Q to S | National Museum of Australia

Skip to content

The Museum has a new ticketing system. Read our FAQs

This website uses words, photos and objects from people who spent time growing up in children’s homes, orphanages and other ‘care’ institutions.

These pages feature personal contributions to the National Museum of Australia’s Inside exhibition. They tell only a small part of each person’s story.

Wilma Robb

Cream fabric banner mounted on a black wooden pole with fleur de lys ends. The banner has burnt edges and has the words 'Appendix 6 / List of Homes & other Institutions / Referred to by Care Leavers in Submissions' written across the top in black marker pen. Hundreds of homes and institutions are listed below in four columns. A pie chart bottom right showing 'Forms of abuse experienced by Care Leavers' as percentages. - click to view larger image

Exhibition graphic panel of white text on a grey background reads 'At Hay, I experienced a sadistic, martial discipline (the Silent Treatment outlawed in the late 1800s) designed to break the human spirit ... We lost everything there. We lost our spirits. We lost our thinking and a lot lost their minds.' attributed to 'Wilma Robb Hay Institution for Girls, Hay, New South Wales, 1960s'. - click to view larger image

Colour photograph showing a woman standing in front of a large exhibition panel, talking to a visitor. The panel includes a black and white photograph of girls walking inside a brick wall. - click to view larger image

Exhibition graphic panel of black handwriting on a white background reads: 'All human rights were stripped from us. Speech, laughter, feelings and social interaction were denied. Six feet apart and eyes down at all times! Sleep on right side at all times. Twenty minute surveillances, hatch open and lights turned on. Debilitating exercises, twice daily. Routine never changes seven days a week. Never knowing time or day!', attributed to Wilma Robb. - click to view larger image

A colour Polaroid photo of a woman, standing and holding a white piece of fabric in raised arms. 'WHAT ABOUT CHILDREN'S PRISONS' is written on the fabric in black texta. Typewritten text below reads 'Wilma Robb )Cassidy) holds up her protest sign at the National Apology, Parliament House, Canberra, 16 November 2009. Photograph by George Serras'. - click to view larger image

White square damask table napkin with 'WHAT ABOUT / CHILDREN'S / PRISONS' handwritten in black marker pen. - click to view larger image

Wilma Robb portrait. - click to view larger image

Rachael Romero

Exhibition graphic panel that reads: 'Me and Lilly did this because we felt we had become sisters in horror. Lilly had been taken from her mother to a mission, then The Pines. She didn’t remember where she was from. I didn’t want to be from where I remembered’ attributed to 'Rachael Romero, The Pines, Convent of the Good Shepherd, Plympton, South Australia, 1960s'. - click to view larger image

Photo of a watercolour painting depictings two girls, with extended arms, joined by blood. White handwriting at the top reads: 'Convent of the Good Shepherd, South Australia'. 'Blood Sisters / in the/ Magdalene / Laundry / The Pines / 1968 / Rachael and Lillie' is written between the girls. - click to view larger image

Exhibition graphic panel of black handwritten text, in capitals, on a white background reads 'Oh Gaylis what became of you when the place closed and the nuns fled? Slaving was all you knew', attributed to 'Rachael Romero, The Pines, Good Shepherd Convent, Plympton, South Australia, 1960s'. At right is a sketch showing side view of a woman wearing an apron, who walks with her left arm extended. - click to view larger image

Exhibition graphic panel that reads: 'Teenage girls were committed to these institutions by civil or parental authority. Confined in silence ... girls were forced to work six days a week without pay in the deafening and antiquated commercial laundries ... In exchange our sense of being a regular person was replaced with the indelible stigma ... of a Magdalene or ‘fallen, wanton women’, attributed to 'Rachael Romero, The Pines, Convent of the Good Shepherd, Plympton, South Australia, 1960s'. - click to view larger image

A small paper docket headed 'HOME OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD, PLYMPTON', printed with columns for listing the number of pieces and cost of various laundry items, including sheets, pajama suits, collars and uniforms. - click to view larger image

Photograph of a ruled, A4 sheet of paper with 'Plan of the Convent of the Good Shepherd alias the Pines 1968' written at the top. A hand-drawn map shows the floor plans of several buildings and external features around a central quadrangle. - click to view larger image

Exhibition graphic panel that reads: 'That I had been kidnapped and dragged into a page from Dickens a century before and popped back out of it with the sixties in full swing', attributed to 'Rachael Romero, 2011'. - click to view larger image

Photo of a mailing tag with typewritten text: 'HEAR RACHAEL ROMERO READ HER POEM 'A SEVERED LIFE', RECALLING HER EXPERIENCES AT THE CONVENT OF THE SISTERS OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD, PLYMPTON, SOUTH AUSTRALIA, IN THE 1960s. Recorded in 2010. Duration: 2 minutes 20 seconds. Courtesy Rachael Romero'. - click to view larger image

Nola Rollinson

Exhibition graphic panel that reads: 'WE WERE TAUGHT SO MANY SKILLS THERE. I DON'T HAVE A COMPLAINT AGAINST THE HOME. THERE WAS NO LOVE, NO WARMTH, BUT YOU CAN'T EXPECT IT IN A PLACE LIKE THAT', attributed to Nola Rollinson, Lynwood Hall, Guildford, New South Wales, 1960s. - click to view larger image

Photocopy of an official black and white document headed 'POLICE'. Parts of the top of the charge document have been crossed out with typed Xs, for example 'Defendant' has been crossed out and replaced with 'Child'. Typed text states the child is 'Nola May Mary Rollinson'. The section on remand details has been amended to read [in type] 'Child to be detained in' [in handwriting] 'place of safety'. Two stamps at the left of the document read 'Children's Court, Sydney', and is dated February 1960. - click to view larger image

A formal typed A4 document headed 'CHILD WELFARE ACT, 1939, AS AMENDED (Sections 32 and 83) Order of Children's Court'. The document reads: 'New South Wales, to wit, Sydney, whereas NOLA MAY MARY ROLLINSON a child of the aged of 14 years is this day charged before this court for that at Annandale in the said State on the 9th February, 1960 is a neglected child within the meaning of the Child Welfare Act 1939 in that she is under improper guardianship. Now this court, having heard and determined the matter aforesaid, doth find the said child to be neglected, and doth hereby order that the said child be committed to the care of the Minister to be dealt with as a Ward admitted to State control.' The document is signed by Magistrate P Macreadie, with two Magistrates' Seal stamps bottom right. - click to view larger image

A hand-embroidered doily with a crocheted border. The embroidery is on linen in several shades of blue and features a cross stitch 'frame' with a tiger lily motif at either end. - click to view larger image

Ron

Leonie Sheedy

Exhibition graphic panel that reads: 'This is the first time I had seen my brother Anthony in 40 years. When I found him he said ‘Don’t ever lose me’. This was in March 2003. Anthony died in 2011 without receiving justice for the crimes that were committed against him', attributed to 'Leonie Sheedy OAM, 2011'. - click to view larger image

A hand-drawn map of Australia with the Northern Territory, New South Wales and Victoria coloured pink, and South Australia marked with diagonal pink lines. Written in red felt pen is 'REDRESS! / Only 3 States in Australia / have full redress. / Those states in pink / have no redress!/ Why Not? / Why this discrimination?'. - click to view larger image

Margaret Shields

Garry Shooks

Exhibition graphic panel that reads: 'It’s Sunday the bell rings, we all take our positions on our lines … It’s visitors today at 10 am — hey give it a blast so they can read out the visitors list ... Yeah well after forever my name was read out and I ran up to be showered and put on the suit that we all had to wear from that huge cupboard of suits, the long wait out the front sitting on the bench outside the superintendent’s office, me feet could not reach the floor so I’d swing em back and forward just looking out the closed 6 foot gate. A long time I sat there like that till the super came out and said I’m sorry Garry your visitor is not coming today … Ha who wants a visitor. I know I got a mum and dad and one day they come get me', attributed to 'Garry Shooks, Royleston Boys Home, Glebe, New South Wales, 1960s'. - click to view larger image

Exhibition graphic panel that reads: 'There marbles you know and they’re worth a lot. For with em you are important and with out you are not. I started with a couple and by golly I played till I had the lot ... Till the day I lost the lot for sir cheated and took the lot. I’ve never had another shot', attributed to 'Garry Shooks, Mittagong Homes, Mittagong, New South Wales, 1960s'. - click to view larger image

Gabrielle Short

A Polaroid photo of a woman holding a banner on a white cardboard sheet. Typewritten text below reads 'Gabrielle Short holding her placard at the anniversary march, November 2010.' 'Photograph by George Serras, National Museum of Australia' is printed along the left side. - click to view larger image

A photograph of a yellow protest placard with the words in capital letters, 'CHILDREN BRUTALALISED (sic) IN STATE CHURCH + FOSTER CARE TIME FOR A ROYAL COMMISSION'. The post is brown with what appears to be white tape wrapped around it. - click to view larger image

A placard made of a piece of pale blue cardboard with two computer printouts attached. Handwritten text across the bottom reads: 'DOCTORS ALLOWED TO USE CHILDREN AS GUINEA PIGS IN VACCINE RESEARCH EXPERIAMENTS.' The placard is attached to a piece of rolled brown cardboard with masking tape wrapped around it. - click to view larger image

Colour photo showing four woman standing with their arms around each other's shoulders. - click to view larger image

Katie-Maree Sibraa

Exhibition graphic panel that reads: With my story it's the fifth generation in state care. My dad, my grandparents and my great-grandparents all in state care... This is my father... and these were his grandparents. Two months after this … he was taken from them into care at Nudgee orphanage because he, they said, wasn't being looked after and cared for. Attributed to 'Katie-Maree Sibraa, 2009'. - click to view larger image

A black and white Polaroid photograph portraying three people in a standing position. From left to right, there is an elderly man wearing dark trousers with a light grey blazer, shirt and hat; a young boy who has his hands firmly by his side - he is also wearing a hat - and an elderly woman wearing a light coloured skirt, white shirt and a white hat. Typewritten text underneath reads: 'Dennis Tobane, aged 8, in 1952, with his grandparents at Woorabinda Mission, Queensland, before he was taken away by the authorities'. In smaller text, on the left-hand side of the image, in a vertical direction, reads: 'Courtesy Katie-Maree Sibraa.' - click to view larger image

Katie-Maree Sibraa portrait. - click to view larger image

Patricia Slatterie

Exhibition graphic panel that reads: 'Everyone wore identical clothing, so that trying to find my sister in a crowd of children was almost an impossible task', attributed to 'Patricia Slatterie and Jeannette Blick, Orana Methodist Home, Burwood, Victoria, 1960s'. - click to view larger image

A colour Polaroid image of two women wearing badges and blue ribbons pinned to their shirts. Typewritten text below reads 'Patricia Slatterie (left) and Jeanette Blick wearing handmade crosses in memory of their brother John who died young, tormented by his life in the Home, 16 November 2009.' 'Courtesy Patricia Slatterie' is typed along the left side. - click to view larger image

A photograph of a hand-made crucifix of white cardboard. Handwritten horizontally in black ink is 'John Halliday, 26.10.53-14.9.06'. The number '80533' is written vertically underneath. Attached to the top of the cross is a small piece of white ribbon. - click to view larger image

Shirley Steans Beaumont

Colleen Stevenson

Exhibition graphic panel that reads: 'We were taken off our parents and charged with being neglected. We were taken to court. The five of us were in court. My grandfather went there to try to stop them from taking us, but they wouldn’t give us to him', attributed to 'Colleen Stevenson, 2009'. - click to view larger image

Exhibition graphic panel that reads: 'I had a towel. It was number 11', attributed to 'Colleen Stevenson, St Joseph's Home, Neerkol, Queensland, 1960s'. - click to view larger image

Colleen Stevenson portrait. - click to view larger image

Owen Swallow

Lana Syed

Four images stapled to each corner of a rectangular white piece of card. The closely cropped black and white images of babies have been placed on small pink paper squares with serrated sides. A business card is stuck to the centre of the panel. The typewritten text reads: 'Department of Children's Services

Exhibition graphic panel that reads: 'Where’s my sister? / She’s gone to heaven. / I want to go there too’ attributed to 'Lana Syed, talking with one of the nuns, St Vincent’s Orphanage, Nudgee, Queensland, 1950s'. - click to view larger image

A white canvas art board with a black ink sketch of a child sleeping in a bed. Words and other images surround the central sleeping figure. 'FOOD / How old am I? / HELL / LENA, LENA / HEAVEN / AMEN' is written in black pen. Flames, a falling girl and a hand holding rosary beads are also sketched. 'LSW ALi' is the artist's mark in the bottom right. - click to view larger image

Five babushka dolls, arranged from smallest to largest from the left. Far left shows a small girl in a red top with white collar. Second from left shows an older girl wearing a white top and black pants. The third doll has short hair and glasses and 'LENA' handpainted on the chest. The fourth doll shows a woman wearing a red dress with white collar and hat, and the fifth shows a woman wearing a green shirt and red scarf. Gold glitter has been used to decorate the dolls. - click to view larger image

A cloth doll with a length of orange cord attached to the top of the head with a safety pin. There is a piece of crepe bandage stretched across the forehead and attached on either side by a piece of packing tape. On this are the words 'NOT HARM [?]'. The features of the doll are drawn on the calico in felt pen. On one side are the words 'you all / ignored /us' and on the body 'we fight / for / our / Rights'. A small 'x' in packing tape is on the lower side of the torso. The reverse also has a figure drawn on it with a piece of crepe bandage attached across the forehead with packing tape at either end. On the body are the following words 'NOT / HAPPY / PETER / BE GOOD' and 'COMPO / MUST / REC 39'. - click to view larger image

Black and white image showing a small calico doll on top of metal framed and wire bed. An image in the background shows a young girl sitting up in bed with a doll. - click to view larger image

A perspex case backed with two historic photographs, including one showing rows of children outside a building. A cross and stained glass windows sit at the top, along with an arch saying 'ST VINCENTS HOME'. 'NUDGEE HOME ORPHANAGE' is written in shiny stickers across the base. Artificial flowers sit behind green mesh in the bottom half of the case. Small kewpie dolls are attached to the mesh and a black butterfly, and Australian flag sit at the bottom. - click to view larger image

Close-up photo showing small plastic baby dolls tied to green wire netting. A black and white photo at the rear shows hundreds of children lined up in rows outside a building. Stars, leaves and flowers are seen at either side of the photo, and there is a butterfly at the centre. - click to view larger image

Photograph of a small blue suitcase with reinforced corners, metal locks and a worn black handle. The lid is partially open. - click to view larger image

Colour photo showing a pen and felt pen drawing on canvas with a timeline of dates, '1940 / 1950 /1960 / 2005', across the bottom. Various question marks are shown on the work, along with drawings of a baby, a person wearing a blindfold, a nun, a hangman and other figures and symbols. The handwritten text includes 'Traumatic times', 'Innocent deaths’ and words and phrases including ‘cryptic past, isolation, inexperienced, help, under slave act, How old am I?’ The artist's monogram in the lower right hand corner reads 'LSW - ALI'. - click to view larger image

A photograph of a small rectangular cardboard sign coloured flourescent yellow on both sides. Raised green letters on the front read: 'the forgotten australians' with 'rembers' in pink. Handwritten text in red pen includes 'Acknowlegent of children who died in institutions', 'Failure of Governments and Religious Institutions which they placed me in and under duty of care to me as a state ward and protection'. The reverse is signed 'To Lana M Turnbull' above red handwriting that reads 'Suffer Litte children to Come - NO NOT ONE - unto ME. We were Robbed of our child life/hood'. - click to view larger image

Ryszard Szablicki

Exhibition graphic panel that reads: 'Where were the guardians of the good?' attributed to 'Ryszard Szablicki, St Vincent’s Boys Home, South Melbourne, Victoria, 1950s'. - click to view larger image

Exhibition graphic panel that reads: 'After I went back to live at home, one day I heard singing. There were people standing singing round a cake that had candles stuck in it. I didn't know what was going on', attributed to 'Ryszard Szablicki, 2010'. - click to view larger image

Online features

Defining Moments

Listen Audio on demand

Top