060905PD Group of Badjaling children eating watermelon in the 1920s

Summary

In the late 1920s missionaries Miss Mary Belshaw and Miss May McRidge travelled to visit friends on the property known as Dendaring near Quairading, W.A. Noticing that many children were not receiving an education, they started a school and religious services. Their success encouraged them to look for a place nearby to continue their mission and in the 1930s they moved to Badjaling. Photographs include their work at Dendaring and at Badjaling, including the school, the church, hospital and other buildings as well as the missionaries. Some of the men worked on Les Stacey's sheep farm Sunny Vale. Aboriginal families at Badjaling include Winmar, Kickett, Yarran, Garlett, Pickett, Jacobs and others. Some photographs put into the 1920s by the donor have been discovered to actuall be taken in the 1930s.