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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons.

Giving a dam

True south #1

Ensconced and meditative in crisp Tasmania, Joanna Gilmour pays tribute to passionate green advocate and photographer Olegas Truchanas.

More information on Giving a dam

Selected images

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Olegas Truchanas
Olegas Truchanas, 1971 Ralph Hope-Johnstone. © Estate of Ralph Hope-Johnstone
Elspeth Vaughan painting a Lake Pedder scene, 1970 Jack Thwaites
Elspeth Vaughan painting a Lake Pedder scene, 1970 Jack Thwaites
Bob Brown at his home in Liffey
Bob Brown at his home in Liffey, 1988 (printed 2013) Helga Leunig. © Helga Leunig
Frankland Range, highlighting the Citadel and Coronation Peak at Lake Pedder, Tasmania, ca. 1967 Olegas Truchanas
Frankland Range, highlighting the Citadel and Coronation Peak at Lake Pedder, Tasmania, ca. 1967 Olegas Truchanas
Reflections, mists and Melaleuca trees in a serene Lake Pedder, Tasmania, 1968 Olegas Truchanas
Reflections, mists and Melaleuca trees in a serene Lake Pedder, Tasmania, 1968 Olegas Truchanas
Melaleuca trees along the northern shoreline of Lake Pedder, Tasmania, ca. 1969 Olegas Truchanas
Melaleuca trees along the northern shoreline of Lake Pedder, Tasmania, ca. 1969 Olegas Truchanas
Sand, wind and water shape the vegetation in the shallows, beside a lone walker's footprint, Lake Pedder, Tasmania, ca. 1969 Olegas Truchanas
Sand, wind and water shape the vegetation in the shallows, beside a lone walker's footprint, Lake Pedder, Tasmania, ca. 1969 Olegas Truchanas
View from the Frankland Range of the beach of Lake Pedder, the plains near Lake Maria and Mt. Wedge in the distance, Tasmania, 1971 Olegas Truchanas
View from the Frankland Range of the beach of Lake Pedder, the plains near Lake Maria and Mt. Wedge in the distance, Tasmania, 1971 Olegas Truchanas
Sunset is reflected in the Lake Pedder waters as a storm approaches, Tasmania, 1971 Olegas Truchanas
Sunset is reflected in the Lake Pedder waters as a storm approaches, Tasmania, 1971 Olegas Truchanas
Dr Brown and Green Old Time Waltz
Dr Brown and Green Old Time Waltz, 1983 Harold Thornton. © Estate of Harold Thornton
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Related information

Sir Douglas Mawson
Sir Douglas Mawson
Sir Douglas Mawson
Sir Douglas Mawson

Staying home

True south #2

About Face article

14 July 2020

Joanna Gilmour brings a mindful Douglas Mawson’s perspective to bear on the concept of isolation.
Sydney city (Patrick White and Tom Uren, Hiroshima Day demonstration), 1984
Sydney city (Patrick White and Tom Uren, Hiroshima Day demonstration), 1984
Sydney city (Patrick White and Tom Uren, Hiroshima Day demonstration), 1984
Sydney city (Patrick White and Tom Uren, Hiroshima Day demonstration), 1984

The activist A-list

Magazine article by Dr Sarah Engledow, 2007

Dr Sarah Engledow examines a number of figures in the collection of the National Portrait Gallery who were pioneers or substantial supporters of the seminal Australian environmental campaigns of the early 1970s and 1980s.
Rock Island Bend. Franklin River, South West Tasmania, 1979 by Peter Dombrovskis
Rock Island Bend. Franklin River, South West Tasmania, 1979 by Peter Dombrovskis
Rock Island Bend. Franklin River, South West Tasmania, 1979 by Peter Dombrovskis
Rock Island Bend. Franklin River, South West Tasmania, 1979 by Peter Dombrovskis

Written in Water

Magazine article by Dr Sarah Engledow, 2005

Olegas Truchanas and Peter Dombrovskis, photographers and conservationists, shared a love of photography and exploring wilderness areas of Tasmania.
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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

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