ABSTRACT
In the 1950s, a poster from the Fairbridge Society showed a slum child in Britain gazing at an outline of Australia in the sky. His loneliness could, it seems, only be relieved by emigration. The plea for funds comes next: "Help him join his friends", is the message. The attractions of the wide open spaces were fervently endorsed by the private philanthropists. Education was undoubtedly limited. Employers signed a contract or agreement laying down ground rules and some of these specified there would be no education at all in the summer. But whatever the season, employers weren't interested in education. The Barnardo organisation stated in 1988 that its policy of sending children abroad was just part of an historical era, a stage in its development, which it said would be entirely inappropriate today. By the time Barnardo became involved in child migration, he was already established as the foremost philanthropist and child care expert.
