They were just two of hundreds of children who were sent to New Norcia over the years.

Tammar Wally and her elder sister Evelyn shared stories with a handful of Occupy Perth protestors who joined them on the day.

They described being removed from their family while Tammar was barely a toddler and kept more like “inmates” at the monastery's orphanage.

On a walking tour of the monastery and township, Tammar and Evelyn pointed out where children worked, lived, played and went to school.

At that time, there was little to no mixing between the indigenous boys and girls of the orphanages.

There was none at all between Aboriginal girls and the white girls at St Gertrudes’ Girl School, despite sharing the same grounds.

“Once in a blue moon, if we were good, we were allowed to attend the picture show at the white girls’ school,” Tammar said.

“But even then we were separated and not allowed to talk to each other.”

Harsh punishments were given for often small infractions such as speaking their native language.

Evelyn and Tammar both spoke of children repeatedly escaping, only to be captured, returned to the orphanage and punished.

They also pointed out an expanse of unmarked graves of Aboriginal people at the New Norcia cemetery.

The community of New Norcia has acknowledged this terrible side to its history and, as part of a larger plan to identify the themes and messages that are central to their identity, is working in co-operation with the New Norcia Aboriginal Corporation to document, communicate and educate visitors about these stories.

A plaque at the site of the unmarked graves acknowledges those buried there and more work to recognise these forgotten souls is part of this interpretation plan.

Attendees spoke of their reasons for coming to the Monastery, rather than join the masses watching the fireworks in Perth on Australia day.

“I’m here in the spirit of reconciliation, to learn and hopefully help heal some wounds on this day,” Luke Skinner of Occupy Perth said.

Phil Airey, also of Occupy Perth said “I’m here because I want to be proud to be Australian, but to do that we need to accept the continuity of our true history. Australia didn’t just magically appear in 1788.”

All attendees agreed it was a moving and positive experience, promoting healing, and allowing the voices of a silenced community to be heard and appreciated.