Marnee Kent’s reunion story
Hello, my name is Marnee Kent and my story is quite different to most in some ways. I grew up believing myself to be white but later I found I had a foot in both worlds.
In 1991 after a heart wrenching request from my cousin who was fearful for his daughter’s life because of the continual bullying, owing to the colour of her skin and her features, and knowing her to be on the brink of suicide I approached my father at his request for the truth. ‘Yes, we are Aboriginal; my great grandmother was full blood,’ he said. Later via writings from my father’s cousin Ronnie Lopez I discovered her name was Frances Murray and she had three children to my great great grandfather George Marshall Kirk. He had founded the St George Jockey Club in 1864 I believe when his daughter Annie was a year old.
Over the course of my life I had many spiritual experiences, like being given dreams relaying knowledge of sacred places, words and much more. I was gifted many beautiful art pieces one of which is a Coolamon that I treasure. My Gran Polly Donley and I were very close; the memories of her, her brothers and sisters are strong family memories and connections. There is much I could share but words are limited. As an artist myself, all three generations of my female line have presented in my paintings (soul guided) and it is from there that I know Frances, Polly’s grandmother wants to be found. It breaks my heart when I think how little they mattered and how they were treated.
After experiencing ‘Spirits of the Red Sand’ theatre play courtesy of Link-Up (Qld), I can only hope none of these terrible outcomes is what happened to Frances. We have no way of knowing – just her name and the name of Ballantyne Station (renamed Mt Driven) on the Moonie River where she gave birth to my great grandmother Annie Kirk. I’d also found other information about George Marshall Kirk and properties in connection with him. I contacted Link-Up (Qld) about four years ago and the search began for Frances and Ballantyne Station. My caseworker Sloane Stallan has been a great support and has encouraged me to hang in there when things appeared to go nowhere. My counsellor Anne Garrett joined the team later on this journey and together she and Sloane have been an immense help. My heartfelt thanks to both of you, they were both pleased when they rang me to say the research was complete and to arrange a date to deliver it.
I was excited to finally hear what had been found, however on the surface it appeared not much new information had come to light. At home, going over the actual research notes was like winning the lottery. I found places, names and connections that only made sense to me and brought it all together. I want to say a deep heartfelt thank you to the research team for their diligent work.
The real journey began when Sloane, Anne, my husband Ivan and I travelled to St George to locate Ballantyne Station. Sloane had followed the course of the river to where the old map had shown it to be. The day we arrived there my experience was profound. I had asked the ancestors for a sign or a feeling earlier and I received both. Standing on that land I knew it to be home and I felt an amazing sense of peace fill my heart, I felt a sense of belonging I have never had before. Anne stood beside me as three beautiful white butterflies, with wings tinged and edged with purple flew right to me, around me and kept coming back. I knew this was my sign and Anne agreed.
Sloane and Anne organised a boat trip of the Moonie River and were able to point out ‘Hollywood’ and ‘Sandy Town’, two of the reserves where our people were sent to. I had been looking for Deer Park where my Gran Polly was born on the Moonie River in 1893; it appears it was renamed to ‘Sandy Town’ at some point which made locating it very difficult. It was only due to the councillor we met the following day who confirmed that to be the case, because many people had never heard of it. Robyn Fuhrmeister has done a huge amount of research over the years and has offered to share with me what she has been able to find in relation to my family and Frances along with any relative photos she may have. She showed me that morning a photo of Ellen Meacle, who was a well-respected member of their community in her day who I believe has a strong connection to my family.
The people of St George were all extremely welcoming and very helpful! My journey of discovery is still unfolding with Link-Up connecting me to an 89-yearold second cousin for which I am truly grateful. I want to express to Link-Up (Qld) CEO Pat Thompson and the entire staff my eternal gratitude for all they have done to not only bring the ancestors and I home but for the opportunity of belonging and the real peace I now feel.
Never ever give up on your search, when you are meant to know you will be guided so please listen to the ancestors. We are an ancient culture with beautiful spiritual values to be proud of, so we can all hold our heads high knowing in our hearts nothing can defeat us, look at how far we have journeyed and how far we have come. In 2020 we may be a remnant of a proud race but we are still here! By choosing to stand up and be counted we are not only united but we make the ancestors proud and their lives and sacrifices worth something.
With Peace & Love,
Marnee
Marnee Kent
Published December 2020.