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.