Missions Connect

Aborigines Act (continued from the earlier 1886 Act) made the Chief Protector of Aborigines the legal guardian of `every Aboriginal and half-caste child’ under 16 years.

A.O. Neville appointed Chief Protector, rapidly expanded the Native Settlement program as a program for biological ‘absorption or assimilation’.

1917 – Moore River Native Settlement (MRNS) Established.

1918 First Children sent to Moore River Native Settlement.

Mosley Royal Commission into conditions in the Native Settlements.

A.O. Neville retires, S.G. Middleton appointed Commissioner of Native Affairs.

Government decides to hand over MRNS to the Methodist Church to run as a Mission.

The Methodists renamed the site Mogumber Mission.

Significant building works at Mission to change care structure from dormitory to cottage style accommodation.

Native Welfare Act repealed the Aborigines Act of 1905. The Commissioner of Native Welfare ceased to be the guardian of Aboriginal children but remained responsible for the ‘custody, maintenance and education of the children of natives’.

Significant renovations of original MRNS Church building at top of the main street and construction of a new hospital on the site.

Aboriginal Affairs Planning Authority Act. The Act abolished the Department of Native Welfare and created the Aboriginal Affairs Planning Authority.

Mogumber Mission became the Mogumber Training Centre running agricultural and trade training programs and out of home care for Aboriginal children after the Mission closed. These programs continued to be run by the Methodist/Uniting Church, until the Training Centre amalgamated with Sister Care’s Child & Family Care Services in 1980.