Alert

State Library Victoria is open ANZAC Day, Thursday 25 April, from 10 am to 6 pm.

Home > Collective Isolation Project, week 14: Cover up

Collective Isolation Project, week 14: Cover up

A woman holds hand with a child as they walk through dust wearing face coverings
24 July 2020

In the parts of Victoria under Stage 3 COVID-19 restrictions, it's now mandatory to wear a face mask when in public. 

Reusable cloth masks, made of three layers of washable fabric that cover the nose and mouth, are recommended by the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services, as are single use surgical masks.

With free instructions for homemade masks readily available on the internet and clothing brands selling washable cloth masks, it's now possible to express yourself through colour and pattern while playing your part in reducing community transmission of the virus. 

This week, express yourself and your community spirit by sending us a face mask selfie.

Share your response at our Facebook Memory Bank group and tag us with #SLVMemoryBank.

About this image

This image is one of a group depicting the drought in the Wimmera in 1944, showing the decline of this previously fertile grazing region during a prolonged period without rain. Here, Mrs Dunn and her young son Colin hold hands and cover their faces as they pass through a dustblown paddock in Wycheproof.

The photo is part of the Library's Argus newspaper collection of photos, a valuable source of information on Melbourne life in the late 19th century. 

On the recently redeveloped (and wonderful) Trove website you can view a digitised version of the Argus issue in which this sober photo was originally published – with a lighthearted caption about little Colin 'playing highwayman'.

How to respond

Please feel welcome to respond as creatively or literally as you wish.

If you contribute, we may contact you to discuss collecting and using your images, stories, objects and experiences. We may not be able to accept everything, but we will endeavour to do so! With your permission, your contributions may be added to the State Collection or used in future Library programs.

About The Collective Isolation Project

The Collective Isolation Project aims to cement this current moment in history, and is our inaugural Memory Bank campaign.

Find out more about Memory Bank, including details about how to contribute each week.

More to explore