Remembering the Children. Sunbury, Victoria, Australia
By Team Ladava on 01-May-11. Waypoint GA3180

Conditions were atrocious. A unreliable supply of water had to be carried up the hill from Jackson Creek. When food did arrive from Melbourne it was regularly mouldy or rancid.

 

From Joan Brogden's address at a General Meeting on 13^th. September 2003 – ‘The idea behind Industrial Schools was to care for vagrant children and teach them a trade. Vagrancy became a huge problem at the end of the gold rush, as there were no jobs for families who returned to Melbourne. Men were forced to ‘go bush’ to seek work whilst women and children often ended up on the streets.’

 

‘Hygiene at the school was poor. Because it was scarce, children washed in the same water. There were no towels so the children dried themselves on their sheet. They were allocated only one sheet. Bed-wetting was a problem but there were only 3 chamber pots between 50 boys. Some had no pillow and most slept on a straw palliasse on the floor. Lice, fleas, and scabies spread quickly. The first health check showed 103 out of 120 boys had scabies. One comb was used for the 50 boys. Many children lost their eyesight because of ophthalmia (Conjunctivitis). More than 50% of the boys were under the age of 10 and the death rate for the first year was 11%.’

 

May they rest in peace.

 

To find the cache -

 

The age at death of the youngest child – A

 

The children died between BCDE and FGHI

 

Your final waypoint is S 37° 35.(C-E)(B+C)(C-E), E144° 43G(C-G)E.

 

Team Ladava