Roses from the Heart

Is the first Memorial to all women sentenced to transportation as convicts to Australia (1788-1853). 25,566 cloth bonnets (taken from an 1860s servants bonnet) symbolises the women whose lives have been shrouded by a veil of amnesia for far too long.

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Thanks to Peter Higgs, Wooden Boat Guild of Tasmania president for these photos taken 8 March 2023 at the Bonnets and Boats Exhibition, Glen Derwent, New Norfolk, Tasmania. 

The Roses from the Heart bonnet tributes were subsequently placed in a wooden dinghy for display during the Mocktail Party on the 9 March where a ceremony allowed a ‘farewell’ to the bonnets prior to their being shipped across to King Island. Linda Payne, King Island Lions Club, Melvin Jones Fellow recipient, will be the guardian of the ‘Roses from the Heart’ bonnets on King Island where they will be exhibited in the Reekara Community Complex.

At the conclusion of the event Sharon Hutchison read out the names of all the women and children who were aboard the Neva as it became shipwrecked off the coast of King Island 13.05.1835.

Also enormous thanks to Cal McCarthy and Kevin Todd for the outstanding book, The Wreck of the Neva, that has included in-depth research providing information about the Neva and those travelling aboard the ill-fated ship.

Each bonnet created for the women and children aboard the Neva bears their name. Often the woman’s place of birth is included in the information on the bonnets’ brim.

To Liz and Rob Virtue enormous thanks for allowing the ‘Roses from the Heart’ event to be held at their colonial heritage property, Glen Derwent. A very appropriate venue.

It was lovely having bonnet makers and supporters and interested community members present at this farewell event.

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Roses from the Heart bonnet tributes to King Island

Group photo included shows from left to right:

Linda Payne, myself - Christina Henri, Janine Bayne and Lindy McAllister (née Davis).

One of our group, Kate Powell, took this photograph during the Mocktail Party. This was the final event of my Roses from the Heart, Bonnets and Boats Exhibition run in conjunction with Liz Virtue, Glen Derwent; potter Lee Farrell and members of the Wooden Boat Guild of Tasmania.

I am indebted to Rob Virtue for the use of his wooden dinghy in which the bonnets acknowledging the women travelling aboard the Neva were placed. I deliberately chose the Glen Derwent verandah for the ‘farewell’ ceremony. Standing on the wooden boards with the sky in sight, the cold air closing in and wind gusts manifesting helped create more of an affinity with the elements.

The group photo enclosed was taken at the completion of Sharon Hutchison reading aloud each name of the women and children aboard the ill-fated Neva. Sharon is one of my Roses from the Heart bonnet making group that meets regularly at Glen Derwent. Throughout the Bonnets and Boats Exhibition Sharon and fellow group member, Ruth Binny, performed a short play that looked at the Neva experience though the eyes of two survivors, Rose Ann Dunn (referred to in the play as ‘Rosie’) and Ann Cullen.

Sharon has a lovely soft accent, perfect for the solemness of the occasion as she read out the women and their children’s names. A Canadian, Sharon hails from the Maritimes Region of Eastern Canada (most specifically Nova Scotia and Newfoundland). Living on Newfoundland, Sharon had a connection by way of place, to the transportation era via the Duke of Leinster voyage that left Dublin in 1789 with 102 convict men and boys and 12 convict women. The captain landed most of the contingent of convicts at Bay Bulls on July 15th and the following day 17 more convicts disembarked at Petty Harbour, Newfoundland. Documentation shows a number of the convicts appeared to have been suffering from typhus.[1]This history deserves being told in detail as a separate story. Amongst the literature on the Duke of Leinsterwell researched articles such as Jerry Barristers’ Convict Transportation and the Colonial State in Newfoundland, 1789[2] were most insightful. In the context of this article I suspect readers would be surprised to learn that on the 24th October 1789, 74 of the men and six of the women were returned to England, sailing out of St John’s harbour, aboard the brig the Elizabeth and Clare. According to Barbara Hall[3] 23 of those [male] convicts were included amongst the consignment of convicts travelling aboard the Queen from Cobh, County Cork, Ireland in 1791, destination New South Wales, Australia.Roses from the Heart bonnet tributes have been created by Canadian women acknowledging the 12 Duke of Leinster women. These bonnets have been displayed in the Colchester Museum, Truro. Since the enclosed group photo was taken the Roses from the Heart bonnets remembering the Neva women and children have arrived safely on King Island, travelling across Bass Strait on the John Duigan. Linda Payne has now collected the bonnets and the two sponsored ‘convict dolls’. A massive thank you to Linda/ King Island Lions Club for taking on the custodianship of these particular bonnet tributes. Also enormous thanks to Kate Powell whose tailoring and embroidery skills shine through in each ‘convict doll’ she creates from pre-loved porcelain dolls.It is a lovely coincidence that two of the Roses from the Heart bonnet makers who are part of my Glen Derwent, New Norfolk group have a relationship to King Island. They have both been keen to be involved in a tangible acknowledgment of the women and children aboard the ill-fated Neva through the sponsorship of a ‘convict doll’. Lindy McAllister counts herself fortunate to have been born on King Island. Her early childhood was spent on the island until the family moved away in the early 1950s, as she describes ‘to the big island’.

That sense of connection to one’s place of birth has an enormous bearing for so many and for Lindy that is no exception.

Following my decision to present two ‘convict dolls’, one to the King Island Lions Club for permanent display at the Reekara Community Centre and one to the Historical Society for permanent exhibiting at the King Island Historical Museum[3] Lindy was very keen to be a sponsor. It is easy to see from the photo that she chose a fine doll from her own collection to be converted into a ‘convict lass’, representing 20 year old Rose Ann Dunn from Cavan. Rose Ann was one of the six convict women to survive the shipwreck.[4]

Since joining the bonnet making get-togethers at Glen Derwent Lindy has been fashioning captivating Roses from the Heart bonnet tributes integrating doillies and tablecloths as embellishment. Excitingly during this time she has become aware she has a female convict ancestor of her very own.

On reading Lindy’s words it is obvious this ‘convict doll’ sponsorship is extremely meaningful to her.

“On leaving the island in the 50’s…. there was always a call for my birthplace. The opportunity arose in being involved with the honouring of these lost lasses by way of a memorial [‘convict doll’].  In having a daughter of my own 34 years ago, I bought several porcelain heritage dolls for her. Now knowing they weren’t exactly play toys I stored them away until now, I thought it would be poignant to donate this particular doll with the same character traits as [Rose Ann Dunn], being  a lasting tribute for Rosanne a survivor of the Neva.

An overwhelming heartfelt feeling of nostalgia in sending her home to my birthplace has taken a part of my heart with her. Safe passage”.

Janine Bayne has a strong relationship with King Island and this bond inspired her to sponsor a ‘convict doll’ acknowledging the life of 64 year old Johanna Galvin from Limerick. Johanna was amongst the 224 that did not survive the Neva catastrophe.

Janine was drawn to Johanna Galvin’s circumstances. A widow and mother of 5 daughters, from 3 Mary Street, Limerick there was no social welfare support to fall back on. Her husband dead and a large family to feed times must surely have been tough. Research shows Johanna obtained money and wearing apparel under false pretences resulting in a sentence of 7 years Transportation to the colonies. Two of Johanna’s daughters, 30 year old Johanna Sweeney and already widowed 28 year old Bridget Hayes along with her infant child were also sentenced to 7 years transportation at the same time. Two weeks later a third daughter, Ellen Galvin, aged 19 received a 7 year sentence. Fortunately for Johanna’s daughter Bridget she was not aboard the Neva. Bridget was transported aboard the Roslin Castle which arrived safely in New South Wales in 1836.

Neither Johanna Galvin nor her daughter Johanna Sweeney survived the wreck of the Neva.  Daughter, Ellen Galvin was amongst the six female convict Neva survivors.

Janine Bayne moved to King Island with her late husband Peter in 1980. In the many years Janine was on the island she embroiled herself within community life. Amongst the list of endeavours she undertook Janine was the King Island Drama and Regional Arts Secretary and thespian. In a lovely link to the site where the Roses from the Heart bonnets remembering the Neva women and children will be exhibited, Janine once worked at the Reekara School as the office lady, teacher aide and library aide.

Over the years Janine and her friend Judy Cooper ran the Penny Wickham Tea Rooms and both ladies also ran a busy cottage business, King Island Naturals, making jumpers and children’s bootees from their very own Moorit bred sheep.

It is significant that the Bayne and Payne families have been friends since the 1980s making Linda Payne’s guardianship of the bonnets and the ‘convict dolls’ on King Island special.

I am so grateful that Linda Payne understood my vision of having Roses from the Heart bonnet tributes to the Neva women and children exhibited permanently both in Cobh at the Cobh Heritage Centre and also on King Island. These token mementos mark the beginning and the end of the Neva’s journey. The symbolic bonnets embody the feelings of the bonnet makers as they stitched and embellished fabric into a tactile offering, recognition that these women and their children’s lives mattered.

Within this particular collection of Roses from the Heart bonnets I am mindful that a mere six convict women lived out of the 159 women travelling on board the Neva in 1835. In this month of March, a month designated to remembering the history of women it seems relevant to reflect on Australia’s second largest maritime disaster and be mindful of those who died. Also understanding that those who survived would have endured consequential trauma throughout their lives.

[1] colloquially referred to as gaol fever

[2] https://journals.lib.unb.ca/index.php/Acadiensis/article/view/10845/11667[3] Barbara Hall, The Irish Vanguard, The Convicts of the Queen, Ireland to Botany Bay, 1791, Barbara Hall, 2009, p xv

[3] Appreciation to Luke Agati for his interest in exhibiting ‘convict doll’ representing Rose Ann Dunn

[4] In The Wreck of the Neva, Mercier Press, 2013, Cal McCarthy and Kevin Todd allocate an entire chapter, Chpt 13, pps 222-241 to ‘Life after the Neva’. Further information on the 6 surviving convict women is included.

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Thanks to @VickiPotter for her beautiful 'Roses from the Heart' bonnet tribute acknowledging the life of Marg Kennedy from Galway.

Marg was journeying from Cork, Ireland to New South Wales, Australia aboard the 'Neva' when it became ship-wrecked off the coast of King Island in Bass Strait, 13.05.1835.

Marg Kennedy's life ended abruptly in this catastrophe.

Just 22 years old there is no record of her conviction. Her crime is unknown, similarly her sentence.

Little was Marg to know as she boarded ship along with 244 others on 8 January 1835 that her life would end so cruelly.

In the accompanying note that Vicki included with her bonnet she writes that in creating this memento for Marg Kennedy from Galway, she chose a maroon coloured fabric and white lace to reference the colours of the Galway flag.

The lace that Vicki has worked was also specifically chosen. Vicki is a lacemaker and she has created this band of Headford Lace honouring Marg Kennedy's connection to Galway.

To learn more on the History of Headford Lace check:

http://headfordlaceproject.ie/research

Especially interesting is Norma Owens articles: 'History of Headford Lace' and 'Two Queens Purchase Headford Lace'.

Headford lace dates back to 1765.

It is particularly relevant adding this lace to Marg Kennedy's bonnet as the lace was being created during her lifetime.

Dutch Lacemaker Jackie Magnin worked the pattern from sighting a sample of Headford Lace and now she teaches others. Since 1996 Jackie has lived in Ireland. However there was a time when Jackie travelled to Australia. During that visit she chose to live in Hobart, Tasmania. Although I don't think we met then, I have learned she was friends with people who were also my friends. Small world! We finally met when the 'Headford Lace Project' Committee collaborated with me on my 'Roses from the Heart' bonnet tribute and I travelled to Ireland. It's wonderful to know lacemakers such as Vicki are now joining in the revival of this significant Headford Lace art. It's particularly relevant that the Irish Minister @catlmartingreen has included Headford Lace in the recent State recognition listing of 8 further key practices of 'Irelands Living Cultural Heritage'.

This 'Roses from the Heart' bonnet tribute for Marg Kennedy will be on display at Glen Derwent, New Norfolk on November 12/13, 2022, as part of the @bonnetsandboats event.

All the women and children aboard the 'Neva' will be remembered at this significant event through the creation of a 'Roses from the Heart' bonnet and also through renown sculptor Lee Farrell's special artistic tributes.

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Kate Powell has incorporated a pretty doillie into her ‘Roses from the Heart’ bonnet tribute remembering the life of Susan Manwarren. Susan was born in Essex, England. Convict Records list Susan as a 35 year old laundry maid and cook. She had black hair and blue eyes. On 18 March 1852 the Sir Robert Seppings set sail from Woolwich arriving in Van Diemen’s Land 8 July 1852.

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Thanks to Lindy McAllister for this attractive ‘Roses from the Heart’ bonnet tribute incorporating section of a cross-stitched table cloth with the laciness of a doillie acknowledging the life of Margaret Shaw from Killarney. Margaret was transported to Van Diemen’s Land aboard the Westmoreland arriving 4 July 1836. Margaret is listed as being a 20 year old kitchen maid with brown hair and hazel grey eyes.   

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‘Roses from the Heart’ Bonnet acknowledging the life of convict woman Eliza Davis who spent time in both the Wicklow Gaol, County Wicklow and Grangegorman, Dublin before being taken aboard the Tasmania (2) in 1845, destination Van Diemen’s Land.

This is not the only bonnet that has been created for Eliza. Her descendant Gail Mulhern sewed a memorable ‘Roses from the Heart’ bonnet tribute which she took to Ireland and wore at a special event at the County Wicklow Gaol. It was one of a number of bonnets from the ‘Roses from the Heart’ collection that was displayed at the County Wicklow Gaol on that occasion.

Eliza Davis was born c1823. As an infant she was raised in Dublin. Eventually she was apprenticed to James Twamley of Cronelea House, near Shillelagh, Co Wicklow. Towards the end of her apprenticeship she was seduced by a fellow worker. He was a Roman Catholic and Eliza was a Protestant. The difficulty that arose here was that he was not obliged to assist her in any way. He chose not to marry Eliza nor to help her financially. Following the assault Eliza gave birth to a baby boy. In desperation she returned to Cronelea House asking for aid of 2 pound a year. Her request was refused. It was later stated that Eliza was then seen on a February night placing her baby into Mrs Ashe’s pond. The witness later swore in court that Eliza drowned the baby. Eliza had no access to a solicitor until the night before trial. The verdict was given as ‘guilty’. After her trial many people came forward writing petitions which saved Eliza’s life.  Eliza spent time in both the County Wicklow Gaol and Grangegorman, Dublin before being transported to Van Diemen’s Land. During her time in VDL Eliza met Joseph Roebuck. She conceived and gave birth to twins in the Launceston General Hospital. Joseph and Eliza were married in Campbell Town. Joseph, was a convict and he worked for John Leake of Rosedale. Descendant Gail, believes Eliza worked on the same property too, but she hasn’t found the proof of that yet. After Joseph became free he and Eliza moved to Hobart. Eliza gave birth to a boy in Hobart. At this stage it was obvious that Joseph was struggling with his mental health and he was admitted to the New Norfolk Asylum in 1856. The children were still young; the twins were nine years old and their brother was aged six at the time of Josephs admission. He remained at New Norfolk for 17 years. A couple of years after Joseph’s incarceration Eliza met Amos Eastwood. During this part of her life Eliza became a midwife. She had children to Amos. The couple married after the six children have grown up. Exactly one week after her marriage to Amos, Eliza died. (Married on 12 Oct 1898, Eliza’s death was recorded as 19 Oct 1898). Gail Mulhern believes a highway has been built over Eliza’s cemetery.

Playwright Margaret Dakin wrote a musical play A Bonnet for Eliza’  which was held in Redlands, Queensland in May 2017. Musician Vicki MacDonald wrote Eliza’s Lament. Vicki performed this song in Hobart as part of my ‘Wear a Bonnet - Living Art installation’ in Hunter Street, at the wharf, Hobart on Mothers Day, Sunday 10 May, 2015.  Pam Fox wrote the poem  A Convict Woman’s Story. 

Eliza Davis’s life continues to be remembered. A bonnet was worn acknowledging her existence as part of my ‘Wear a Bonnet - Living Art Installation’, held at Grangegorman, Dublin on March 6, 2017.

Thanks to Gail Mulhern for the information included here.

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Last night I had the privilege to talk to an audience about my art through the Grangegorman Development Authority publicised, ‘Stages of Memory’ series via @TUconservatoire and #GrangegormanHistories 

Through my Roses from the Heart memorial I staged a Wear a Bonnet - Living Art Installation at TUD Grangegorman in 2017. Hundreds of men, women and students wore symbolic bonnets acknowledging the women who had lived within the Grangegorman Female Penitentiary building.  It was in 1836 that the Richmond Penitentiary became the Grangegorman Female Penitentiary, the first  exclusive female prison in Ireland and Britain. Between 1840 and 1853 women were held at Grangegorman awaiting to be taken to the harbour at Kingstown where they boarded ships of transportation. Their destination was far away across the seas to the ‘ends of the earth’ to the newly colonised Australia. Whilst they were waiting at Grangegorman they were taught domestic skills including sewing and knitting and laundry duties. They were given religious instruction and reading and writing lessons. 

I used the bonnet as symbolism as all women at that time wore a bonnet. The bonnet pattern I used was taken from an 1860s servants bonnet soured from Narryna Heritage Museum (Hobart). This bonnet is the same as those depicted being worn by women awaiting transportation at the Kilmainham Gaol, Dublin. If you visit the Kilmainham Gail in Dublin you will see a very large image, on the wall in the museum area, of the women awaiting transportation. They have been captured walking in single file, carrying their babies, each woman wearing a bonnet. 

Inviting the global public to stitch and embellish a bonnet in memory of a convict women connects the maker to the life of a woman from centuries ago. Women whose stories were deemed of no consequence, and in so many instances, memory of their lives was just ‘swept under the carpet’. In the late 1700s through to the mid 1800s most women sewed or undertook domestic chores related to cloth. They may have worked in laundries, spun, woven, stitched, embroidered or made lace. So the bonnet concept connects to their day to day lives immeasurably. 

The bonnet pictures included here show a Roses from the Heart symbolic bonnet created by Kate Powell. The bonnet remembers Jane Venables who spent time in Grangegorman before being transported to Van Diemen’s Land aboard the Midlothian in 1853. Thanks Kate.

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Thanks to Lindy McAllister for this attractive ‘Roses from the Heart’ bonnet tribute acknowledging the life of First Fleeter, Martha Eaton.

Martha was transported to Australia aboard the Lady Penrhyn in 1788.

Martha married Edward Jones on 23/3/1788. The couple had the following children

Sarah 1794

John 1796 died young

John 1798

Edward 1799

Martha died 3 September 1817 in Sydney.

Refer: https://www.geni.com/people/Martha-Eaton-Beddingfield-Jones-Convict-Lady-Penrhyn-1788/6000000069931041822

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Thank you to Gillian Loach from England for her delightful ‘Roses from the Heart’ bonnet and her research on transported lass Margaret Harley.

Laden with symbolism Gillian’s bonnet for Margaret acknowledges a lass who during her trial wore a ‘black leghorn bonnet with green ribbons’ [leghorn was a type of dried wheat straw]. Gillian has lined her bonnet with a black fabric creating a reversible cap linking to Margaret’s black lined straw bonnet. 

Margaret Harley was known by several names: Bren; Neil; O’Neil (O’Neill) and Stynes.In 1829 she was transported to Van Diemen’s Land aboard the ‘Harmony’. Her faith was Protestant and she was 5′ 1/2″ with brown hair and grey eyes.

Margaret, along with Jean MacFarlane, were both tried for theft in the Glasgow Circuit Court 15 April, 1828. Each of the two women were sentenced to 14 years transportation.

Twenty year old Margaret was married to John Neil, a soldier in the 26th Regiment, Chatham (m.s. Harley) and her address was Links Road.

Along with her bonnet tribute Gillian Loath has sent a detailed account of the trial, including documentation of the Convict Transportation Register that confirms prisoner Jean McFarlane/Cowan was transported aboard the Harmony, 9th September 1828.

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Thanks Gillian. Lots of symbolism within this ‘Roses from the Heart’ bonnet tribute acknowledging Jean McFarlane’s life.

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Thanks to Kate Powell for this beautiful ‘Roses from the Heart’ bonnet tribute remembering the life of First Fleeter, Susannah Blanchet transported to Australia aboard the ‘Prince of Wales’ in 1788.

Sadly Susannah died in March 1788. She was buried at Sydney Cove. 

For more information refer:

http://www.fellowshipfirstfleeters.org.au/susannahblanchet.htm

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On International Women’s Day, 8 March 2022 I’m reflecting back over a few of the events and installations around the world where my ‘Roses from the Heart’ bonnet tributes have brought to public attention the lives of the 25,566 women transported to Australia 1788-1853. The bonnet installations don’t just create a visual acknowledgment, viewed en masse by the onlooker, they also link people in this day and age with women and children from the past. They unite descendants to their ancestor’s memory;  they connect community to the stories that relate to their family, town, or their country. They are relatable on many levels including, very significantly, they tug at people’s emotions. 

I have witnessed many people weeping at the ‘Blessing of the Bonnets’ ceremonies as they reflect on the hardships their ancestors endured. Many viewers comment on how precious this small cloth bonnet talisman is. Having a bonnet stitched and embellished by someone with empathy for the life of the women being remembered facilitates healing of past abuses. 

Since 2007 women and men around the world have been creating bonnet tributes as part of my ‘Roses from the Heart’ memorial. In 2020 I began holding bonnet making sessions at the heritage property Glen Derwent, New Norfolk and these weekly get-togethers continue on, (GlenDerwent.com).  

Last year the ‘Festival of Bonnets’ was the culmination of bonnets created at Glen Derwent during 2021. This year another visual, creative, provoking event will take place showcasing newly created bonnet tributes. 

There are bonnet makers stitching away in countries that may appear not to have any connection with the Transportation story. However, prior to transportation the shipment of slaves dominated, a trade that today still affects more than 40 million people worldwide.

Bonnets have been sewn by women who have experienced grief, who know all to well the sense of loss and desolation of migration, often times ‘forced migration’ resulting from famine and war. These bonnet makers pour their empathy into every stitch as they move the cotton backwards and forwards to produce a beautiful, meaningful tribute to the life of another woman. 

The single bonnet shown above was sewn and embellished by Lesley Uren who excels in gold embroidery.The bonnet acknowledges the life of Anastasia Withers (nee Splain). Anastasia, with two other women, sewed the original Eureka Flag under extreme difficulties during the Eureka Stockade.  Anastasia was a dressmaker from Cork, Ireland. Her family moved to England for work. She was transported to Van Diemen’s Land, Australia in 1844. Subsequently, as a free women, she moved with her husband, Samuel Edward Withers, to the Gold Fields in Ballarat. She became a trusted person who hid the prospectors’ gold, secreted in sacks hanging from a belt beneath her long skirts.  

This bonnet for Anastasia was one of 1500 displayed in 2016/2017 at the Museum of Democracy, Eureka (MADE) in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. Anastasia’s life is well documented. Her descendants would be extremely proud of their ancestor’s achievements. 

Thanks to Tony O’Driscoll for his two photographs: Cobh, County Cork.

Thanks to Lorene Richards for her photo of my permanent ‘Roses from the Heart’ installation at the Down County Museum, Downpatrick, NI.

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‘Sea of Bonnets’ A collection of thousands of ‘Roses from the Heart’ bonnet tributes installed for my PhD exhibition back in 2011. The bonnets were installed in a space, surrounded by black painted walls, ceiling and floor. Lights were specifically fixed to create the darkness of night sailing with the simulated moon shining down illuminating the imitated water. Many of the transported convict women would have never been aboard a ship before. The night sky with stars and moon created a light show, acting as a guide as the ship traversed the seas from the North Atlantic Ocean to the southern oceans surrounding Australia. The 1st Tamar Sea Scouts Group (Launceston) kindly lent me the wooden Huon pine bosun dinghy used in this installation. I specifically chose this boat because of its connection with the Royal Admiralty and British ship building, a relevant metaphor in relation to the British Government’s use of ships to transport convicts far away from their homeland.

Plastic zip-lock bags containing individual bonnets positioned close to the boat and then randomly amongst the rows of bonnets stretching out across the floor were used to achieve an undulating effect. Light on these strategically placed plastic bags suggested the rippling of waves.

The bonnets forming the edge of the installation were arranged with their silk ties stretching out. These bonnets assumed the water’s edge where the convict women and their children stepped forth to wade ashore. More sorrowfully, however, they also suggest the women’s hair floating from corpses amidst the seaweed strewn waters on the occasions of the Amphitrite and the Neva shipwrecks. The Amphitrite sank in the English Channel off the coast of Boulogne-sur-Mer (1833) and the Neva sank in Bass Strait, off the coast of King Island (1835).

This week as women are remembered through the International Women’s Day Celebrations it seems only fitting to be remembering the 25,566 women transported to Australia 1788-1853. Some as young as twelve. Many of the women accompanied by young bairns.

My textile art, the Roses from the Heart memorial, uses a simple, symbolic cloth bonnet as the visual platform to give meaning to the lives of convict women and their children. It offers anyone around the world wanting to take part an opportunity to create a special bonnet that features the woman’s name, the ship of transport and the year of arrival in Australia. Thousands have taken part and the project continues. By giving recognition to the lives of these women we acknowledge their existence and the contribution they made both socially and economically to the country they were despatched to. Their descendants today are a testament to the resilience and fortitude of these women, their ancestors.

For many years I have held special Roses for the Heart memorial events on International Women’s Day. This year the Waterford City Library will showcase Roses from the Heart Bonnet tributes and the Waterford Women’s Centre will be holding a special display of Roses from the Heart bonnet tributes. A huge thank you to all my friends in Waterford. Beautiful bonnet tributes have been created within the county and the City of Waterford and I am so appreciative of the welcome I have received. I look forward to returning again.

Thank you to photographer Robert Boldkald for his photographs, 2011.

#art #textile art #history #colonial #heritage #ships 

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Roses from the Heart bonnet tribute to the life of Mary Russell from Cork, Ireland.

Mary Russell was 30 years old when she was committed to the convict depot in Cork awaiting transportation. On 20 September 1833 Mary had been sent to the Cork county gaol under the charge of ‘stealing a piece of cloth’. It is hard to contemplate the fate of her six year old son, as described in historian Cal McCathy’s and Kevin Todd’s book, The Wreck of the Neva. Six year old John Russell was left outside the prison walls. It was nearly three months later that he was admitted to the county gaol and reconciled with his mother. Three months of living on the streets aged six............... They remained together in the county gaol until 17 October 1834 when the little lad, John, trundled along the street of Cork with his mother Mary headed to the convict depot at Elizabeth Fort and thereafter to the Neva in Cobh harbour. By 5 January 1835 all the convict women and their children had been rowed out from the wharf at Cobh to the awaiting Neva. Three days later Captain Peck had the Neva sailing out of Cobh and on its long journey, destination New South Wales.

As we know the Neva never reached New South Wales. As the ship was sailing through Bass Strait it sank off the coast of King Island. Six of the convict women survived the shipwreck along with ten of the crew. A shocking disaster. Mary Russell and her three year old son, John, were two of the victims, their lives ending en route to New South Wales.

For a well researched account of the Neva disaster I commend The Wreck of the Neva written by historian Cal McCarthy and Kevin Todd.

Cal McCarthy is an Irish historian from Cork.

I have installed a set of Roses from the Heart bonnet tributes remembering the lives of the convict women and their children which can be viewed at the Cobh Heritage Centre in Cobh. Presently another set of bonnet tributes are being completed to form a Roses from the Heart bonnet installation on King Island. These bonnet tributes link the Neva story in both Cobh, County Cork, Ireland and King Island, Australia.  

Thanks to lacemaker, embroiderer Vicki Potter for this beautiful bonnet tribute remembering Mary Russell. A christening bonnet has also been made for her son John. The christening bonnets representing the children aboard the Neva will form part of the final installation.

The Roses from the Heart bonnets being created at the moment remembering the Neva lasses (and their children) will be displayed at Glen Derwent, New Norfolk, Tasmania in November 2022. 

#art #history #transportation #colonial #ships 

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It is such a pleasure sitting in the garden of the colonial heritage property, Glen Derwent, New Norfolk, Tasmania stitching bonnet tributes to the lives of the 25,566 women transported to Australia. Their domestic labour was integral to the Britains colonisation of Australia. The impact of shipping women and their children across the world as free labour was measured in economic terms. Emotional impact was inconsequential to this political decision. Society conveniently buried these women’s origins, shrouding their existence in a veil of amnesia. Today, however, it is uplifting to see families acknowledging and celebrating the endurance and resilience of their ancestors. The ‘Roses from the Heart’ project creates a bonnet tribute in memory of these women, and their children’s lives. Using an original servants bonnet pattern, circa 1860, people around the world embellish bonnets with the name of the woman, the ship of transport and the year of arrival in Australia. These transported women will be remembered through the stitching and embellishing of a bonnet and the visual impact of that symbolism. 

At the moment ‘Roses from the Heart’ bonnets are being sewn in memory of the lasses and their children who set sail aboard the Neva from Cobh, County Cork, destination New South Wales, Australia. On 13 May 1835 the Neva sank in Bass Strait, off the coast of King Island. Six convict women survived, along with ten of the crew. 

Thank you to Kate Powell who has created this lovely ‘Roses from the Heart’ bonnet tribute remembering the life of Mary Johnston/ Gormley from Tyrone, Ireland. Kate has deliberately incorporated the Irish shamrock, probably the most widely represented Irish motif. The green ribbon represents the verdant green of the Irish countryside and the one black ribbon represents death.  224 people died in the Neva shipwreck tragedy.

Big thank you to Liz and Rob Virtue who support the ‘Roses from the Heart’ project by so warmly welcoming us to their heritage home, Glen Derwent. The Glen Derwent Tea Rooms are open to the public and for any information about opening hours and events check (FaceBook: GlenDerwent ).

Irish social historian Cal McCarthy and Kevin Todd have written The Wreck of the Neva an outstanding account of the voyage that ended so shockingly. Copies of this book can be purchased from the Glen Derwent Tea Rooms.

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Thank you to Vick Potter, lace maker, embroiderer who has created this beautiful ‘Roses from the Heart’ memorial bonnet tribute in memory of Margaret Hassett, Irish lass from Kerry, who was transported aboard the Neva along with her three year old daughter, Mary. Margaret was 21 years old. She would never reach the destination of New South Wales, Australia as the ‘Neva’ sank on the 13 May 1835 off the coast of King Island. Only six of the 150 female convicts on board survived the disaster along with ten of the crew. All in all 224 lives were lost.

Over the past year I have held a weekly ‘Roses from the Heart’ bonnet making get-together at the heritage property ‘ Glen Derwent’, New Norfolk in Tasmania. Through the generosity of Liz and Rob Virtue a group of us gather together and stitch at this colonial property that links to the women we are remembering. The original mistress of this homestead was Irish born, Elizabeth Bartlett (Marquis Cornwallis to New South Wales, 1796). Elizabeth arrived in Van Diemen’s Land aboard the Porpoise from Norfolk Island in 1807 with her partner James Bryan Cullen and their three children. James was granted 65 acres, part of which forms the Glen Derwent estate we gather on. 

Rev Robert Knopwood officiated at James and Elizabeth’s wedding when the  couple married on 25 September 1809 at St David’s Church, Hobart.

For more information: http://www.fellowshipfirstfleeters.org.au/jamescullen.htm

At present ‘Roses from the Heart’ bonnet tributes remembering all the women aboard the Neva along with their children are being created for an eventual installation on King Island.

Prior to the bonnets for the Neva girls being taken to King Island there will be a special event at Glen Derwent towards the end of the year (2022). More details will be shared soon.

Already there is a set of bonnets for the Neva lasses and their children at the Cobh Heritage Centre, Cobh, County Cork. Since 2010 there has been an annual ‘Blessing of the Bonnets’ remembering the convict women and their children who left Ireland via the Cobh harbour of (as it was then referred to), Queenstown. It will be significant having the bonnet tributes at the  location where the Neva departed from as well as where the journey so abruptly ended.

Thank you to all who are involved in the ‘Blessing of the Bonnets’ event in Cobh.

#cobhtourism #cobhanimationteam #cobhheritagecentre

#art #tourism #heritage #colonial #shipwrecks #transportation

[rosesfromtheheart]

Thanks to Vicki Potter, lacemaker, embroiderer who has created this attractive bonnet tribute remembering the life of Agnes Lander. Agnes, a Scottish lass from Glasgow was transported to Van Diemen’s Land aboard the ‘Margaret’ in 1843.   This bonnet tribute is part of my ‘Roses from the Heart’ collection and will be featured amongst bonnets being displayed at Glen Derwent, New Norfolk. Glen Derwent is a significant colonial heritage property built by Free Settlers to Van Diemen’s Land from Norfolk Island, First Fleeter, James Bryan Cullen and his Irish wife, Elizabeth Bartlett. Elizabeth Bartlett arrived in Australia from Dublin aboard the ‘Marquis Cornwallis’ in 1796. In 1807 James and Elizabeth and their three children resettled in Van Diemen’s Land, arriving aboard the ‘Porpoise’. James was given 65 acres of land in New Norfolk. ‘Glen Derwent’, comprises the historic home and part of the land from this title, and is now owned by Liz and Rob Virtue. Over the past year  ‘Roses from the Heart’ tribute bonnets have been stitched in memory of convict women and their children on this property. Liz Virtue warmly welcomes us each week. Her generosity always evident with the refreshments that we are offered from the ‘Glen Derwent Tea Rooms’ kitchen. We are presently working on bonnet tributes remembering the lives of the women and children aboard the ‘Neva’ that sank off the coast of King Island in 1835. Only six convict women survived this disaster, along with ten of the crew.  Bonnets are created from a variety of fabrics including recycled doiliies and tablecloths. The embellishments include heritage lace, buttons and ribbons that add another dimension, another layer of acknowledgment to the domestic contribution made by women.  Thanks to all who contributed to this global project.