Remembering Tj Hickey | The Stolen Generation Continues

Content         Warning This episode of Dointime contains audio images of Aboriginal and Tores Strait  Islander people who  have died, and graphic discussion of deaths in custody, and the Stolen Generation. This week’s show is a Special Commemoration  broadcast honouring Aboriginal teenager Tj Hickey. Tj, a 17-year-arold teenager, was killed in February 2004 after  racist police chased him through the streets of Redfern when he was riding his bicycle. The result? He was impaled on a fence and he died at the hands of police. First up we heard from Aunty Dianne, a strong First Nations woman and relative of Tj. She spoke about Tj Hickey and police investigating police. Lots of grief was expressed about his death and the ongoing campaign for justice led by Tj’s mother Gail. Then we heard from Cheryl Kaulfuss, from the Indigenous Social Justice Association Melbourne,   (Isja) who spoke about the by2026  rally for Tj, and sent a solidarity message from Isja. FINALLY WE spoke with Bj Newton, a proud Wiradjuri woman and Associate Professor at Nsw Sydney. She leads the Bring them Home Keep them Home Research. In partnership with Abroriginal organiseations, her research drives sector-wide impact through truth-telling, generating new evidence, community-led initiatives, and advocacy. Bj spoke in detail about how the systematic removal of Aboriginal children is worse than ever, 18 years on from the National Apology to the Stolen Generations.  The interview focused on her research and campaigns showing us that the Stolen generation    continues to the present day. It was also discussed that the National Apology speeches included harmful stereotypes and minimization of past injustices, reflecting broader systemic racism that persists in contemporary policies.