Six-year-old orphan Norman Madden was sent to a Christchurch facility for intellectually disabled patients in 1940 — for the "crime" of being naughty and illiterate. It was at Templeton Centre Madden suffered physical and sexual abuse, was forced into work and denied his promised education. Director Gerard Smyth filmed at the centre in the late 90s. Smyth investigates the profound influence of eugenics (selective breeding) at "psychopaedic" facilities, like Templeton, and follows Madden's dogged campaign to get the Government to apologise for the inhumane treatment he endured through his youth.
You don't forget. Doesn't matter how much counselling you have. I tried to forget.– Norman Madden on the lifelong emotional scars he endured at Templeton Centre
Gerard Smyth
Made with funding from NZ On Air
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