Participants:
Series Code: TIJ
Program Code: TIJ001120A
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00:11 I'm here at Mataranka, the capital of The Never Never.
00:15 This is the original site of Elsey's Station, 00:19 one of the biggest cattle properties of the Northern 00:22 Territory. In 1902, Ginny Gunn arrived here with her 00:27 new husband to live and work on Elsey's Station, 00:30 she had traveled all the way from Melbourne in Victoria. 00:34 This is the place that inspired the writing of two classic 00:38 and much loved Australian books, "The Little Black Princess" 00:42 and" We of The Never Never." 00:44 Although the books were released as novels, everyone knew 00:48 that they were based on a cast of real-life characters. 00:51 One by one these characters were identified by the public. 00:56 They fell in love with the stories of The Never Never 00:59 only one character's identity remained a mystery, 01:04 The Little Black Princess Bett Bett. 01:06 Who was this Little Black Princess of The Never Never? 01:10 This was a question of the readers of the book for decades. 01:14 The true identity of Bett Bett stayed unknown until she herself 01:19 revealed it more than 60 years after the books had first been 01:24 published. Together we'll follow the footsteps of 01:27 The Little Black Princess and discover the true story of 01:31 Bett Bett's life. 01:32 It's a story we should all hear as it reminds us of some of the 01:37 darkened days of our history as a nation but more so of the 01:41 power of kindness and love to transform a person's life. 01:46 Come with me on a journey into The Never Never. 02:11 In the year of the Cattle Kings, this area was home to 02:16 Aeneas Gunn and his young bride Jennie who arrived here 02:20 in 1902 to live and work on Elsey's Station. 02:24 Aeneas, known as The Maluka was a part-owner and manager 02:29 of the property, Jeannie was one of the first pioneer women 02:34 of the Outback and had traveled all the way from down south 02:37 in Melbourne. Elsey's Station was one of the earliest and 02:43 largest cattle stations established in the 02:46 Northern Territory. It consisted of a homestead, kitchen, 02:51 out buildings, staff quarters, cattle yards and a 02:55 small cemetery to the north. 02:57 Over the years, the old Elsey Homestead has become a part 03:02 of the legend of living in the harsh Australian Outback 03:05 many kilometers from civilization. 03:08 This landscape and the people Mrs. Gunn encountered 03:13 inspired the writing of the classic Australian books 03:16 "The Little Black Princess" and "We of The Never Never." 03:19 What is The Never Never? Well, it's a term that was 03:23 first used in the late 19th century and describes the vast 03:27 remote Outback regions of Australia. 03:31 It was under trees like these near the Billabong and 03:34 just downslope from the homestead that Mrs. Gunn 03:38 first met Bett Bett, one of the central characters of 03:42 The Little Black Princess, who also appears in 03:45 We of The Never Never. Although the books were released 03:48 as novels, everyone knew that they were based on a cast 03:51 of real-life characters. 03:53 One by one, these characters were identified by the public 03:58 who fell in love with the stories of The Never Never. 04:01 Only one character remained a mystery, Bett Bett. 04:05 Who was this Little Black Princess of The Never Never? 04:09 For decades, readers of the book continued to wonder. 04:13 After Jeannie Gunn left Elsey's Station, Princess Bett Bett 04:18 seemed to have just melted away into a lonely palace in the bush. 04:23 However, the true identity of Bett Bett wasn't known until 04:28 she herself revealed it more than 60 years after the books 04:32 had first been published. 04:33 Elsey's Station was on the traditional lands of the 04:38 Jawoyn people, a tribe of hunter gathers who lived and wandered 04:43 over the vast catchment's of the Katherine and Roper Rivers. 04:47 In 1894, a baby girl was born to a Jawoyn woman 04:52 who immediately rejected the baby because her light colored 04:56 skin showed that her father was a white man. 04:59 The baby girl was rescued by her aunt and named Dolly, 05:04 little did anyone realize that this unwanted little half-cast 05:09 aboriginal girl was to become known and loved throughout 05:13 the world as The Little Black Princess. 05:16 Dolly spent her childhood wandering the lands of 05:20 the people and living in simple portable bark shelter. 05:25 Here at Bitter Springs, she helped her aunt search for yams, 05:30 waterlilies, sugar bag and wild honey, goannas, snakes, 05:35 and crocodile eggs. She loved to play in the water, 05:39 and learn the dances and stories told by the tribal elders. 05:44 But her nomadic childhood ended in 1902 when her aunt 05:49 told Dolly that she was to live at Elsey's Station. 05:52 Dolly was eight years old and didn't fully grasp the 05:56 significance of this. She assumed that she would simply 06:00 rejoin her aunt in the great Outback at some point 06:03 in the future. Much of the Northern Territory has never 06:08 been occupied by white people as the nature of the soil 06:12 and the climate rendered most areas unsuitable for farming. 06:16 Many commercial ventures were tried but ultimately failed. 06:21 What was moderately successful was the pasture industry. 06:26 There were enormous cattle stations, bigger than many 06:30 small European nations. Aboriginal men and women 06:35 were vitally maintaining these stations which would have 06:39 failed without them. Elsey's Station was one of the biggest 06:43 cattle stations and Dolly was to join a large aboriginal group 06:48 who lived and worked at the homestead. 06:52 Dolly soon fitted into a new life at the homestead, 06:55 sweeping floors, watering the garden, 06:58 helping the Chinese cook and doing other household chores. 07:02 she delighted Mrs. Gunn with her stories and adventures. 07:05 Mrs. Gunn tried to get Bett Bett to sleep on a bed 07:09 but to no avail. She preferred the stars and a dog on the 07:14 veranda. Bett Bett found comfort under the stars, 07:18 and she would spend hours watching them. 07:21 They were her friends and she would whisper her secrets to them 07:26 and share the events of the day. 07:28 Mrs. Gunn was impressed with Bett Bett's energy and drive, 07:33 her curiosity and wild ways, the two developed a close 07:38 relationship and a bond was formed which. 07:41 lasted their lifetimes. 07:42 Bett Bett soon became a part of the household, Mrs. Gunn 07:48 was to have a profound effect on the girl's life. 07:50 She started to teach her how to read and write and 07:54 sew clothes, both Jeannie and her husband Aeneas were children 07:59 of church ministers, they loved the Bible and it's message 08:03 and Jeannie told Bett Bett stories from the Bible and so 08:07 from a young age, she developed a love for the Bible. 08:11 Tragically after only 18 months at Elsey's Station, 08:16 Jeannie Gunn's husband died of Black Water Fever 08:20 a severe form of Malaria. Now Mrs. Gunn was alone in a tough 08:26 vast land, the Outback. 08:28 There was no reason or way for her to remain on 08:32 Elsey's Station and she was forced to return to Melbourne 08:35 alone. But the Outback remained with her, she wrote of her 08:40 time here and of the characters that have become famous 08:44 through her books. 08:47 Jeannie wanted to take Dolly, her Bett Bett with her, 08:51 but Dolly wasn't allowed to leave the Northern Territory. 08:54 Instead, she was introduced to her father, 08:58 an Englishman who worked on the overland telegraph line. 09:01 Dolly traveled with him for a while before he decided that 09:06 Dolly should live with a white family in Darwin. 09:08 This marked the beginning of a succession of Foster Families 09:12 for Dolly. Her first foster family treated Dolly harshly, 09:18 she was forced to work hard, sleep on the floor 09:21 on the veranda and she was not given any clothes or toys, 09:25 she was also beaten regularly. 09:28 During these difficult times, Dolly found solace at night 09:33 in her friends the stars and shared her burdens with them. 09:38 It was comforting to know that they were the same stars 09:42 that she looked at when she had known perfect happiness 09:45 at Elsey's Station with Mrs. Gunn. 09:47 When the unkind foster family moved into state, 09:51 Dolly was placed with a family of a Mr. Ward who worked 09:55 at the post office in Darwin. The Ward family treated Dolly 10:00 as their daughter, she was given a bed to sleep in 10:02 and clothes to wear, and to Dolly's delight, 10:06 was taken to this church. 10:08 Today it's the oldest church building in the 10:11 Northern Territory, it's been part of Darwin's history since 10:15 1897. This church building has survived the bombing of 10:20 Darwin during World War II, cyclones, termites, 10:23 and the hot humid tropical climate. 10:26 And it was in this church that Dolly learned more about Jesus 10:30 and the Bible stories that Mrs. Gunn had shared with her. 10:34 It was then that Dolly decided she would like to know more 10:39 about Jesus and the Bible. 10:40 She had an inquiring mind and so had many questions 10:45 about her favorite book, the Bible. 10:49 Who wrote it? Where was God? Who made the world? 10:53 And why did Jesus have to die if He was such a good person? 10:58 Mrs. Ward would open her Bible and patiently try to answer 11:04 Dolly's questions as best she could. 11:06 Dolly was delighted when one evening Mrs. Ward pointed to 11:12 the brilliant stars, the same stars the Dolly looked at 11:16 every night and explained that the God of the Bible, 11:20 had made them all. Now she loved the stars more than ever. 11:26 Mrs. Ward became another mother to Dolly and the Ward's 11:31 her new family. But although Mrs. Ward was a school teacher, 11:35 she firmly believed as many people did in those days, 11:39 that education was wasted on black children 11:43 and so Dolly never learned how to read properly. 11:46 In her nightly talks to the stars, she told them that 11:50 if ever she had children of her own, she would make sure 11:54 that they would be well-educated. 11:56 While living with the Wards, Dolly had the opportunity 12:00 to travel with them to Sydney Adelaide in Melbourne. 12:04 In Melbourne, Dolly was reunited with Jeannie Gunn 12:08 who again is trying to get government permission 12:10 to bring Dolly to Melbourne to live with her once more. 12:14 Permission was denied, but Dolly was happy to continue 12:18 to living with the Ward family. She'd grown into their hearts 12:22 and they loved her. To Dolly, it was a time of settling 12:26 into a new routine, a time to learn about Darwin and it's 12:31 people. Little did she know that her life was about to 12:35 take yet another remarkable twist. 12:38 When Dolly was 15, the good years ended, Mr. Ward was 12:44 transferred to Adelaide, the same law that had frustrated 12:48 Jeannie Gun now stopped the Ward family from taking Dolly 12:52 with them, their request was denied by the government 12:56 and Dolly was moved to yet another foster family. 13:00 As a teenager, Dolly was now viewed by this family 13:04 as a source of labor and income. She was treated like a slave 13:09 and beaten regularly, these were the dark years of 13:13 Dolly's life. When she was 17 Dolly was forced to work in the 13:18 bar of a local pub, her foster mother worked there also 13:22 and decided to rid herself of responsibility for Dolly 13:26 by selling her to an old man as a teenage bride. 13:30 Summoning all her courage, Dolly decided to walk across 13:35 Darwin to the office of the Government Appointed Protector 13:39 of Aborigines, she was terrified but after describing 13:43 her situation and fear of being forced to get married, 13:47 the government officials supported Dolly's position 13:50 which resulted in greater anger and abuse from her 13:54 foster family. So Dolly decided to break the law and run away. 13:59 During the two years since the Ward family had returned to 14:04 Adelaide, Dolly had continued to attend a local church, 14:08 she was about to run away when she was offered lodging and work 14:13 by a kind woman named Mrs.Tindle. 14:16 Now this was still considered breaking the law 14:19 as Dolly was supposedly still in the care of her guardian 14:23 foster family. The punishment for running away was to be sent 14:28 to one of the mission homes or state institutions. 14:31 Instead of forcing Dolly to return to her foster family, 14:35 the protector of Aborigines looked at her case and 14:39 determined that now Dolly was old enough to care for herself. 14:43 She was finally free of her abusive foster family, 14:47 no one had the faintest idea that Dolly was the Bett Bett 14:52 of The Little Black Princess fame. 14:54 Mrs. Gunn's books had now been published and were high on the 14:58 Best Seller's List. Everyone in Australia it seemed, 15:03 was talking about Bett Bett and wondering what had happened 15:06 happened to her. Without being aware of it, Dolly was probably 15:11 the best known Australian Aborigine in the world, 15:14 it was a secret she guarded well. 15:18 Dolly spent the next three years with Mrs. Tindle 15:23 working with her and attending the church in Darwin, it was 15:27 of this church that Dolly met a handsome young Englishman 15:31 Joe Bonson. Joe was a quiet and gracious man, but it seems 15:36 that when he met Dolly, it was love at first sight. 15:39 They were married in 1918 and had five children. 15:43 Dolly and Joe quietly raised their five children 15:48 in the suburbs of Darwin. Dolly's promise to the stars 15:51 so many years ago was kept to the letter. 15:55 All of her children learned to read and write 15:58 as soon as they were old enough and received a good education. 16:02 It was by sheer chance, that Dolly's daughter Florence 16:06 found out that her mother had a secret. 16:09 Well, one day I happened to be going through an old tin trunk 16:14 and low and behold, there was a book there plus some letters. 16:18 After going through the book, I came to the final chapter 16:23 there was a little chapter written and I saw my mom's name 16:28 come up, and I thought, this is who this book is written about 16:34 it's about my mom. And that was the first time I realized 16:39 that my mom had a history I didn't even know about. 16:43 Flo asked her mother what they were all about. 16:46 A reluctant Dolly explained that she was Bett Bett, 16:51 The Little Black Princess of two World Famous books. 16:54 She begged Flo not to tell anyone about the discovery 16:58 because only Joe, her husband and a very few other people knew. 17:03 She explained to her daughter that Joe and Dolly had agreed 17:06 before they were married, that the secret be kept as long as 17:10 possible so they could live as normal people. 17:14 Over the years, the Bonson's became known and respected 17:19 throughout the community as a loving and sharing family. 17:23 The street Bonson Terrace is named after their family. 17:27 Dolly and Joe had a very happy marriage and they remained 17:32 inseparable for 40 years until Joe's death. 17:35 During her eventful life, Dolly experienced great depression 17:40 and abuse, but she also experienced great kindness 17:45 and love. Prejudice and poorly formed government policy 17:49 were barriers that repeatedly caused Dolly pain. 17:53 But key individuals in Dolly's life showed her unconditional 17:58 love and tried to fight these barriers. 18:01 Jeannie Gunn repeatedly tried to get permission for Dolly 18:06 to live with her in Melbourne. The Ward family raised Dolly 18:10 as their own daughter but couldn't get permission to take 18:13 Dolly with them when they moved from Darwin to Adelaide. 18:16 And Mrs. Tindle opened her home to Dolly as an escape 18:20 from horrible violence. 18:22 Before she turned 18, Dolly had experience the best and 18:27 the worst of human nature. Her challenge was to decide 18:32 what kind of woman she wanted to become. 18:34 What example would she follow? 18:37 Would the hardship, violence and loss she'd experience 18:41 result in a life of anger and for Princess Bett Bett? 18:45 Or would she find something that gave her strength 18:49 in the dark years from the faith of those who loved her? 18:53 The people who showed Dolly love, all had something 18:57 in common. They were all active Christians, Jeannie Gunn 19:02 introduced Dolly to the Bible right here at Elsey's Station. 19:06 Whilst the Ward family took Dolly to church with them, 19:10 and so did Mrs. Tindle. After gaining her freedom, 19:14 Dolly continued to attend church, she considered it a 19:19 safe-haven. A place that had given her a small glimmer of 19:23 hope during the difficult times, but she still had 19:27 questions. Questions that were at the very heart of her 19:31 search for happiness. Could God accept a person 19:35 who couldn't read the Bible? Could God love a half-cast? 19:39 Someone who was neither black nor white? 19:42 Some time after Joe's death Dolly had a dream... 19:47 Well, my mom had a dream of the second coming of Jesus 19:51 and I didn't know about the dream until one day we were 19:56 able to see it up on a screen and she revealed to me that 20:01 she had already had this dream where she saw the second coming 20:05 of Jesus and she was so thrilled about it. 20:09 Determined to learn more about this picture, Dolly asked to 20:14 talk with the preacher. When they met, she flooded him 20:18 with the questions that had bothered her for so many years. 20:22 She wanted to know about the second coming of Jesus 20:25 and if He would accept her. 20:27 Sensing her fear and urgency, the pastor reassured Dolly 20:32 that everyone is equal in the eyes of God, regardless of 20:36 whether they can read or not. Regardless of the color of 20:40 their skin, regardless of their culture. The only thing that 20:44 really matters is their relationship with Jesus Christ. 20:48 And Jesus Himself said in John chapter 14. 21:12 Finally, she discovered the peace and assurance she'd been 21:15 looking for. The promise of Christ's return gave her hope, 21:20 the second coming of Jesus became her passion and focus. 21:24 Her greatest desire was to share what she had found 21:28 and when she found Jesus, she wanted to share it, but her 21:32 biggest problem in sharing was for her own culture. 21:36 And it seemed an impossible task, but God had a plan 21:42 where people of her culture are learning to know about Jesus 21:47 and to love Him and to realize that He was there for them too 21:53 like he was for her. 21:54 As Dolly grew older, she moved to Humpty Doo where she lived 21:59 with her children. She loved to sit on the veranda in the 22:02 evening and watch the stars, they will still the same old 22:07 friends that had witnesses her long and eventful life. 22:10 Now they could share her inner- peace in knowing that she'd 22:15 always been accepted by Jesus and was part of the family 22:19 of God and that Jesus is coming back for her. 22:23 Dolly's story illustrates why we need to talk about and 22:29 be aware of the poor treatment of aboriginal people. 22:32 The mistakes of prejudice and bad government policy 22:36 and why many thought it was important that our government 22:40 apologize to aboriginal people in 2008. 22:45 But your past circumstances don't have to determine 22:49 your present or your future. The story of Mrs. Gunn and 22:53 Bett Bett is a powerful illustration of this. 22:57 Yes, Jeannie Gunn could be seen as just a white colonial woman 23:02 who tragically lost her husband after one year of marriage. 23:06 Dolly Bonson could just be seen as a child who grew up without 23:11 her biological family and childhood security 23:15 but their legacy's say otherwise. 23:17 Jeannie Gunn's journey led her to publish two Best Selling 23:22 Books and she worked tirelessly for war veterans in Victoria 23:26 during and after the two World Wars. 23:29 Dolly Bonson's journey led her to 40 years of a happy marriage 23:34 and five much-loved children and in the last decades 23:38 of her life, Dolly also found a spiritual peace in her faith 23:43 that she had been searching for since Mrs. Gunn had first 23:47 told her that God beyond the stars when she was a child 23:51 here on Elsey's Station. 23:53 Here at Elsey's Cemetery just a short distance from the 23:58 original homestead is the grave of Aneaes Gunn and a memorial 24:02 to Jeannie Gunn who died in 1961 and was buried in her hometown 24:07 Melbourne. There's also a memorial here to Dolly Bonson 24:11 in the heart of The Never Never in the landscape she loved. 24:15 The words are as follows. 24:39 When Dolly died at the grand old age of 95, 24:42 she was secure in her faith that Jesus is coming for her 24:46 and that her journey would continue at the resurrection 24:50 when He returns and that she would reach her final home 24:53 with Jesus among her friends the stars. 24:56 If you would like to experience the faith and assurance 25:00 that brought peace to Dolly's life, why not ask for it 25:04 right now as we pray. 25:06 Dear Lord, The story of Dolly is both heartbreaking and 25:11 inspiring but we can also take encouragement from Dolly's story 25:15 knowing that you love us and care about us and that our 25:19 past circumstances don't have to determine our present 25:23 or our future. You have a plan for our lives and you have the 25:28 power to change them for the better. Help us to trust you 25:32 and give us the peace and assurance that comes from 25:35 knowing Jesus. In Jesus name we pray. 25:38 Amen! 25:42 The story of Dolly Bonson is a fascinating and inspiring 25:47 piece of Australian history. 25:48 If you've enjoyed exploring the places and details 25:52 highlighted in Dolly's story, and would like to experience 25:56 Dolly's story more deeply, you'll want to make sure you 25:59 receive this special gift we have for all our viewers today. 26:03 It's a book called "The Girl Who Talked to the Stars." 26:07 Just before she died, Dolly contributed to a biography 26:12 about her life and shared more about the faith that's 26:16 helped her through the dark years. 26:18 In its pages, you'll learn more about the joy and sorrow 26:22 that Dolly experienced and be inspired by her faith. 26:26 You'll also discover the source of her peace and happiness 26:30 and learn how it changed her life forever and it could do 26:34 the same for you. Remember there's no cost of obligation 26:38 whatsoever. "The Girl Who Talked to the Stars" is absolutely Free. 26:44 Here's the information you need. 26:47 Phone us now on 0481.315.101 or text us on 0491.222.999. 27:00 or visit our website at www.theincrediblejourney.tv 27:05 to request today's Free offer. 27:07 So don't delay, contact us right now. 27:18 If you've enjoyed todays journey, be sure to join us 27:21 again next week when we will share another of 27:24 life's journey's together and experience another new and 27:27 thought provoking perspective on the peace, insight, 27:31 understanding and hope that only the Bible can give us. 27:35 The Incredible Journey truly is television that changes lives. 27:41 Until next week remember the ultimate destination 27:45 of life's journey. 27:46 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth 27:49 and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes, 27:53 there shall be no more death nor sorrow nor crying 27:56 there shall be no more pain for the former things have 28:00 passed away. |
Revised 2021-04-22