The inquisition has arrived. Well, maybe not like the actual inquisition. But oh my, how the language of the past was. So Jane’s inquest documents arrived, courtesy of the Public Records Office of Victoria. I […]
Month: March 2021

LET THE RECORD STATE Shame sux
Most records about the past prior to the 1930’s are public (and even more recent ones sometimes). But that doesn’t mean they are not hidden. Hidden from dinner table conversations, hidden from important intergenerational health discussions and hidden by what I think is misplaced shame. In my experience, hidden by boring beige people on a power trip. (Did I just say that? Whoops, I forgot to mention I am not one of those people who thinks that I should be entirely nice about people consciously still stigmatising meaningful mental health discussions in 2021).

IT’S ABOUT LOVE, NOT LUNACY
Sweeping the past under the carpet just means we all trip on the lumps we can’t see and get bloody noses when some politician decides to bring back an old destructive social policy with a new name. In the cult of personality that has become Australian politics, a catchy slogan on repackaged policy disaster is a valuable thing.
Mad About Jane
The Deadline is an evolving community arts project. I hope it encourages other people to talk about family history skeletons and not be ashamed of them. I also am aware it will make some people […]
Bridget the badass
#IWD2021 So today is also a day to celebrate success, as much as it is about struggle too. So I want to shout out to my ancestor Bridget Brady (nee Lynch 1842 -1892). From my […]