Healing and Inspiring
The Story of The Last Daughter to Come Home
The Last Daughter is an account of Brenda’s journey to discover the truth about her past—and to unite her two families. It’s a story of heartbreak, love and hope, one that shows a way forward for all Australians.
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What it's about
Synopsis
Brenda and her six siblings were taken from their parents when she was two. For the next five years, she was a much-loved daughter in a white family, a happy child in a country town on the outskirts of Sydney, unaware of the existence of her Aboriginal family or how hard her parents were fighting for her return— unaware of her Aboriginal identity. Then, she was suddenly returned to her Aboriginal family, the last daughter to come home.
Decades later, feeling a sense of something missing in her life, Brenda searches for her foster family and her beloved white sister, with whom she had had no contact.
Along the way, she uncovers long-buried secrets, government bungling, and a deep connection to family and her Aboriginal culture.The Last Daughter is the story of Brenda's journey to discover the truth about her past, to unite her two families—and to foster a broader connection between black and white Australia. It's a story full of heartbreak, love and hope, showing a way forward for all Australians.
'I share this story out of love and forgiveness. ' Brenda Matthews
Publication date 4 April 2023 | ISBN 9781922790170 | Publisher Text Publishing
Brenda Matthews
About the Author
Brenda Matthews is a proud Wiradjuri woman living with her husband, Mark, in Bundjalung country, Queensland. Brenda is a devoted mother, grandmother, sister, daughter and aunty.
Testimonials
What Readers Say About the Book
Powerful and inspirational - a must read.
Taryn Brumfitt
Australian of the Year
“The Last Daughter might be one of the most important books an Australian could read.”
Rebecca Whitehead
Books + Publishing
A powerful story that Brenda shares so honestly. This book is vulnerable and tells a story we all need to read.
Kirsty
Reader via Goodreads
Beautiful and heartbreaking with a an ending full of hope. A must read!
Zohal
Reader via Goodreads
Personal Identity Quest
The book follows Brenda's quest for personal identity as she navigates the complexities of being unaware of her Aboriginal heritage during her early years.
Stolen Generation
Brenda shares her personal experience as a member of the Stolen Generation, providing a firsthand account of the policies that forcibly separated Indigenous children from their families.
Bridge Between Cultures
The Last Daughter serves as a bridge between cultures, offering readers insights into the challenges faced by individuals who straddle two distinct cultural worlds.
Reconciliation
A central theme revolves around Brenda's reunion with her birth family, highlighting the challenges and joys of bringing two families together and fostering reconciliation and healing.
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Available in all major book stores, as a paperback, ebook, and audiobook!