bronwyn Bancroft , 2007 single work picture book ; My Island Home Neil Murray , 2010 single work picture book ; Solid Rock Shane Howard , 2010 single work picture book ; Took the Children Away Archie Roach , 2010 single work picture book lyric/song
Archie Roach Encourages Indigenous Prisoners to Look to Community, Culture and Country to Escape Status Quo Kristin Silva , 2020 single work column
— Appears in: ABC News [Online] , November 2020;

'Every time Archie Roach steps inside a prison, there's a little bit of himself he sees in the men and women behind bars.'
VIEW ALL WORKS ABOUT (4)

Awards

VIEW ALL AWARDS (1)
Last amended 12 Apr 2021 12:10:47
Subjects:
Newspapers:
    Powered by Trove
    X