Auber Octavius Neville biography at QuotationFun

A Short Biography of Auber Octavius Neville

Author Name:

Auber Octavius Neville

Born As:

Other Names:

Born:

20 Oct 1875

Died:

18 Apr 1954




author picture
Chief Protector of Aborigines in Western Australia - 1915-1936
Commissioner for Native Affairs - 1936-1940                          
Selected Works:

Australia's Coloured Minority - 1947.                          
Mother Elizabeth Sophia, née Cotton
Father  Rev. Hastings Mackelean Neville, Anglican clergyman
Wife Maryan Florence Low, five children.                          
 Bringing Them Home Report - 1997 - Nationally we can conclude with confidence that between one in three and one in ten Indigenous children were forcibly removed from their families and communities in the period from approximately 1910 until 1970. In certain regions and in certain periods the figure was undoubtedly much greater than one in ten. In that time not one family has escaped the effects of forcible removal - confirmed by representatives of the Queensland and WA Governments in evidence to the Inquiry. Most families have been affected, in one or more generations, by the forcible removal of one or more children.                          
http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/neville-auber-octavius-7821

A.O. Neville had along standing belief in the need to breed out the indiginous population.

Presided over the policy of removing Aboriginal children from their parents, children who were later termed the Stolen Generation. More than 25% of Noongah children were confiscated in this way and sent to "concentration-like camps" at Mogumber at Moore River and Carrolup near Katanning.

Neville believed that biological absorption was the key to 'uplifting the Native race.'  Speaking before the Moseley Royal Commission, which investigated the administration of Aboriginals in 1934, he defended the policies of forced settlement, removing children from parents, surveillance, discipline and punishment.