{"id":150627,"date":"2016-07-04T23:46:07","date_gmt":"2016-07-04T13:46:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=150627"},"modified":"2020-10-10T15:05:44","modified_gmt":"2020-10-10T05:05:44","slug":"domo-girls-join-boys-on-film","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2016\/07\/04\/domo-girls-join-boys-on-film\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Domo Girls’ Join Boys On Film"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Former “domo girls” Joan Nielsen, Goomeri; Kathleen Hopkins, Cherbourg; and Jacquie Malone, Clermont<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Former “domo boy” Cherbourg mayor Arnold Murray with former “domo girl” Raquel Lee, from Townsville, who shared her memories of life in the Girls Dormitory; she was at the dormitory from the time she was a baby to when she was sent out to work<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

July 5, 2016<\/strong><\/p>\n

Last year former residents of Cherbourg’s Girls Dormitory – known as “domo girls” – held an emotional reunion on the site of the building.<\/p>\n

That reunion, and the many memories shared on that day, have been captured in the latest film to be made by the team at the Ration Shed Museum.<\/p>\n

“Domo Girls” – a partner to the movie “Domo Boys” made in 2013 – was screened for the first time on Monday afternoon.<\/p>\n

Many of the former “Domo Girls” were present for the premiere which was held, fittingly, in the old Boys Dormitory.<\/p>\n

The film, narrated by Aunty Sandra Morgan from The Ration Shed, details the history of the two-story Girls Dormitory which was built in 1925 and only closed during the 1980s.<\/p>\n

During that time, hundreds of girls passed through its doors, some as young as babies.<\/p>\n

When it burned to the ground in 1998, some of the shocked former residents cried … to others it was a relief.<\/p>\n

For many, it was their only home until they were sent out as teenagers to work as domestic servants on properties.<\/p>\n

The children were sent to the Dormitory by authorities for many reasons, and from all over Queensland.<\/p>\n

Once at the Dormitory, their lives were totally controlled.<\/p>\n

The children weren’t allowed to mix with the camp children, or their brothers in the nearby Boys Dormitory.<\/p>\n

They weren’t even allowed to see their mothers or fathers.<\/p>\n

At one stage a barbed wire fence was erected around the building, to stop the children from leaving.<\/p>\n

There was even a “gaol” – a small building at the back of the dormitory – where the girls could be locked up if they misbehaved.<\/p>\n

The girls bonded with each other, creating life-long ties. But the discipline was harsh and there was no family love.<\/p>\n

Sadly, the girls’ mothers often were only a fence away, but the children didn’t know it … or in some cases, even know they had mothers.<\/p>\n

Their stories, their tears and their laughter have now been captured by The Ration Shed on film for future generations thanks to funding from The Healing Foundation.<\/strong><\/p>\n

After ‘Domo Girls” was screened on Monday, “Domo Boys” was shown again, \u00a0bringing many of the guests to tears … again.<\/p>\n

Both short films can be purchased at The Ration Shed Museum.<\/p>\n

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