Donated Object Story – Jimmy the Bear

 Jimmy the Bear

When the Australian Orphanage Museum officially opened on Saturday, 1 April 2023, a woman stopped in on her way to catch the Spirit of Tasmania ferry from North Geelong. She carried with her a very special companion.

Her name was Renata. As children, she and her sister spent time at Dalwood Children’s Home in Seaforth, New South Wales. One day, when her sister returned from foster care, she brought with her a large teddy bear—a gift that somehow escaped the usual fate of toys in Homes, which were often taken away.

That bear, named Jimmy, remained with Renata’s sister throughout her childhood in the Home, and she kept him for the rest of her life. After her passing, Jimmy came into Renata’s care. More than sixty years later, she brought him to the museum, cradling him in her arms like a newborn as she shared his story.

Jimmy is well-loved. His fur is thinning in places, one seam needs mending, and his arms and legs flop loosely, so he must be held with care. Yet his two orange-and-black glass eyes still gleam, his ears are intact, and his tilted head gives him a gentle, quizzical expression. Not bad for a bear of his age.

Stories like Jimmy’s are rare. In most Children’s Homes and Orphanages, children were not allowed to keep toys, gifts, or even new clothes. Very few personal possessions survived. Jimmy’s presence speaks not only of childhood resilience but also of the enduring love between two sisters.

Today, Jimmy the Bear is part of the Australian Orphanage Museum’s collection, where his story continues to be told. For now, to help preserve him, he will spend time in storage—but visitors can see his photo here and read about the remarkable journey that brought him to the museum.

The museum is deeply grateful to Renata and her sister for entrusting such a precious part of their lives to share with future generations.

A Brush,  A Case and School Work. 

The Australian Orphanage Museum received three deeply personal items from Care Leaver Debbie Bell (née Smith): a brush, a school case, and her schoolwork in a folder.

Ordinary as they may seem, these objects carry powerful memories of her childhood in foster care. This photo is of Debbie in her school uniform

Foster Care Begins

Debbie was born in Adelaide in 1961. When she was two years old, her mother placed her in state care, believing she would be adopted. But because her parents were married, her father’s consent was also needed. At the time, he was a “guest of the Adelaide Goal” and refused to sign the papers. Debbie recalls: “Instead of being adopted, I was left in the foster system. My file even stated that ‘no one would come for me.’ The first foster family I was placed with should never have been approved.”

The Brush

One of Debbie’s earliest possessions was a small floor brush and pan, given to her as a gift. She reflects:

“That brush became a symbol of those years in foster care. Warnings of abuse and neglect were swept under the carpet, ignored by the people who should have protected me. Later, I learned that sexual abuse had also occurred.”

The School Case

At six and a half years old, Debbie was moved again—this time to Kangaroo Island.

“My school case represents that day. I was packed up and sent off with a lady I’d never met before, leaving from Adelaide Airport. She was a widow who became my foster mother.

Despite our differences, she guided me into adulthood, and for nearly 45 years until her passing, she was the person I called Mum.”

The School Work in a Folder

Among the items Debbie has kept is her early schoolwork in a folder.

“It gives a glimpse of the person I was becoming. Later in life, I reconnected with my birth family, but the bond had been broken before it had hardly begun. My family never knew the full impact of that one decision my mother made.”

“For me, it’s my burden to bear alone.”

Donations Tell a  Story of Recognition and Encouragement for a Care Leaver

Three engraved trophies were recently donated to the Australian Orphanage Museum by Care Leaver Bobbie Andrews.

She was in Glastonbury Children’s Home in Geelong. They offer valuable insight into how achievement was recognised within “care” during the 1970s.

The awards date from 1971 and 1972. They were presented for personal and academic qualities — including one marked “Most Co-operative Girl” and “Best Girl – Group 3.” Another bears the name of the Glastonbury Ex-Students Association, being a Citizenship Award in 1971.

The two cup trophies have Bing Boys engraved at the top. Bing Boys was a Melbourne-based philanthropic group that sponsored awards and other items for children’s Homes and schools during the 20th century. Their support likely extended to providing or funding trophies for Homes like Glastonbury.

The three trophies are now part of a display at the AOM recognising Care Leaver Achievements.

Bobbie recently attended a social morning for CLAN members at the AOM in Geelong and donated two more items, which were very personal to her.

A heart- shaped pendant with her birth name and date. This was the last present she got for her birthday from her parents before she went to Glastonbury. She also donated a school badge from Matthew Flinders Girls’ High School, which Bobbie attended while she still lived in Glastonbury.

These objects help tell the story of childhood in so-called care — not just through hardship, but through effort, recognition, and success.

The AOM is very grateful to Bobbie for donating these very personal items. Now others can see items which explain Care Leavers’ experiences.

Do you have any items that tell of your childhood experiences in Children’s Homes, Orphanages, Missions or Foster Care that you could donate to the AOM? Contact the AOM to tell us about your items. They might be in our next exhibition!