International Women's Day 2018 Special
Crying out for publication in a special pictorial form are the photograph albums of the now almost forgotten New Zealand born international identity who was both applauded and condemned- activist, author, playwright and environmentalist Jean Devanny-stored with her personal papers in the Special Collections section , Eddie Koiki Mabo Library , James Cook University , Townsville .
Crying out for publication in a special pictorial form are the photograph albums of the now almost forgotten New Zealand born international identity who was both applauded and condemned- activist, author, playwright and environmentalist Jean Devanny-stored with her personal papers in the Special Collections section , Eddie Koiki Mabo Library , James Cook University , Townsville .
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Part of the Devanny collection , above, includes her banned early novel ,The Butcher Shop , which presented marriage as a state of slavery , and Sugar Heaven , another novel, about North Queensland , where she spent much time . One of the photo albums is opened revealing , bottom , right , Jupiter Mosman , the Aborigine who at the age of 11 , a horseboy, found traces which led to the fabulously rich Charters Towers goldfield in North Queensland, Townsville's casino said to have been named after him ( now called The Ville ) , in a group with Australia's 10th Prime Minister, Joseph Lyons. The photo above it is of Torres Strait Islanders dancing .
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By Peter Simon
While some of the photographs appeared in Carole Ferrier 's 1999 excellent biography , Jean Devanny , Romantic Revolutionary , a wide selection of them, in large format , with associated , expanded text would explain the courage , travels and far reaching influence of a battler who was shamefully made use of by the Communist Party and others , her health suffering as a result , until she died from cancer in Townsville .
The suggested pictorial treatment could cover distinct parts in her action packed life: New Zealand , becoming increasingly involved in union matters with activists who would become members of a Labor government and part of her early days in Australia , including speaking at the Domain in Sydney , at one stage during the Depression, locked up in Long Bay Jail along with her daughter , Patricia , and husband for protesting about people being evicted from houses because they could not pay rent .
Another segment could cover her involvement in international gatherings in Berlin and Russia where she was regarded as a fighter for the rights of women . This could be followed by her activities during WWll which involved mixing with "Negro" soldiers and a prominent American literary figure, Army Sergeant Karl Shapiro . Covered pictorially are a fascinating range of people, places and events in North Queensland , from Magnetic Island to the Torres Strait .
An album deals with life in occupied Japan . Not all photographs are captioned . One which jumped out at me was of author Bill Harney at Victoria River Downs in the Northern Territory.
Other subjects include crocodiles, one 22ft long , which could not be pulled out by seven men ; a 1944 snap of Jack Corbett on Green Island with a cod weighing 310lbs ; Methodist Overseas Missions pilot Reverend Cliff Lanham; Jimmy Kanaka, first white man to cross the Archer River ; Townsville mackerel and barramundi fishermen ; the north side of Lizard Island with ruins of tragic Watson home in background ; Jean Devanny in pith helmet with Mrs Motlop and son beside campfire on bank of Norman River , Gulf of Carpentaria ; Innis Bogle with giant kangaroo skin in Cloncurry district; close up of a wrecked large vessel ; musicians Dulcie, Heather and Sophie Pitt ; canecutters ; camera enthusiast and inventor Bruce Cummings with special bathysphere ; a view of Townsville from Melton Hill circa 1921;the owner of Townsville's Mount Saint John Zoo boxing with a kangaroo ; Dr Flecker with Torres Strait Pigeons ; an unclear mention of Alice Springs and a long walk.
The overseas album covers Singapore, Ceylon, Geishas in Japan ,Tashkent.
It is almost certain that Jean Devanny and her activist daughter will not be mentioned in Townsville by the media on this day .
Other subjects include crocodiles, one 22ft long , which could not be pulled out by seven men ; a 1944 snap of Jack Corbett on Green Island with a cod weighing 310lbs ; Methodist Overseas Missions pilot Reverend Cliff Lanham; Jimmy Kanaka, first white man to cross the Archer River ; Townsville mackerel and barramundi fishermen ; the north side of Lizard Island with ruins of tragic Watson home in background ; Jean Devanny in pith helmet with Mrs Motlop and son beside campfire on bank of Norman River , Gulf of Carpentaria ; Innis Bogle with giant kangaroo skin in Cloncurry district; close up of a wrecked large vessel ; musicians Dulcie, Heather and Sophie Pitt ; canecutters ; camera enthusiast and inventor Bruce Cummings with special bathysphere ; a view of Townsville from Melton Hill circa 1921;the owner of Townsville's Mount Saint John Zoo boxing with a kangaroo ; Dr Flecker with Torres Strait Pigeons ; an unclear mention of Alice Springs and a long walk.
The overseas album covers Singapore, Ceylon, Geishas in Japan ,Tashkent.
It is almost certain that Jean Devanny and her activist daughter will not be mentioned in Townsville by the media on this day .
