Jim Luthy - Australian Orphanage Museum

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Hi,

I just wanted to say thank you for showing part of my donation to the AOM. It featured the James Bond cards which were in weet-bix packets as well as a toffee tin. There was always a fight to get these cards. It was the only thing we were able to own. The tin was the present that was given to us at the Gill Home for Boys at Goulburn which was run by the Salvation Army. Coles gave the Salvation Army the tins and they gave one to each of us who were staying there over Christmas (about seven boys) and the officers kept the rest ( over 50 lolly tins) for themselves. We also got a boiled egg as a Christmas present.

Also included in the tin was a broken mirror with my name scratched into it. These were my precious possessions and were what I left the Gill with. I also took ( stole) a book of Banjo Patterson’s poems which I also donated to the AOM. As well as these things there was a scrap book with the original letters from the Salvation Army General who offered to apologize for their abusive actions, my admittance form and various other historical items.

Could I encourage people to donate to CLAN any items that they may have that records our history. We are an important part of the culture of this country and we cannot be forgotten, particularly by those who still deny that any wrongs ever occurred.

Regards,
Jim Luthy

The Australian Orphanage Museum in Geelong, Australia, is a unique museum dedicated to documenting and exhibiting authentic social histories about the experience of growing up in orphanages, children’s Homes, Missions and other institutions, including foster care, in Australia.