Jenny Bonney | Self-esteem | The law is on her side
How can understanding of the law build confidence and beat racism? Jenny's story unfolds through history.
I am 51 years old, and a part-time student at Deakin University in Geelong, Victoria, where I am studying for my Bachelor of Law degree. My home town is Boulder, Western Australia.
Mum was born in Kalgoorlie, while dad was born in Leonora; they were married in Kalgoorlie in the early 1950’s. I was born at Southern Cross (200kms east of Kalgoorlie-Boulder) and I’m the 5th eldest of 18 brothers and sisters. Soon after I was born, my family moved back to Kalgoorlie to live and in 1959, at the age of 1½ years, I became a victim of the stolen generation. My brother and four sisters and I were put in the Church of Christ Norseman Mission, 15kms north of Norseman.
In 1964 my mother and stepfather rescued all of us from the mission and took us to Esperance to live on a farm. We later moved back to Norseman, Widgiemooltha and then returned to Esperance. In 1975, I moved to Perth to further my education and career and in 1989 I moved to Kalgoorlie-Boulder and have lived there ever since.
My ancestors originate from the central east part of WA, south/south east of WA, to Peak Hill near Geraldton in WA; and Wilcannia in New South Wales. Mum’s mother’s family is Tjupan from Wiluna (central east part of WA/northern Goldfields); Mum’s dad’s family is Mirning and Ngadju from Baladonia (south east of WA); Dad’s mother’s family is from Peak Hill near Geraldton, (Yamatji country); Dad’s father’s family is from Wilcannia, west of New South Wales.
Before my mother passed away in 1977, she was a traditional healer with strong cultural beliefs passed down by her grandmother Telpha of Wiluna (Tjupan country).
Mum’s non-Indigenous grandfather is Arthur Cranbrook Ashwin, who’s diary is written in a book called “Gold to Grass”, the reminiscences of Arthur C Ashwin, 1850-1930 prospector and pastoralist. He raised my grandmother, Ida Ashwin, and her siblings on his stations near Wiluna until he passed away in 1930. Mum’s non-Indigenous great-grandfather is William (Bill) Ponton who along with his brother Stephen Ponton founded Balladonia station (in Ngadju country).
For my hobbies, I enjoy travelling, but only in Australia. I love camping out bush, making bush medicine, cooking and art. I am a sports lover and have won several sporting awards. My first medal was at 15 years of age, winning the open female diving event at the Esperance Senior High School swimming carnival. I won numerous trophies for netball and basketball. I was selected in the WA State Aboriginal Netball Team and participated in the Australian Aboriginal Netball Carnivals in 1975 in Launceston, Tasmania; in 1977 in Alice Springs NT; in 1980 in Darwin NT; and in 1986 in Canberra ACT. I won the Fairest and Best netball player for WA in 1977 and 1980. I was selected in the All Australian Aboriginal Netball Team in 1980 in Darwin and played netball and basketball for WA in the Commonwealth Department of Health national sports carnival in Canberra in 1981, and was a joint winner for the overall Fairest and Best player.
I went to primary schools in Norseman, Widgiemooltha, Boulder and Esperance and attended high school in Esperance, completing Years 1 to 4. In 1975 I attended Hartills-Underwood Business College in Perth and obtained my Secretarial Diploma. From 2002-03, I attended Marr Mooditj Training College in Perth and obtained my Certificate in Aboriginal Primary Health Care.
My jobs have varied. From 1976-1978, at the age of 18 years, I began working in Perth as a Stenographer to former Federal Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, the Honorable Ian Viner QC AO, often travelling to Canberra to work in Parliament House. Sometimes I travelled with the Minister throughout Australia. Since then, I have worked in different State and Federal Government Departments. Between 1992-2006, I managed several Aboriginal organisations in Kalgoorlie-Boulder and Norseman. From 1994-96 I worked as a Trainer for Kalgoorlie-Boulder SkillShare training unemployed people, and between 1995 to 2005, (except 1999-2002), I was an ATSIC Regional Councillor in the Goldfields Region of WA.
I stay confident by thinking positively, being positive and focusing on positive outcomes.
Building up my confidence began when I was a child by my participating in community sports and activities such as swimming and gymnastics. Travelling and meeting people also played a big role in building my confidence.
What I have discovered though, is that being Aboriginal has caused me to experience lots of injustices in the past. This has led me to study for my Bachelor of Law degree, which I began in February 2008. Studying law involves lots of reading, and having a better understanding of the law has enabled me to stand up for my rights, which has built up my confidence enormously.
I hope I can share my knowledge with other people and help them to build up their confidence.
"Gold to grass: The reminiscences of Arthur C. Ashwin, 1850-1930, prospector and pastoralist", edited by Peter Bridge, is available in the National Library.
If you'd like to gain self-confidence through positive thinking go to: "Good thoughts to boost self-esteem".
If you come up against negativity there is a CD set to help you respond calmly and well: "How to deal with difficult people without getting upset". Also available as MP3s.
29, Jun, 2009
Reader Comments (8)
You have shown us that it is never too late to learn, to study and to keep developing our self-confidence. Thank you for your inspiring story, may you keep on shining, Rachel.
Kind regards and best wishes
Bev Croft
I remember Year 7 in 1969 at Norseman Primary School. The only Harry I know is Harry Graham. He works for Wongutha CAPS, about 15kms north of Esperance. This is a farm school for Indigenous students from Years 10 to 12.
If and when you are in the Uk our telephone number is:-
01889585518
see also website of Colton History Society ref. Frederic Bonney
Thank you for your kind message.
Would love to catch up with you when I come to the UK...i have been doing some research on my dad's family, I think he has an older family which we don't know about yet. Hopefully will find out soon...
Happened to find you on this site when I was browsing. I don't know if you remember mefromhigh school
But I remembered you so thought I would say hello.
Kind regards
deb burton
Happened to find you on this site when I was browsing. I don't know if you remember mefromhigh school
But I remembered you so thought I would say hello.
Kind regards
deb burton