A silhouette of a girl holding an umbrella on a rainy city street, with reflections on the wet pavement and blurry cars in the background. A yellow umbrella illustration with the words "Silenced Witness" is overlaid on the right side.

Silenced Witness

stories of family violence through a child’s heart

Our second Share Your Story project series was held at Coonara Community House on the 17th July, 2025.

Silenced Witness - stories of family violence through a child’s heart - presents the journeys of 2 women where family violence was a part of their childhood life.

Children have not been traditionally counted in the DV statistics, their voices and their stories are seldom publicly heard, even today

Silenced Witness is a smaller , more intimate presentation and venues for hosting in 2026 are being actively sought..

Two women sitting at a table filled with breakfast items, including mugs, plates, and a large platter of food, with colorful chairs and a tablecloth that says 'Underneath My Umbrella'.
A woman standing next to a large painting of a girl with closed eyes, smiling, and surrounded by a cosmic, starry background. The painting is signed by Lena Lim.

This exhibition recently concluded it’s premiere season at Brimbank Civic Centre and Gallery, Sunshine, having launched at our Black and White Exhibition gala event on Friday 5th December, the series ran alongside the Black and White finale showcase season.

Host venues for 2026 season are now under development.

Donate
 
Host this exhibit
Gallery display featuring five artworks on easels, including a swan on a lake with a sunset background, handwritten notes, a close-up of hands with gloves, and a young girl painting a rainbow on a canvas, in a well-lit room with large windows.
A framed handwritten letter on a wooden easel, with visible text in black and red ink, displayed in a room with large windows in the background.
Photograph of an art display, showing a close-up of a person's hands resting on the back of a colorful chair, with visible rings on their fingers. The person is wearing a pink sweater, and the background includes a blurred rainbow-colored mural.
Painting of a woman with blonde curly hair in a blue shirt, raising a paintbrush with colorful paint to create a rainbow on a white canvas.
A woman with black hair, glasses, and a black dress smiling while holding a swan painting on a large oval canvas.
A woman dressed in a black lace top and a black pleated skirt, standing next to a framed picture of a pair of hands wearing white gloves, holding a small object while resting on a railing, at an indoor art exhibit or gallery with geometric black wall
An art gallery display featuring four paintings on easels, with a report or description on a stand in front of them, inside a modern building with large windows and cityscape view.
A whiteboard with handwritten notes and reflections about overcoming abuse, personal growth, and advice for others, placed on a stand in front of a large window with a city street outside.
A framed black and white photograph of person wearing hiking boots, lying on their back with legs elevated against a railing, displayed on an easel indoors with windows and a blurred outdoor scene in the background.
A woman with glasses and long dark hair holding a painting on an easel. The painting depicts a profile of a woman with short dark hair underwater, with pink coral branches around her. The background is blue with wave-like strokes.
Woman standing next to her painting of a woman with wings, smiling with eyes closed, signature 'Lena Lim' at the bottom right corner, in an indoor setting.
Four women stand indoors in front of a modern, colorful, geometric wall, each holding or standing by a piece of artwork featuring swan motifs or images of water. The second woman from the left holds a yellow umbrella. The artwork showcases a woman wi
Two women stand next to display easels with two paintings, in front of a geometric black wall with glass panels. A yellow umbrella is on the floor in front of them.

Credits

SYS2025

Hannah Chew
Artist

Belinda Hakmeh
Artist

Lyn Shephard
Artist

Lena Lim
Artist / Exhibition Photographer

Shannon Meilak
Narrator Photographer

With thanks to City of Knox minor grants program for supporting the Share Your Story project in partnership with Coonara Community House.