Readers, what if, out of the blue, the National Museum of Australia asked you to donate, for an exhibition, an object with which you have a special, deep, personal connection? What if the museum urged that it perhaps be something associated with "an inspirational relationship, a turning point, an important life-changing event"?
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You would, wouldn't you, gasp: "Goodness! Where do I start?"
And that was the exact reactionof Victorian campaigner against domestic violence Rosie Battywhen the museum approached her with this challenge, she told us on Tuesday. And when Canberra entrepreneur-philanthropist Glenn Keys was approached, he and his wife agonised a good deal. But then one morning he was able to announce to her: "You're not going to believe this but I've dreamt the answer."
Eventually Rosie Batty plumped for her dressed-for-winter, childhood doll. Glenn Keys, dream-assisted, opted for a specially made candle used first at his wedding and then at the baptisms of his three children. More of these precious artefacts in a moment.
Batty and Keys are two of eight Australians the Museum asked to make this difficult choice, because they are among the eight state and territory recipients of the 2015 Australian of the Year awards. On Wednesday the National Museum opens an exhibition of the objects the eight role models have chosen, and of the stories with which these artefacts resonate.
On the other award recipients, the museum advises: "Queensland finalist Hetty Johnston AM, campaigns against child abuse and has submitted a native American talking stick, gifted by a close friend. Equality activist Rodney Croome, AM, from Tasmania has offered a badge he was wearing in 1988 when he was arrested for defending gay rights.
"NSW adoption campaigner Deborra-Lee Furness, has selected a child's toy cart filled with water bottles. West Australian scientist Professor Lyn Beazley, AO, has singled out a small brooch in the shape of a crab sitting inside a carved oyster shell.
"South Australia's peace campaigner, Dr Gill Hicks, MBE, has nominated the briefcase she was carrying when she became the victim of a 2005 London train terrorist bombing. The strong attachment that Northern Territory humanitarian, Rosalie Kunoth-Monks, OAM, holds to her culture and country is represented by a sacred painted coolamon."
Rosie Batty's doll is, she explained to us with feeling, very precious to her. Batty was only six when her mother died and when the doll was given to her, Batty, by her godmother. It was engagingly blonde (Barry can remember loving that about it) but it had no clothes. And so Batty, by now about seven, asked her grandmother to make some. The exquisitely knitted ensemble we see (and as well some elaborate underwear we don't see) was the result of her grandmother's labours of love and so is something of her grandmother that Batty will always treasure.
Her relationship with her grandmother was very special.
"She lived to be 100 and for me she was the most influential woman in my life, my having lost my mum so young. She was a very inspirational lady. Right to the end of her life she was always very interested in 'Life', in people, in learning. She was one of those people who inspire, intrinsically, by their character and their nature. I've always hoped I could be like her."
Glenn Keys confessed to us that until he'd dreamt of the famous family candle he'd hardy given it a thought in the 17 years since it had last been used (at a baptism). It had been out of sight, out of mind in its special lidded box. The candle was specially made 26 years ago for his wedding, embossed with details about himself and his bride. Then with each baptism their children's details were added to it.
Once he'd been prompted by his dream the candle emerged as the perfect artefact. It was not only because it is so redolent of family and love of family that has been so vital to him, but also because candles ("We all have fond memories of being around one when the power goes off") project light and "give a sense of warmth and hope". He hopes that some of his altruistic philanthropic ventures, such as those that help the disabled, radiate a similar warmth and hope.
But there's yet another good candle-choosing reason, he told us. It is that almost the very first signs of his now famous entrepreneurial zeal came ("I was about eight or nine") when he made and sold ornamental candle holders.
"I used milk cartons with flowers embedded in them," he reminisced.
We wondered - our fingers crossed for Rosie Batty (and thinking of the priceless old childhood teddy bear we would donate if the museum asked us for an object with deep personal connections) - whether the museum was going to give her doll back once the exhibition was over (for museums have a way of collecting things)?
Batty, sounding shocked at the very thought, says yes, she will be getting her agelessly blonde doll back after the exhibition closes at the end of February.
