Christian Brothers to leave the Kimberley after more than half a century

After more than half a century in the Kimberley, the Christian Brothers are packing their bags and heading back to Perth, as the organisation’s work in the region comes to an end.

Brother Berkeley Fitzhardinge and Brother Peter Thrupp will be leaving Broome at the end of the year after a combined 50 years in the Kimberley between them.

Brother Thrupp said he had enjoyed his time in the Kimberley fostering connections in the community.

“I’m still relatively young — 82 — so I plan to go to a normal Brothers’ community down in Perth … I hope to become a volunteer to a lot of our outreaches … so I’ll keep active but I am sorry to leave. I enjoyed my 15 years here,” he said.

“We’re not young anymore, and our health has been up and down. I suppose we have to bite the bullet and realise that we’d be better cared for down in Perth. Fifty-four years is a good contribution to the Kimberley.”

Brother Fitzhardinge said he was sad to go but was looking forward to reconnecting with family back in Perth.

“There are advantages both ways … I’ve been away from family and relatives in Perth for most of this time and it’s time at last to make some closer connections,” he said.

Kimberley connections

The Christian Brothers’ work in the Kimberley started with the opening of Nulungu College in 1971, a boarding school for remote Kimberley Aboriginal students and the first to offer them secondary education in the region.

The first boarders arrived in 1972 with Brothers Nick Bilich, Peter Hardiman and Tom Roberts playing a foundation role in constructing and running the college.

Nulungu College would also gradually take over responsibility for Nulungu Girls College founded in 1974.

Students also helped with the construction of the college, mixing concrete and cement and running wheelbarrows.

Boarding at the college ceased in the 1990s in order for Nulungu to be managed by the Catholic Education Office prior to amalgamation with St Mary’s Primary School as St Mary’s College in 1995.

However, the Christian Brothers continued working at the college and across the broader Kimberley community for the next 30 years.

As well as their ministry at Nulungu and St Mary’s College, the Christian Brothers have worked at St Joseph’s School Kununurra, Ngalangangpum School in Warmun, Notre Dame University Broome Campus, Wirrumanu Adult Education Centre, Lombadina Mission, Broome Drop-in Centre, St John Ambulance, Centacare and many more.

Brothers have also spent time as volunteers at Mirrilingki Spirituality Centre, Luurnpa School in Balgo and Sacred Heart School in Beagle Bay.

A total of 45 Christian Brothers have worked in the Kimberley over its 54 years in the region.

A troubling era

The order is not free from controversy, however.

From the early 1900s the Christian Brothers ran a network of institution across WA where children under their care, many of whom were wards of the State, were subject to widespread physical and sexual abuse.

As victims came forward in the 1990s and 2000s, a public reckoning began to unfold, driven by survivor testimonies and national investigations.

Boys were routinely subjected to physical beatings, sexual assaults and forced labour in schools such as Bindoon, Clontarf and Tardun.

The abuse in WA was part of a wider global scandal involving Christian Brothers institutions in Ireland, Canada, the US, the UK and India.

In 2007 the WA State Government issued a formal apology for the abuse suffered in State institutions, including those run by the Christian Brothers.

The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, which began in 2013 and delivered its final report in 2017, found the Christian Brothers knew of the abuse and failed to act.

“The leadership of the Christian Brothers during the period 1947 to 1968 failed to manage each of the institutions so as to prevent the sexual abuse of children living in those institutions,” the commission found.

The Christian Brothers issued a formal apology to victims in 2014 during the Royal Commission and later joined the National Redress Scheme alongside other Catholic orders.

“On behalf of all Christian Brothers across the Oceania Province, I reiterate our apology to those children who were deserving of absolute protection and yet suffered unimaginable trauma,” the Christian Brothers Oceania Province leader Brother Peter Clinch said at the time.

“The failures of the past cannot be undone however we can continue our work, and those of many across the community, to help bring healing and renewal to lives that have been damaged.”

No allegations of abuse by the order have emerged from the Kimberley itself, although one Brother, Graeme “David” Down, who worked in the region until the late 2000s, was later jailed for sexually abusing boys in Perth in the 1980s.

In July last year, the Christian Brothers refused to appear before a WA parliamentary inquiry into institutional abuse, sparking outrage among victims.

However, the Kimberley brothers don’t hesitate to talk openly about the troubles, saying they want to see justice done.

“It’s not something that we hide from,” Br Thrupp said.

“The Brothers are dealing with it honestly. We’re committed to justice and doing what’s right.”

“We know we’ve done good work in the Kimberley but we acknowledge that bad things happened.”

“We’re all very damaged by it, but we’re also very hurt for the people who were abused. So we’re working with the justice system and trying to help the people who need help at this very minute.”

Farewell

More than 60 people gathered for a dinner at the Mangrove Hotel to commemorate the Christian Brothers’ work in the Kimberley and offer their farewells to brothers Thrupp and Fitzhardinge on July 2.

A small mass service was also held at the Nulungu Chapel.

Reflecting on his time in the Kimberley and working at Centacare, Br Thrupp said the question of impact was difficult to answer.

“At my farewell, someone asked, ‘Have you made any difference here in your 15 years?’ I had to take a big breath and say: I can neither answer yes or no. All I can say is that many of the clients I first treated 15 years ago are still coming to Centacare. I’ve helped these people as much as I could,” he said.

He also expressed deep gratitude for the community’s support over the years.

“The support for the Brothers — not only in my time, 15 years, but from what I’ve heard over the whole time — has been absolutely tremendous. I say my personal farewell to a community that has been very generous and faithful to us in their support,” Mr Thrupp said.

Br Fitzhardinge said earning the trust and acceptance of the community was one of the greatest gifts from his 35 years in the region.

“I wouldn’t talk in terms of achievement, but I talk more in terms of connection. It took a long time to be accepted and to become part of the Kimberley, but that did happen,” he said.

“I think it was worth staying all that time because of the richness that has come with it — particularly some very close connections I have with people that I’ve taught and people I supported throughout the Kimberley.”

In parting, he offered a final reflection on the importance of education.

“The more everyone values education, the better,” he said. “Education is a step up for everyone, and a better provision of education in the Kimberley would be a gift to the people of the Kimberley.”

If you or someone you know needs help, contact 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732), or Sexual Assault Counselling Australia on 1800 211 028, the WA Sexual Assault Resource Centre on 6458 1828 or 1800 199 888 or Lifeline on 13 11 14.