An immigrant
in Sydney
The Strelitzia indigenous to South Africa under the iconic Sydney Harbor
Bridge Published 10 May
2017. Kirribilli NSW
2061
Siblings in
the sun.
Young wrens basking in the early morning sun. Published 10 May
2017. Bunbury WA 6230
Born Wild,
Stay Free
The draft Wild Horse Management plan for Kosciusko National Park aims to
reduce the current number of wild horses in the national park area from 6,000
to approximately 3,000 in the next five to 10 years. It then proposes to cut
that figure to only 600 over the next 20 years. These numbers are contested! This image shows the beauty of these horses. People come from far and
wide just to sit and watch in awe. This photograph was shot at Long Plain near Kiandra and Tantangara Dam. Published 10 May
2017. Long Plain NSW
2629
Farmer's
daughter, farmer's wife, farmer and midwife
Hannah Jane Lynch began life as a farmer’s daughter in 1831 in Lurgan, County
Armagh, Northern Ireland. She worked in the linen trade, as an overseer in a flax mill in Lurgan
Town. She became a farmer’s wife when she married George Byrns in
1853.
Hannah learnt midwifery and nursing skills in her three-months at sea,
working as a volunteer in the ship hospital. They arrived in Geelong, Victoria, in August 1854, and their first child
was born in September. George was disposed to a local farm for six months, where Hannah worked
as a domestic.
By 1858 the family had settled in Melton, where they rented a small
dairy farm and built a wattle and daub hut. George was killed accidentally in April 1860. It can only be imagined how Hannah must have felt, widowed with three
very small children and another shortly on the way. She managed her potentially dire circumstances very well.
She was now head of her household, and continued with dairy farming and
midwifery. Although it is unclear how much income she generated through either
role, every month she walked 30 kilometres to pay the rent, babies in tow, and
back again. She purchased land in Melton, in her own name, in January 1863 - a
remarkable achievement!
Hannah again became a farmer’s wife when she married former convict
William Watts in November 1863. By 1866 they had added two children to the family. They took up land in Toolern Vale, built a stone and mud house, and
farmed.
On ‘selection’ in 1871, they cleared 35 acres, built a weatherboard home
‘Rosebank’, built a stockyard, dug dam, made a garden with paling fence,
erected 175 chain of fence (around 3520 metres), and milked cows.
William died suddenly in August 1874. Hannah was left with 15 cows, 14 yearling cattle, household furniture, a
horse and a dray. Her ability and willingness to control the family affairs is evident. She skilfully administered William’s estate, settling three incomplete
land grants. She then obtained three further Crown grants in her own name and
purchased more land in Melton, a total of nine allotments.
All the while she continued dairy farming at Rosebank, and continued to
practice midwifery. Ultimately, midwifery became a more viable income than small scale dairy
farming.
The rate books show a change of profession when the ‘dairywoman’
officially became the ‘midwife’ in 1887. Hannah came off the farm and she moved to her land in Melton. She built a home and private hospital, Lynch Cottage, where ‘Grannie
Watts’ delivered over 400 babies between 1886-1921.
Hannah died on October 21, 1921, age 89, and is buried in Melton
Cemetery with George and William.
She was mourned throughout the district, and is still remembered in her
community, with 'Hannah Watts Park' named in her honour. She lived a remarkable life for a twice widowed, illiterate, Irish
immigrant woman; a journey from farmer’s daughter to farmer’s wife to farmer,
landowner, and beloved local midwife.
Great fun
crossing Manning River in this tinny!
You need to get to the other side one way or another to start the walk
to Manning Falls/Gorge. You'll always see a few people who decide to wade
across with backpacks resting on their heads. One unsure step and oops! They
slip into the river and everything is wet! The river is deeper than it looks. Published 10 May
2017. Lake Carnegie WA
6646
Bells Gorge
We spent about two hours at Bells Gorge one afternoon enjoying superb
wild swimming. And guess what? The whole time we were there some guy stood on
the middle tier of the Falls psyching himself to jump!! You can see the tiny
figure on the right. Poor guy Published 09 May
2017. King Leopold
Ranges WA 6728
