T to Z | National Museum of Australia

Skip to content

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.

Priscilla Taylor

Beige and pale blue book cover titled 'Successful DRESSMAKING', with a line drawing of a needle, thread, button and thimble. - click to view larger image

Exhibition graphic panel that reads: 'Dress making at High School, I enjoyed. I had liked school, it was release time for me. I was only to complete 1st year high though and a little of 2nd year. This was because I had attended 14 different schools, missed months being in a reformatory, ill health in hospitals, and being assaulted by 2 boarders, where I now lived. I escaped there and went to work', attributed to 'Priscilla Taylor, Windana Remand Home, Windana, South Australia, 1960s'. - click to view larger image

Handwritten lined half-page with the heading 'Phyllis'. The text in blue ballpoint pen consists of answers to questions (not included) which have been corrected. The answers have been given a mark of 10.5 out of 12. - click to view larger image

Pale green box with gold trim and hinged lid and the words 'Precious Promises' painted on the lid in gold. - click to view larger image

A pale blue-green box with its hinged lid open. Inside are small scrolls of rolled pape blue paper. A piece of wool and metal clasp rests on top. - click to view larger image

Exhibition graphic panel that reads: 'We have been listened to. We have been believed. We have been recognised,' attributed to 'Priscilla Taylor, 2009'. - click to view larger image

Heather Templeman

Exhibition graphic panel that reads: 'It was our day to wash and polish the dining room floor ... Our knees were sore [from the washing] so we thought well, we’ll go and get some rags and put them on our feet and run up and down and polish the floor that way and have some fun. We got a hiding for it but we had fun', attributed to 'Heather Templeman, East Kew Home, Kew, Victoria, 1960s'. - click to view larger image

Polaroid photograph showing two girls standing in front of a white lattice fence. The smaller girl, on the left, turns her head to look at the older girl. Tyepwritten text below reads 'Heather Templeman (right), aged 13, with her sister Melita, Catherine Booth Salvation Army Girls Home, East Kew, Victoria, 1960s'. 'Courtesy Heather Templeman' is typed along the left side. - click to view larger image

Teresa

Mary Terszak

Exhibition graphic panel that reads: 'To talk about the Stolen Generations is important because people ... thought that it was in the ‘best interest of the child’. Well that wasn’t in the best interest of myself, I know that', attributed to 'Mary Terszak, 2009'. - click to view larger image

Photocopy of a typed A4 document headed 'CNA' which reads 'In reference to the minute above, I saw this child at Carrolup over the weekend and she is certainly very light in colour and suitable for Sister Kate's Home. I questioned the mother ver closely but she emphatically denied that she had in any way associated with a whiteman. She maintained that Gyce Woods is the father. The mother and child are very attached to each other and the latter is well looked after, being very clean and tidy. Mrs. Gyce Woods is employed at the Hospital and doing a good job. Sister Prout speaks very well of her. Do you wish any action taken for the admittance of Mary Rose Woods to Sister Kate's Home please? Mrs Gyce Woods maintains that she will not return to her husband under any circumstances. DCHA'. On the bottom half of the page is a typed letter from the Commissioner of Native Affairs to 'Miss Holt, Children's Cottage Homae, Queen's Park'. It reads in part 'This child is now at the Carrolup Native Settlement, but she is very light in colour, and I feel that she would be better placed with you'. - click to view larger image

Photograph of a timber frame with four badges mounted on a soft background. An Aboriginal flag in the shape of Australia is at left, the top badge is cirucular and yellow and printed with the words 'Justice and Redress for ALL Australian Care Leavers'. A blue printed rectangular badge below reads 'FORGOTTEN / 500,000 / ABUSED & NEGLECTED / AUSTRALIANS'. A circular gold badge at right is embossed with a wattle emblem. - click to view larger image

Colour photograph showing a woman holding a book in both hands. The book cover shows a photo of the woman as a young girl. - click to view larger image

Sue Treweek

Exhibition graphic panel of white handwritten text on a grey background reads: 'This print used to hang above the magistrate’s desk at Wilson Youth Hospital. Us kids would stare [at] the picture and the magistrate would think we were being respectful and looking at him. But we were looking at the picture', attributed to 'Sue Treweek, 2010'. At right is a photo of a framed landscape painting showing a large central gum tree, a wooden fence at the right and part of a timber shed. - click to view larger image

Colour photograph of a woman in a sky blue coverall, wearing blue gloves, safety glasses, and with a gas mask resting on her head. - click to view larger image

Exhibition graphic panel that reads: 'I got so frustrated with everyone just talking ... all the ‘Sorrys’ ... This is something I can do, while they’re talking, to reach out and help our people, Forgotten Australians living in squalor' attributed to 'Sue Treweek, 2011'. - click to view larger image

Colour photograph showing three women standing outside a buildling. The women on either side wear red tops and Australian flags as skirts. - click to view larger image

Rhonda Trivett

Exhibition graphic panel that reads: 'I got adopted out ... My [adoptive] mum always said I had my little arms up and just wanted to be loved and cared for,' attributed to 'Rhonda Trivett, 2010'. - click to view larger image

Colour studio portrait showing a young girl at the centre, smiling, and wearing a white top and white bow in her hair. She sits between two smiling women, and with a man standing at the rear. - click to view larger image

Exhibition graphic panel that reads: 'When I was 6 going on to 7 years ... my dog, then my Grandmother and then my Daddy died ... the people who I loved went away to heaven. So I ran away from school because I couldn't learn ... went to find the highest mountain to ask God to bring my Dad back', attributed to 'Rhonda Trivett, 2010'. - click to view larger image

At right is a Polaroid photograph framed by a door, looking through to a low wooden bed base and a barred window. Typed text below reads 'The room Rhonda Trivett occupied as a teenager at Osler House, the locked adult female psychiatric ward of Wolston Park Psychiatric Hospital, Brisbane, 2008'. - click to view larger image

Exhibition graphic panel that reads: 'Every night ... waiting, just waiting, as afraid as ever and terrified ... not knowing if I was going to be the next dead person; just waiting for somebody to come in and rape, bash and probably knock me out.' attributed to 'Rhonda Trivett, Osler House, Wolston Park Psychiatric Hospital, Queensland, 1970s'. At right is a Polaroid photograph framed by a door, looking through to a low wooden bed base and a barred window. Typed text below reads 'The room Rhonda Trivett occupied as a teenager at Osler House, the locked adult female psychiatric ward of Wolston Park Psychiatric Hospital, Brisbane, 2008'. - click to view larger image

Black and white photo of a woman. She is standing with her arms folded and her face is not visible. The photo caption reads 'In Osler House, Wolston Park Hospital, I used to cut myself up with broken glass that I had saved and hid ... I was a self-mutilator because after you get raped, you feel dirty and worthless and because I was locked up and because no-one helped me and because no-one could, I had to hurt myself because I hated myself' attributed to 'Rhonda Trivett, Osler House, Wolston Park Psychiatric Hospital, Wacol, Queensland, 1970s'. - click to view larger image

Exhibition graphic panel of black handwritten text reads: 'The government has put on this exhibition using our stories, but it ends here. No justice! Please help us fight! I don't believe the government is sorry', attributed to 'Rhonda Trivett, 2011'. - click to view larger image

Colour photograph showing a woman with a microphone standing in front of a curtained backdrop. - click to view larger image

Diane Tronc

Colour photograph showing a large group of children, with their hands in the air, in front of a raised homestead and water tank. - click to view larger image

Exhibition graphic panel that reads: 'AFTER THE APOLOGY MY NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOUR WAVED TO ME FOR THE FIRST TIME', attributed to 'Diane Tronc, 2009'. - click to view larger image

Colour photograph showing three women standing outside a buildling. The women on either side wear red tops and Australian flags as skirts. - click to view larger image

Exhibition graphic panel of black text on a white background reads 'Mother’s Day I had to shut the door and turn the music up loud so I wouldn’t hear my neighbours with their mums being happy. All events that people share with their families,' attributed to 'Diane Tronc, 2012'. - click to view larger image

Colour photo showing two women embracing a state of a small child. A large floral arrangement sits at the base of the statue. - click to view larger image

Kristina Tucker

Polaroid photo showing protesters, with Old Parliament House and Mount Ainslie in the distance. In the foreground, a woman lies face down on the grass, wearing a white T-shirt covered with handwritten text 'NO PRIESTS ALLOWED'. Various protest banners are laid on the grass, and four people can be seen in the middle distance. One of them also wears a white T-shirt with writing on it. Typewritten text under the photo reads 'Kristina Tucker (foreground) and placards at the anniversary march, November 2010'. 'Photograph by George Serras, National Museum of Australia' is printed on the left side. - click to view larger image

A photograph of a piece of off-white cloth with 'NO PRIESTS ALLOWED' handwritten in black capital letters. Safety pins are attached to the top corners. - click to view larger image

Pamella Vernon

Exhibition graphic panel that reads: 'On the night that we entered the Dalmar children's home, the Superintendent asked my sister Yvonne what she was clutching under her arm. Yvonne replied that she had our mother's personal belongings in the chocolate tin … The Superintendent then asked to have a closer look and one by one he took each item out of the tin and said,

A colour photograph of a knitted doll wearing a purple dress, a purple bonnet and a white scarf. The doll is holding a small cane basket. - click to view larger image

Colour photograph showing a woman standing, looking into an exhibition case. On the back wall of the case a small knitted doll tumbles down towards a metal wastepaper basket, which has a 'Whitman's Sampler' chocolate tin inside. Small hair clips and a pair of rosary beads are mounted between the doll and the bin. White handwritten text on a dark background is visible at the left of the case. - click to view larger image

Christine Waite

Exhibition graphic panel that reads: 'Not all of the nuns were abusive and those who were were not abusive all of the time. But we were in fear all of the time' attributed to 'Christine Waite, Tufnell Home, Nundah, Queensland, 1950s'. - click to view larger image

Exhibition graphic panel that reads: 'When leaving the orphanage very scared I was not worthy as a person ... and everything was my fault' attributed to 'Christine Waite, 2011'. - click to view larger image

Charlie Walker

Exhibition graphic panel that reads: 'I must say that overall I was happy at St Augustine's for I was never hungry', attributed to 'Charlie Walker, St Augustine's Orphanage, Geelong, Victoria, 1940s, 'Charlie the Ratbag Orphan', by Charlie Walker, 2012.' - click to view larger image

An image of a paper tag with print in bold, black capital letters. The print reads 'Hear Charlie Walker talk about his experiences at St Augustine's Orphanage, Geelong, Victoria, in the 1940s. Recorded in 2010. Duration: 6 minutes 35 seconds. National Library of Australia'. - click to view larger image

Rhonda Wardman

Exhibition graphic panel that reads: 'There was a large playroom with a red laminex table and six chairs and an empty bookcase — nothing, nothing but emptiness (and my tears)', attributed to 'Rhonda Wardman, St Michael’s Girls Anglican Home, Bathurst, New South Wales, 1950s'. - click to view larger image

Exhibition graphic panel that reads: 'You are the spawn of the devil ... put here by God to be punished, born bad, never wanted. You are the spawn of the devil!' Rhonda Wardman recalled how these words were repeated constantly to her by one of the nuns during her time in the Home. Attributed to 'Rhonda Wardman, St Michael's Girls Anglican Home, Bathurst, New South Wales, 1950s'. - click to view larger image

Black and white photo of a women supporting the underside of her left wrist with her right hand. Both hands are elevated and the focal point of the photo. The photo caption reads 'The only time I got medical attention at St Michael's was when I ... broke my wrist ... After 10 days ... they finally took me to the doctor, he yelled at Sister B. I thought, 'I'm really going to pay for this' ... They had to re-break my arm to fix it but it never mended properly ... It then got gangrene ... I was so pleased to be back in Hospital because ... I was cared for.' attributed to 'Rhonda Wardman, St Michael's Girls Anglican Home, Bathurst, New South Wales, 1950s'. - click to view larger image

Leigh Westin

Annie Whitsed

Colour photograph showing a woman standing beside a small metal framed cot. - click to view larger image

Colour photograph of a cot sheet, framed by a white metal cot. Embroidered in blue script is 'This baby looked all blue round the mouth as we tried to give it some milk but it just ran out of its mouth. So I ran to the nuns having their lunch and Sister hit me for disturbing their lunch and I took her to see the baby and she turned round and hit me again and said

Joy Williams

Mim Willson-Dekker

Exhibition graphic panel that reads: 'This painting comes from 1971 ... I felt suicidal … I thought if I stood in the middle of the road, they would run me over ... but the cars drove around me ... The main figure ... shows the way that I felt emotionally flayed for years but it is not just a symbol. It’s how I really felt', attributed to 'Mim Willson-Dekker, 2011'. - click to view larger image

Photograph of a painting showing a central skeleton with its left arm raised and with hand resting on the skull. Some muscles and tissues and the eyes are visible. Various scenes are depicted around the skeleton. - click to view larger image

Listen Audio on demand

Defining Moments

Online features

Top