Alcohol ’devastating Aboriginal life'

Press, 11 June 1977, Page 7

Alcohol ’devastating Aboriginal life'

(NZPA Adelaide Hungry 7 Aboriginal schooli children have been known to ( “scavenge” in school rubbish (bins and to eat orange peel, a- Australian House of Representatives Standing Com.mittee on Aboriginal Affairs ;has been told in Adelaide. ' In an Education Department submission to the , standing committee, Mr A. J. ' Lunr.ay, a consultant in secondary Aboriginal education, said that the presence of al(cohol was having a devastating effect upon Aboriginal I families and communities, and on the programmes ; being taught in Aboriginal (schools. Mr Lunnay said that pet-rol-sniffing was a problem among some Aboriginal communities, and it even seemed to afflict young children. * “Many children are com-

i ing to school from homes where excessive drinking,! i accompanied by boisterous, aggressive behaviour into , the small hours, is the norm,” the submission said. “Children either spend , their evenings in the midst of these sometimes fright- ■ ening situations or are left 11 to roam around unsuper- . ivised night after night. • I “In the worst cases of' ,!hunger, children have been; ■iknown to scavenge in school! ■ rubbish bins and to eat or-1 I ange peel. In other cases, j , work output is seriously imi paired because of empty I stomachs,” it said. Mr Lunnay said that on ■ Aboriginal reserves where j i drinking was not prevalent,! |the difficulties in offering! I (children “a meaningful! ; educational experience” were i 'significantly less. I,