The Long Journey to Reconnection: Janelle Moro’s reunion story
My name is Janelle Moro. I was born on Gimuy Walubara Yidinji Country in Cairns, with family ties stretching across the Atherton Tablelands, Mackay and Brisbane. I am a descendant of the Kuku Yalanji and Guugu Yimithirr peoples.
For much of my life, I knew only small pieces of my family history from my great-grandmother Lily’s reflections of her life before she passed. I was aware, but did not have a full understanding. Pieces of my story were missing. Like many Aboriginal families, our history had been disrupted, not just lost, but scattered.
My family like many have been directly impacted by past government policies of forced removal. Both of my great-great-grandparents were taken from their homes as children and placed at the Yarrabah mission in the early 1900s. They were classified at the time as “half-caste,” a label that stripped identity and justified separation. What followed was a ripple effect across generations, loss of culture, loss of language, and loss of connection to family and Country.
That impact did not end with them. It lives on in the silences, the unanswered questions, and the feeling of disconnection that many of us have carried.
My journey to reconnect began with small steps, searching archives, reading records, and following fragments of information wherever they led. There were moments of hope in what I found, but also a deep awareness of how much was still unknown.
In 2018, I connected with Community and Personal Histories, and through that process, I was referred to Link-Up (Qld). I had my first meeting with their team in 2022. That moment marked a turning point, I was no longer searching alone.
What I was looking for was more than records. I was searching for truth, for belonging, and for a deeper connection to my identity and my family.
Through Link-Up (Qld), pieces of my story began to come together. Information that had once felt out of reach was placed in front of me, not just names and dates, but lived experiences. It gave meaning to the journey of my ancestors and helped me understand the strength and resilience that runs through my family.
It also brought a sense of validation. What had been uncertain or unspoken was now acknowledged. Although I have found many answers along the way, there are still missing pieces, parts of my story that remain just out of reach. At times, those gaps are felt deeply. But this journey has given me something powerful: a foundation. A place to stand, to grow from, and to keep searching. I now move forward with strength, knowing that every step brings me closer to connection, understanding and belonging.
When I set out on my reunion journey, I carried both hope and emotion. I wanted to stand on Country, to feel that connection for myself, and to walk where my ancestors once walked. I wanted to meet family, to hear stories, and to feel a sense of belonging that had been missing for so long.
“Being on Country was powerful. There is something deeply moving about standing in a place that holds your history — especially when that history includes both pain and survival.”
The most meaningful moments were the connections. Sharing stories with local elders and community members helped with these connections to places we visited. In those moments, the distance created by generations began to close. There is no single moment that defines the journey, it is a collection of feelings, of understanding, and of connection. But what stays with me most is the sense that I am no longer disconnected from my story.
This experience has changed me. It has strengthened my identity and given me a deeper sense of belonging. I feel grounded in who I am and where I come from. It has also shown me the importance of continuing this journey — not just for myself, but for future generations.
I want to acknowledge the team at Link-Up (Qld), whose support, care and commitment made this journey possible. Their work goes beyond research — it helps people heal.
I also acknowledge my family, especially my great-grandmother, Lillian Rose Brown, whose life and experiences are part of this story. Her resilience, and that of those before her, is the reason I can stand here today, reconnecting and reclaiming what was once taken.
This journey does not end here. Healing is ongoing. I will continue to learn, to connect, and to carry this story forward — with pride, with strength, and with a deep respect for those who came before me.
Janelle Moro
Published April 2026.