A Distant Harmony
Daisy Ingram
Denis White 2004

A Distant Harmony covers the history of the part-Aboriginal children who were moved to and then lived on Croker Island in North Australia, chiefly the period after the war when the children’s home was re-established.

The author, who was a teacher and a cottage mother there, describes a happy environment of lovely children, interesting pets, wonderful scenery, delicious food and exciting adventures.

The writing style is light and chatty and makes interesting reading. Daisy Ingram obviously loved her charges very much.

The back cover of the book explains that the book was written “with the desire to bring some balance to some controversial and emotional issues, and to serve as part of the record of the childhood experiences of these children.”

I must admit to having mixed feelings about this book. As a foster mother I acknowledge the absolute importance of children in care having a record of their history, so I am sure this book will be very important to the now well-grown Croker Island children. However, nowhere in the book is there any acknowledgement about the grief the families of the children would have felt when their children were removed by the Welfare department and sent, probably without their knowledge, to the top of Australia.

There was one line in the book that positively made me shudder: “There were always new children being sent out to Croker Island by the Welfare department.” However, well loved and well cared for the children at Croker Island were, the system that put them there was a misguided and ultimately damaging one.

Katy Gerner

A Distant Harmony is available from Denis White, PO Box 300 Fullarton SA, 5063.