"Inside: Life in Children's Homes and Institutions" opened 15 November, 2011 at the National Museum of Australia, Canberra. Here are some photographs from the event, taken by George Serras.
Category: objects
A child’s letters #2
Further to her post on 11 July, this year, Priscilla Taylor has provided more letters from her personal government file which show that her mother had very few rights with regard to visiting her.
Letter to Mummy
As a young girl growing up in the Church of England Girls Home, Carlingford, NSW, Dianne Gallagher knew that the staff didn't forward her letters to her mother. So, Dianne used to give her letters to her school friend to post.
No more silent tears #2
Leigh Westin, who grew up in Scarba House and Parramatta Girls Home, is sewing a memorial entitled "No More Silent Tears for Forgotten Australians". The memorial is comprised of a large panel of handkerchiefs each decorated by those who spent time in a Children's Home or institution.
Clontarf strap #2
An X-ray scan of a leather strap made by Bill Brennan, who grew up in Clontarf Boys' Town, WA, shows internal metal reinforcements inserted to give the strap more strength.
My Ireland
'My Ireland' is the name that Mary Brownlee gave to the apron that was given to her by Sister Judith Kelly, at St. Joseph's Home, Kincumber, NSW.
The cross was a knife for us
Award-winning film maker and visual artist, Rachael Romero, writes about the image of the knife that was used in a theatre production at the Pines (Convent of the Good Shepherd):
Holy cards
Rachael Romero who was sent to the The Pines, Plympton, SA, run by the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, recalls the importnace of holy cards.
St Benedict for Bindoon boys
Here, Oliver Cosgrove shares the St Benedict's Medal which was given to all the boys at Boys' Town, Bindoon, WA. The article sadly makes light of child slave labour at Bindoon.
Cleanliness is Godliness
As a child, were you required to fulfil cleaning duties in your institution? The National Museum wishes to draw attention to this work in it pending exhibition "Inside: Life in Children's Homes". Can you help?
