[“The Aborigines Hospitals”, The Northern Times (Carnarvon, WA), Saturday 10 April 1909, page 2]
THE ABORIGINES HOSPITALS.—In an interview with the West Australian after his recent trip to Bernier and Dorre Islands the Colonial Secretary (Mr. J. D. Connolly) said:—“Some four months ago when the women were sent to Bernier Island a number of them were in such a low condition that they had to be carried ashore, but to-day they all look particularly fat and well. Indeed, I was informed that some of them had put on as much as two stone in weight. I do not know that I have ever seen a happier lot of people than the 54 women at Bernier Island. One evening while we were there they gave a corruboree in honor of our visit, and it was a treat to see that those people, though afflicted with disease, were as happy and apparently well as one could possibly wish to see them. Dorre Island is intended for the men, but it will probably be another month before the I quarters for the staff are completed there, and the water supply is improved by the sinking of fresh wells. Then we will have all the native men brought from the Carnarvon and Onslow districts, but we will not bring any further women from the Kimberley district until the end of the winter, because they are in a very low condition, and it would be safer to leave them there until the spring. We anticipate that by the end of the present year there will be considerably over 100 patients on each island. I was given to understand by the native women that they had some misgivings about going to the island at first, but that now these misgivings have passed away. Ten or twelve of the women on Bernier Island, who were not seriously affected, are now convalescent, and in a little time when they are thoroughly well they will be sent back to their native places. This, I expect will have a very good effect upon the other natives, who will see that the hospitals are established for their welfare, and not as prisons. The natives more seriously affected, who constitute the greater number of the patients, will probably not be cured for 18 months or two years. When they are deported it will be necessary to consider what measures can be adopted to prevent a recurrence of the trouble. Much credit is due to Dr. Lovegrove and to the matron, Miss Lenehan, for the work they had done. The natives exhibited the greatest affection for the matron.”
AB notes:
Once again, there is mention of the affection for Harriet Lenihan shown by the Aboriginal women.
