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Wall of Convict Bonnets.JPG)
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Dinghy boat in background with all the bonnetsThis is a project set up by Christina Henri called Roses from the Heart. It was a display at the Festival of quilts last week . Not sure how many bonnets have been made to date but she is aiming for 25.566.One for every convict women that was transported to Australia between 1788- 1853. What a great way to honour these women who were often transported for committing minor offense's.
These women were transported from England and Ireland and I read somewhere that in Ireland fathers who's daughters were being transported would walk into the water up to their necks as this is the last glimpse they would ever have of them.
How terribly sad and what hard times these were for ordinary women who often stole a loaf of bread to feed their families then paid the ultimate price of being separated and transported for it for ever.
I just got shivers down my spine reading this post. I have been to Port Arthur, in Tasmania, which was where a lot of convicts were transported to and incarcerated. It is such an eery place. They have tried to preserve it as much as possible but I swear I could feel the death and despair still in those grounds. It is such a terrible part of our history but also one that has made us Australians who we are today.
ReplyDeleteWhat an unusual and moving display!!
ReplyDeleteI have heard and read about this exhibition but so far have not managed to be in the same city when it is on. I can just imagine the eerie feeling when reading all the names on the bonnets. While I am very interested in historical quilts I have to admit to enjoying living in the current century.
ReplyDeleteWe are very fortunate to be living in this time when we are so free to go and do what we want within reason and to be able to feed our families and clothe them. Have you read the book by Lesley Pearse that tells the tale of a young cornish girl transported for stealing a baby's bonnet. It is based on a true story and amazing. It is called Remember Me. I somehow missed this part of the exhibition- don't ask me how!!
ReplyDeleteShirley.
What a sobering chapter in history but what a moving tribute to those women who paid such an unfair price for merely trying to support their families. Thanks for sharing this story.
ReplyDeleteKimber
Thank you for the pictures. What an amazing display, and a wonderful memorial.
ReplyDeleteWhen I saw the bonnets on the wall display I was fascinated,but when we walked along & saw the dinghy & bonnets spread all across the floor,I felt my heart would stop--the total added up to such a moving experience---congrats to Christina Henri & thanks Sue for showing the pics.
ReplyDeleteSue(now enjoying being an Oregon Trailer!)
We have stayed there a while for looking to these bonnets,they where so lovely.
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing tribute to a sad ordeal.
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing project. Thank you for sharing this. ~ Sarah
ReplyDeleteHi Sue,thank you for posting the story and pics of this impressive project. I have seen the bonnets, and was so very touched by the story behind it. I bought the pattern to sew one myself. I (we) can only faintly imagine how these children and their families have suffered. I is good to memorize these horrible practises of our past ...
ReplyDeleteI too have read about the bonnets somewhere.
ReplyDeleteI had the same feeling about the "Rajah Quilt" at the "Quilts 1700-2010" exhibition (you can see post about it on my blog), made by 180 women prisoners on board of "Rajah" in 1841.
Nádherná spomienka na tých ktorý tu boli pred nami.Marta
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