This portrait is of Wilfrid Coad Thomas AO (1904-1991), a British-born singer, broadcaster and refugee advocate who had a notable radio career in Australia and the UK. The photograph dates from the 1940s, when Thomas started the long-running variety show The Wilfrid Thomas Show (1941–1980) on Sydney ABC radio station 2FC. Thomas later returned to the UK, where he worked for the BBC but continued to present The Wilfrid Thomas Show and to make regular visits to Australia.

In the early 1950s, the ABC dispatched Thomas to Europe to interview European refugees. His stories about the plight of displaced persons helped Australians prepare for the government’s post-war immigration program. In 1976, Thomas was appointed AO for distinguished service to the media, and in 1982, he was created a Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic for service to Italian refugees.

The NFSAs Wilfrid Thomas Collection comprises over 700 recordings on ¼-inch tape, along with a range of discs and documentation.