My journey into identity: Lesleigh Wagner’s reunion story
My journey of discovering my Aboriginal heritage began in the 1970s. Like many others of my generation, I grew up without a clear understanding of my cultural roots. It wasn’t something spoken about in our home—if anything, it was avoided.
I remember my mother once telling me that her sister, Norma, was having trouble with her neighbours because of her dark skin. At the time, I didn’t think deeply about it. I didn’t yet realise this was connected to our Aboriginal heritage—a history that had been hidden, pushed aside, and left in the shadows for far too long.
The turning point came when my cousin Janice (who has since passed) began researching our family tree. Something about her work resonated with me—maybe it was curiosity, maybe a calling. Whatever it was, I picked up the thread and started researching on my own. I discovered that my mother, Joyce, and her sisters had been made Wards of the State and placed in the Salvation Army Home at Yeronga.
For years, my mother and her sisters had been reluctant to speak about their childhoods. But as I uncovered more, they began to share small fragments of memory. My mother had entered the Home at the age of two and remained there until she was twelve. Though she rarely spoke negatively about it, I could see the scars. She once told me that after leaving the Home, she found herself unable to cry, no matter the circumstances—a legacy of abandonment, lack of affection, and a harsh institutional environment.
Through my research I learned about my grandmother, Ivy Mary Power (née Cairns), born around 1901. Ivy herself had grown up in the Nudgee Orphanage and later became a Ward of the State. I came across heartbreaking correspondence she wrote to the Office of Chief Protector of Aboriginals, requesting train fare, clothing, or permission to visit her daughters.
Ivy’s first daughter, Greta, often travelled with her while she worked on cattle and sheep stations. Out of fear or self-protection, Ivy would tell people Greta was her sister—not her child. Later, Ivy had three more daughters: Norma (1924), Joyce (my mother, 1927), and Esme (1933). All three were eventually placed in the Salvation Army Home at Yeronga.
Above: Lesleigh Wagner’s visit to Mandingalbay Yidinji lands during her Link-Up (Qld) reunion in Far North Qld.
I also uncovered fragments about my great-grandmother, Mary Cairns, who gave birth to Ivy and later married a man named Malone. She passed away at just 31 from consumption at the Diamantina Hospital and is buried in Dutton Park Cemetery.
In 2021, I reached out to Link-Up (Qld), bringing with me two large folders of research about my mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Based on the surname Cairns, I wondered if our roots might lie in Far North Queensland. Link-Up (Qld)’s research confirmed this: our ancestral links did indeed trace back to the Cairns region.
Soon after, Link-Up (Qld) organised a reunion for me and my cousin Eslynn. Guided by two amazing staff members, Tahj and Christine, we travelled to Cairns to connect with our ancestral land. We visited Yarrabah, a historic Aboriginal community, and took part in an eco-cultural tour of Mandingalbay Yidinji Country. Crossing Trinity Inlet by river cruise, we were welcomed with a smoking ceremony and heartfelt greetings from Traditional Owners. Walking through protected lands, hearing stories of Country, and learning about bush tucker and customs left a profound impression.
“For the first time, I felt a sense of coming home. A part of me that had long been hidden—perhaps lost—was finally being acknowledged.” – Lesleigh Wagner
Learning about my heritage and the experiences of my mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother has been an emotional journey—one filled with silence, pain, healing, and reconnection.
While I have not yet discovered my definitive ancestry—due to re-aligned boundaries and the lack of detailed records relating to my family—I am satisfied with the knowledge I have gathered so far. It has brought me closer to my roots and given me a deeper sense of belonging.
“My family’s story echoes the broader history of the Stolen Generations—children removed from their families, identities denied. But it is also a story of survival, strength, and reconnection.” – Lesleigh Wagner
I honour my mother, who endured so much but never gave up. I honour my grandmother and great-grandmother, whose strength carried us through. And I honour my culture—once hidden, now embraced—as a core part of who I am.
Lesleigh Wagner
Published September 2025.