Julie Owens (Parramatta, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am honoured to rise to congratulate the fabulous Bonney Djuric on being awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia this past Queen's Birthday. This honour comes to Ms Djuric as recognition of her fervent commitment to highlighting and preserving the stories of those incarcerated in the Parramatta girl's home. At the age of 15 Bonney was committed to the Parramatta girl's home and was, tragically, subjected to the abuse and cruelty of the welfare institution systems of the day that exploited nearly half a million Australians.

In 2003 Ms Djuric courageously founded Parragirls, a platform used by so many former inmates and other forgotten Australians to seek support in order to overcome their experiences in welfare institutions, as Bonney Djuric herself has done and continues to do every day. Ms Djuric's work as Director of the Parramatta Female Factory Precinct Memory Project brings to light the stories of abuse and bravery of the Parragirls. It raises their voices and reminds us all of the terrible stories and the importance of compassion, humility and perseverance in our lives.

I had the honour of assisting a number of the Parramatta girls in 2008 to travel to Canberra for Prime Minister Rudd's official apology to the forgotten Australians. Because of the work of Bonney, both before and after that day, it's not a one-off day. Her bravery and commitment to helping others brings those stories to life and ensures that they will be remembered by the people of Australia. Well done, Bonney. It's well earned.