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Faces of Forgotten Australians

Faces of Forgotten Australians photographs is a powerful collection of portrait photographs by artist, advocate and survivor of institutional care Colleen Stevenson. The images delve into the lived experiences of people who endured institutional care in Queensland during the mid-20th century.  

The portraits shed light on the lasting impacts of institutionalisation, including challenges related to education, health, and social isolation. Forgotten Australians suffered profound psychological, emotional, and physical harm in state and church-run institutions. Now aging, many survivors are at risk of being forgotten once more. The portraits confront the invisibility and stigma these individuals have faced; foster public empathy; and amplify their voices at a critical moment in time.  

“We were put in those places – out of sight, out of mind. I would like us to not be invisible, as we usually are… I want us to be heard, because we are not going to stop speaking up.”  Colleen Stevenson.

View the collection in the State Library catalogue

Portraits

Click on the information icon to read each participant’s story in their own words.

Portrait of Colleen Stevenson smiling at the camera.
portrait photograph of a woman with short grey hair, gold earrings and necklace, a paisley blue pattern shirt, smiling at the camera with a blue background
photographic portrait of a woman with shoulder length blonde hair with a fringe, gold earrings and necklace, red lipstick, white short sleeved shirt, with a brown background
black and white photographic portrait of an elderly man, with white hair and beard, glasses and a black polo shirt.
photographic portrait of a man standing against a blue background, wearing a straw hat, green and white shirt with palm trees, and white shorts. He has long white hair and a beard. He is smiling and has one had on his hip.
photographic portrait of a woman with a blue background. A gold star on the wall behind sits over her head. She has brown and grey hair plaited into pigtails, blue eyes and a white collared shirt
photographic portrait of a woman with short grey hair, blue eyes and red lipstick, she is wearing stud earrings, and wearing a black T-shirt saying Hard Rock Cafe
A photographic portrait of a man wearing a blue shirt, brown jacket, a cowboy hat with sun glasses on top, and jeans. He is wearing glasses, necklaces, rings and bracelets, he has white hair and a beard
photographic portrait of a woman with white hair, green eyes, smiling at the camera, she is wearing a white t-shirt with a red poppy broach, and necklaces and earrings
black and white portrait of a middle aged man looking up, he has shaved sides of his head, he is wearing a t-shirt with white writing
portrait of a man with white and black hair in a pony tail, he is wearing all black clothes with mesh sleeves, round sunglasses, and a gold earring
photographic portrait of a elderly woman wearing glasses, with grey shoulder length hair and a black shirt. She is wearing a badge with the text 'I have low vision'. In the background is a blue wall with gold stars stuck on it.
photographic portrait of a middle aged man looking at the camera, he is in front of a blue background, wearing a blue collared shirt and a backwards camo cap hat
photographic portrait of a man wearing a brightly coloured shirt with a red an purple dragon. he is wearing a grey hat and behind him is a white wall and plants
photographic portrait of a woman smiling at the camera, with short brown hair and a dark blue shirt with white and pink flowers
photographic portrait of a older man, smiling at the camera with hands clasped at the front, wearing a white plaid shirt and white pants
photographic portrait of a man smiling at the camera and giving the thumbs up with two hands, he has brown hair in mowhawk style and wearing a blue and white striped shirt
photographic portrait of an older woman with grey yellow hair, looking directly at the camera, wearing a shirt with small coloured flowers against a blue background with a gold star above her head
Portrait of Margaret Hourigan smiling at the camera. She is wearing black clothes and sitting on a chair, she is holding the lead of her guide dog.
photographic portrait of Deborah Jackson, she has short red hair, and wearing a shirt with flower pattern
photographic portrait of Harold James, older man with great hair standing against a brick wall, wearing black and white plaid shirt and black vest
a photographic portrait of Robert Keasey, a man wearing a hat and blue shirt sitting of a chair, he has faded tattoos and a silver watch
photographic portrait of Noelene Kriwat, a middle aged woman with blond hair, gold earrings and gold necklaces wearing a grey hooded jumper
photographic portrait of Brian Laing, a older man with white hair and blue eyes smiling at the camera, we wears a blue collared shirt
photographic portrait of Marcia Lebrocq, a middle aged woman with blonde hair wearing a white shirt with gold earrings and necklace
photographic portrait of Patience Link, First Nations woman, wearing black clothes, sitting on a black leather couch, with red lipstick, in front of a background of a First Nations mural
photographic portrait of Colin Lofgren, a old man with bald head, glasses and grey beard, looking sternly at the camera, wearing striped blue and white polo shirt
photographic portrait of Gloria Lovely, older woman with shoulder length white hair, wearing a red polo shirt, and orange pants sitting on a blue couch, next to her is a brown handbag
photographic portrait of a middle aged man with grey hair looking directly into the camera, with a brown and blue checkered shirt
photographic portrait of Mary Mason, a older woman with short white hair looking directly at the camera, wearing a black shirt with white flowers
photographic portrait of a middle aged woman, Jessie Morwood, with long blonde hair, glasses, and a pink and white striped dress
photographic portrait of Paul Morwood, a man with grey black hair, and moustache, wearing a white buttoned shirt with a green plant pattern
photographic portrait of Sherryl munson, older woman with red hair shoulder length, smiling at the camera, wearing a whiite t-shirt with flowers
black and white photographic portrait of Des Murray, a older man with shirt grey hair, looking directly at the camera with an serious expression
photographic portrait of Karen Riding, she has blonde and purple hair, sunglasses, earrings and a gold star above her head, she is smiling at the camera on a blue background
photographic portrait of Fran Scanlon, middle ages woman with brown hair and glasses pushed up on her head, wearing a patterned green dress, she is looking directly at the camera
photographic portrait of Eddie Smitts, a middle ages man with grey hair looking directly at the camera wearing a black t-shirt
photographic portrait of Lynette Stott, she has short brown hair, a blue shirt and is smiling directly at the camera
this is a photographic portrait of Lana Syed, she has long grey hair tied in a ponytail, gold jewelry and is wearing a blue paisley shirt
photographic portrait of a Rhonda Trivett, she is sitting in a wheelchair with a feeding tube in her nose, she has short brown hair and wearing a grey t-shirt
photographic portrait of Michele Urwin, older woman with pink coloured glasses, and shoulder length grey hair, wearing a green t-shirt with a bag strap across her body
photographic portrait of Ken Waldron, he is a older man with a walking stick, wearing a red and pink striped shirt and shots, smiling at the camera
photographic portrait of Theresa Whitfield, a woman with long black and pink hair, wearing a long necklace and blue long sleeved shirt smiling at the camera
photographic portrait of Russel Willis, a older man with short grey hair wearing a yellow white and blue striped collared shirt
photographic portrait of Kim Wilson, a woman with long grey hair and black rimmed glasses, wearing a pink shirt and a necklace
photographic portrait of a Marlene Wilson, a woman with great hair and a white dress with flower patterns looking at the camera
photographic portrait headshot a Peter Wilson, he is looking straight at the camera and not smiling, he has glasses and a beard
photographic portrait of Kattrina Wood, she is wearing a broad brim straw hat with a red band, she has a white sleeveless shirt and silver necklaces
photographic portrait of Kim and Peter Wilson, man and woman smiling at the camera

Forgotten Australians: we are still here...

Faces of Forgotten Australians begins with a simple but powerful act: looking directly at another person and recognising that their life matters.
Read more
Portrait photograph of Colleen McGuire