Took the Children Away

by Archie Roach, Ruby Hunter (Illustrator)

Archie Roach AM’s deeply personal song, ‘Took the Children Away’, from his 1990 debut album, Charcoal Lane, was the first song ever to receive a prestigious Australian Human Rights Award. Its impact was immediate, shining a stark light on Australia’s shameful past practices of removing children from their families. The song also speaks of love and reconnection and has travelled across seas into the hearts of First Nations communities everywhere. One dark day, when Archie was just two years old, big black government cars came to his home at Framlingham Aboriginal Mission in southwest Victoria. They forcibly took Archie away from his mother, father and family – everything he had ever known. They took away thousands of other Aboriginal children, right around Australia. Powerful people had decided that these children would be better off living and learning all the white man’s ways. Frightened and alone, they grew up in institutions and foster homes. They became known as the Stolen Generations. Ruby Hunter was one of those children, too, only eight when she was taken from the loving arms of her grandmother living on the Coorong in South Australia. Archie and Ruby met and fell in love as homeless teenagers and Archie started writing songs to help ease his pain. Archie’s songs, loved by fans worldwide, tell a powerful story of survival and renewal, and the healing power of music. In this special 30th anniversary edition, Archie’s iconic lyrics sit alongside evocative illustrations by his beloved soulmate and musical collaborator, Ruby Hunter. Also included are Archie’s recollections of his family and rare historical photographs. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are warned that this book contains images of people who are deceased or who may now be deceased.Longlisted for the 2021 ABIA Book of the Year for Younger Children

Genres: Childrens, Indigenous, Picture Books, Music, Biography

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Archibald William Roach AM (8 January 1956 – 30 July 2022) was an Aboriginal Australian musician. He was a singer, songwriter, guitarist, a Gunditjmara and Bundjalung elder and a campaigner for the rights of Indigenous Australians. His wife and musical partner was the singer Ruby Hunter (1955–2010).

Roach first became known for the song "Took the Children Away", which featured on his debut solo album, Charcoal Lane, in 1990. He toured around the globe, headlining and opening shows for Joan Armatrading, Bob Dylan, Billy Bragg, Tracy Chapman, Suzanne Vega and Patti Smith. His work has been recognised by numerous nominations and awards, including a Deadly Award for a "Lifetime Contribution to Healing the Stolen Generations" in 2013. At the 2020 ARIA Music Awards on 25 November 2020, Roach was inducted into their hall of fame.

Reviews

[Serene Conneeley]

Took the Children Away by Archie Roach is a gorgeous book, which combines the lyrics of his iconic song with beautiful illustrations by Archie’s late wife Ruby Hunter. Both of these incredible singer-songwriters were stolen from their families when they were really young, and Archie’s deeply moving songs, his touching memoir Tell Me Why, and this beautiful book shed light on the devastating government policy of forceful removal of Aboriginal children from their families, which still impacts thousands of First Nations people today. I really hope this gorgeous book will provide insight and understanding about the Stolen Generations, and encourage conversations, as well as action.
As Archie says: “Young people need to understand that the Stolen Generations is an Australian story; it’s part of their history as well, and not just the history of First Nations people, but all our history, all our story. It’s the only way we can move on in this country.”
Through his Archie Roach Foundation and in collaboration with Culture Is Life, Archie has created some wonderful resources that people young and old will benefit from: https://education.abc.net.au/home#!/t...

[Miss Nessa]

This book is based on Archie's beautiful and heartbreaking song of the same name.
The song is pure poetry, emotion, heartbreak, love and more.
It is history. It is about one Family's horror - and the cruelty, pain, grief, loss suffered by the Stolen Generation.
It is... simply told but packs a damn powerful punch.
There is so much for our Nation to be sorry for in regards to how our First Peoples have been and continue to be treated.
We should be all "Australian"
As the song makes me weep - so did this story book.

[Wren]

5/5

Such a beautiful picture book to go along with Archie Roach's song. This should be a picture book all parents/teachers read to young children because the story is so important. Honestly though my favourite part was the little autobiography bits about Archie and Ruby. Reading about how much Archie loves Ruby is the most beautiful thing I've ever read.

[T]

Has been read and listened to with the song numerous times by now. Get ready to cry, adults, as you are not ready for this. Unless you’re familiar with the history of Australia and First Nations artists and the Lost Generations (which many contend have never ceased) this may be an awakening. A brilliant song, truthful, and achingly unforgettable. The artwork is wonderful! With family from/in Australia, this book/song holds a special place in my heart for years. A must-read with important back matter. A great book for kids and adults alike.

[Alli_aye]

Bought a copy when I was lucky enough to see Archie Roach perform live. Archie Roach was a powerhouse of a performer. He lived an admirable life with partner & artist Ruby Hunter. This book is a testament to his strength and the foul actions the Australian government enacted on the Stolen Generation

[Vintagebooklvr]

A tribute to the stupidity and self-righteousness of people and governments.

[Emily Mcleod]

Excellent. Moving. Beautiful illustrations and stories.

[Daisy Barlow]

this is a good book it rhymes and you have to say took the children away a lot but its good:) :) :) ;)

[Chris]

This is not a children's book. It is the lyrics to a famous Australian song in book format with illustrations. It tells the sad chapter of Aboriginal treatment by taking them away from their families and placing them with white foster families. Australia had a similar policy that America towards Native Americans, "take the Indian out of the child." Though the book/song recalls the anger at the injustice, it is a song of hope about how Archie Roach did come back home, find himself and his people.

[Karen]

Ruby Hunter's art adds a lot of extra power and meaning to Archie Roach's words.
The two combined have become a haunting document about the experience of the Stolen Generations.