061161PD A baptismal service at Gwambygine, near York, for the Four Square church in the early to mid 1960s. L-R: Steve McGuire, Alma Garlett and Rev. John Gregg are in the water, person with towel unidentified

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. Aboriginal families at Badjaling included Winmar, Kickett, Yarran, Garlett, Pickett, Jacobs and others. Many family weddings took place in nearby Yoting. There is a photograph of a total immersion baptism held at Gwambygine near York for the Four Square Church. Also included is a photograph of Theodore Michael's Citizenship Certificate issued in August 1961. The photographs of the wedding of Dennis Hayward and Willis Winmar are in this section but have now been positively dated to 1957.