HerStory
Esther BOHNING
Also known as: née Jenkins
Born: 14 July 1879
Died: 2 January 1952
Resources
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References
photo in museum: Women at the Heart
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References
Isaacs, Jennifer. (1990). Pioneer Women of the Bush and Outback. Sydney: Lansdowne Publishing, p. 178-179.
“In Australia’s outback pioneering history some women have achieved fame --- although often it is their nickname which survives rather than memories of their great deeds. Elsie Bohning, who wrote under the pseudonym “The Little Bush Maid”, was known as a “petticoat drover” along with her sister and her mother, Esther Bohning.
Esther and John Bohning worked Helen Springs Station, 160 kilometres north of Tennant Creek. All the family including Esther, and her two daughters and sons, were fully active partners in the property. They rode, mustered and branded stock and went on cattle drives. At times they had to manage the station on their own. Elsie went on her first drove at the age of 11 and eulogised it in the following lines:
…”
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References
Women at the Heart, pages 8, 9, 14
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References
Corcoran, Dee. Oh dolly, you're 85. Centralian Advocate. October 4, 2002:40.
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References
Stehbens, Lee. The Alice loses a top bloke. Centralian Advocate. October 4, 2005:6.
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References
Territory Pioneer Passes On. Centralian Advocate. November 21, 1958:page unknown.
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References
Glasson, Mary. A Brief History of the Jenkins Family. Dubbo, New South Wales:self-published.
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References
Tuxworth, Hilda. (1978). Tenant Creek Yesterday and Today. Darwin: J.R. Coleman Pty. Ltd. Pages 30, 46.
"Another incident was when Mrs. Bohning was alone on Helen Springs Station drawing water when she slipped and fell down the well, and was there for three days. The only lubras in the vicinity did not understand how to use the winch to wind her up, so she had to stay there, clad only in bloomers, till some travellers passing through rescued her."
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References
The Bohning Story. Centralian Advocate. date unknown:11.
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References
Carment, David S., Maynard, Robyn, Wilson, Helen J. and Powell, Alan Ed. (1990). Northern Territory Dictionary of Biography: Volume 1. Darwin, N.T.: Charles Darwin University Press (CDU Press). Pages 27-28.
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Image - Esther and John Bohning
from NPWHF Esther BOHNING file
Photo provided by her grandson's wife, Mrs Edna Cooper.
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Image - Esther Bohnng boiling the billy, Tennant Creek, 1933
from NPWHF Esther BOHNING file
Photo provided by her grandson's wife, Mrs Edna Cooper.
