History
The genesis of Beananging Kwuurt Institute came out of the dialogue between the WA Synod and WA Regional Committee of Congress. After the WA Synod had closed Manguri (which operated on the former site of Sister Kate’s Home) in 2002, they were keen to ensure that the legacy of Sister Kate would endure and that any ongoing use of the land would be to the benefit of Aboriginal people. This led to a number of new initiatives of which Beananging Kwuurt Institute was one. The dream and purpose for Beananging Kwuurt Institute came from the WA Regional Committee of Congress to establish an Aboriginal Welfare Agency and Museum for the benefit of Aboriginal people by Aboriginal people. The WA Synod agreed and supported the establishment of Beananging Kwuurt Institute as a separately incorporated Agency under the Uniting Church Act (1976) on the 23rd September, 2007 and set up the constitution to ensure that it would be an Aboriginal Controlled Entity.
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History of Sister Kates
Sister Kate's was founded on August 26, 1933 in Cottesloe by the Anglican nun Sister Kate. The property was on Beach Street, sometimes referred to as Buckland Hill, sometimes referred to as Cottesloe.
Now the story goes that Sister Kate decided to step out of retirement and wrote a letter to Mr. Neville asking him to give her the poorest of the poor, the most needy children, and she would come out of retirement to help them. Bear in mind that by writing a letter specifically to Neville, Protector of Aborigines, she had already determined who these poor children were that she intended to minister to.
And so eight little children who were “nearly white”; “quadroons” and “octaroons” were sent to Perth, specifically to Sister Kate’s cottage in Beach Street. There they were cared for by Sister Kate (now known as ‘Gran’ to the children) and Sister Phoebe Lefroy.
In time an area of land in Queens Park was purchased. This allowed Sister Kate to move there, taking older “nearly white” children and raising them in the cottage-home style she pioneered. The nursery remained at Cottesloe, where the youngest children were brought to Phoebe Lefroy. Eventually all the children were moved to Queens Park. The Queens Park land still exists as the BKI institute.
When Sister Kate died in 1946, the administrative responsibility was handed to a group of trustees, who in turn handed the responsibility to The Board of Social Services of the Presbyterian Church. In 1977 the Presbyterian Church became part of the Uniting Church and all properties of Sister Kate's were vested with the Uniting Church. From 1977 until 1980 Sister Kate's was managed by a Board. In January 1981 this Board gave way to a Management Committee, which in turn was accountable to the Board of Child and Family Care Services of the Uniting Church.
Manguri was incorporated in 1995 to provide accommodation for Aboriginal children and young people and closed in 2002.
Beananging Kwuurt Institute began operations in 2007 after it was incorporated.
Now the story goes that Sister Kate decided to step out of retirement and wrote a letter to Mr. Neville asking him to give her the poorest of the poor, the most needy children, and she would come out of retirement to help them. Bear in mind that by writing a letter specifically to Neville, Protector of Aborigines, she had already determined who these poor children were that she intended to minister to.
And so eight little children who were “nearly white”; “quadroons” and “octaroons” were sent to Perth, specifically to Sister Kate’s cottage in Beach Street. There they were cared for by Sister Kate (now known as ‘Gran’ to the children) and Sister Phoebe Lefroy.
In time an area of land in Queens Park was purchased. This allowed Sister Kate to move there, taking older “nearly white” children and raising them in the cottage-home style she pioneered. The nursery remained at Cottesloe, where the youngest children were brought to Phoebe Lefroy. Eventually all the children were moved to Queens Park. The Queens Park land still exists as the BKI institute.
When Sister Kate died in 1946, the administrative responsibility was handed to a group of trustees, who in turn handed the responsibility to The Board of Social Services of the Presbyterian Church. In 1977 the Presbyterian Church became part of the Uniting Church and all properties of Sister Kate's were vested with the Uniting Church. From 1977 until 1980 Sister Kate's was managed by a Board. In January 1981 this Board gave way to a Management Committee, which in turn was accountable to the Board of Child and Family Care Services of the Uniting Church.
Manguri was incorporated in 1995 to provide accommodation for Aboriginal children and young people and closed in 2002.
Beananging Kwuurt Institute began operations in 2007 after it was incorporated.