Part 2/11:
Central to this narrative are personal stories that illustrate Australia's racial policies and their devastating effects on families. Auntie Mercier and Uncle Jacob become symbols of the systemic injustices faced by First Nations and immigrant families. They were deported because of their ethnicity—Mercier being of First Nation descent and Jacob targeted due to his country of origin and race. Despite her marriage to him in what was then her homeland, Australia’s policies forced their exile.
The family history recounts the story of an ancestor, Annie, who died of malaria after her father disappeared, embodying themes of loss and resilience. These stories underscore the importance of family, unity, and the deep wounds inflicted by policies that ignored individual lives.