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The benevolent lens of Alan K Jordan

Featuring
Tess McLaughlin
Tess McLaughlan
Susan Long
Susan Long
Black and white photograph of men in suits sitting on church pews. Photograph taken by Alan K Jordan.
Black and white photograph of men in suits sitting on church pews. Photograph taken by Alan K Jordan.

About the episode

Melbourne is an ever-changing city, constantly growing and innovating. This is typically for the best until people are left behind, displaced or marginalised, becoming invisible to society. But they weren't invisible to Alan K Jordan – a social worker, photographer and later a policymaker who used his camera as a tool to document the lives and struggles of those experiencing poverty and homelessness. Alan helped draft the Homeless Persons Assistance Act of 1974 – Australia's first-ever federal legislation addressing homelessness.

In this episode, we’re joined by Susan Long, one of the librarians at State Library Victoria. Susan has a passion for art and the social impact of photography, so she’s particularly drawn to Alan’s work. She’ll share who Alan was, and how he used his camera to reveal the hidden history of Melbourne.

Further reading

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