The Last Daughter

Enjoyed listening to your story and so sorry you went through all of this but wow what a wonderful ending. Your ability to see your story from both sides is so heart warming. I so wish more people could come together like you have brought your families together.

It is hard to comprehend what happened to you and so many others but the way you told your story was a wonderful insight into what actually happened and it's important these stories are told. It's also equally important like you say that they stay a part of history and we move forward. You tell your story and articulate your message so well.

I'm so glad you found peace. Keep smiling and thank you for sharing.

This is the most incredible movie or documentary about two families who loved one daughter. Brenda and her brothers and sisters were taken from their parents when she was only 2 years old and the family she went to were told that she was neglected and they could eventually adopt her . She fitted into her white family so well and she was loved by everyone, her white mum & dad , her brothers , sister , grandmothers , cousins, aunties and uncles, everyone just loved her , but it was all lies . She wasn't neglected at all she was taken from a loving home and her parents were fighting to get all of their children back which eventually happened and Brenda was the last daughter to return. Although this was a happy ending for her black family, her white family were torn apart. They were lied to and after loving Brenda for over 5 years she was then taken from them . Thankfully Brenda never forgot her white family and many many years later they are reunited and not just Brenda but her black family and her white family reunite together It is heartbreaking and heart warming. A MUST SEE !!!!

This is the true story of two families of lovely, innocent people whose lives have been ruined by government policies of taking aboriginal children from their mothers. At the centre is Brenda, charged at the age of 2 years with being a neglected child, grabbed by authorities without warning, separated from her brothers and sisters and placed in foster care with a well-meaning white family. Then, after several years of inclusion with her new parents and siblings, she was abruptly separated from them without further contact and returned to her original family.

Grief, loss and separation permeate the lives of all involved, leaving it to the adult Brenda to reconcile the damaged lives of both families and herself. Brenda's first memories were of growing up in a loving white family. Decades later she feels disconnected from both halves of her life. Naturally, this is a story saturated with emotions and hurt. Hearts all round have been broken and two families torn apart.

Brenda's efforts to repair the harm to all her loved ones unearth records that show the failings and lies of the welfare department through her sorry young life.

The Last Daughter is a documentary about Brenda's journey to find the truth of a part of our history that has been swept under the carpet. So much has been irretrievably lost by so many, all victims of the Australian government's genocidal policies to eradicate the First Nations. The further worry is that while this story starts in the 1970s, it is not even consigned to the past, with the taking of aboriginal children continuing today.

I am a New Zealander that lives in New Zealand. I didn't really know much about The Stolen Generation and made a decision when Rabbbit Proof Fence came out that I would not watch it because I would not be able to handle watching such atrocities. I managed to get through The Last Daughter and I am so glad I did. Sadness and loss on both sides. I am so glad Brenda was able to make this journey and was strong enough to see it through, to answer so many questions. So much ignorance led to so much hurt for so many years. Thankyou for opening ours eyes. I feel that when we visit Australia next I will have a far greater understanding of the country we are visiting.

This is a story / film that all Australians should see . Even if we think we know it , the pain caused to families Black and White needs to be heard again and again . But especially the unnecessary suffering inflicted on Aboriginal people . Black and White people lied to by government. I can imagine no greater pain than having my children taken away ... the lies are unforgivable .... Brenda has taken trauma and turned it into healing ... this film is a credit to her resilience. No wonder Aboriginal and people in general do not trust the government. The two families are the true heroes and of course Brenda.