Ballarat Health Services returns children's paintings
SEVEN nursery rhyme characters have safely returned home to Child and Family Services Ballarat. But Humpty Dumpty has yet to be put back together again with the collection, while the cupboard is still bare without Old Mother Hubbard. The collection of nursery rhyme paintings, by 1920s artists the Henderson brothers, were given back to CAFS on Monday after a 50-year loan to Ballarat Health Services. Read More |
The children nursery rhyme paintings at first thought they were a gift to Ballarat Orphanage for the Toddlers Block built in 1928 , One of the Henderson Bro's from Ballarat painted the collection of paintings they adorn the walls of the dinning, playroom and dormitory for many years. Around the early 70's the orphanage needed to find a new home for the paintings they were given to the Ballarat Base Hospital as it was known back then as a gift and have been adorning the walls in the children's ward for many years.
As part of the 150th year Commemoration Ballarat Health Services on the 23rd of February 2015 held a function to return the collection of paintings to Cafs (Child & Family Services Ballarat) for past residents and the local Community to enjoy . A small gathering of the unveiling of the paintings past residents who attended each unveiled the collection. |
Its amazing who you talk to around Ballarat in the community about the Henderson Bros the Artist of the Nursery Rhyme painting collection was by Angus Henderson a well known sign- writer from Ballarat who was asked to paint the collection for the children living in the orphanage, his daughter recalls her father first started the paintings around the late 1940's or 1950's each piece was signed by Henderson Bro's due to Angus along with his brother who also had a keen eye for painting. It seems there are many other painting missing from the original collection they're Humpty Dumpty, Little Red Riding Hood and Mother Hubbard just naming a few,
Wonder where Little Red Riding Hood & Humpty Dumpty
maybe!