Latest Donated Objects – School Items and Pendent.

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!