Family Histories

       Home       NEW Updates      About Us       Feedback      Historic Sites       Consultants          Contact Us       Terms/Conditions

 

 

WRIGHT Brother & Sister

In the early 1920s at Carrolup Aboriginal Settlement, west of Katanning, there lived a 26 year old spiritual adviser, Sister Malcolm. She was a member of the Australian Aboriginal Mission. When the Carrolup Settlement was dissolved in 1922 most of the young Aborigines were transferred tp Moore River but Sister Malcolm preferred to stay at Katanning.
The Aborigines who stayed behind asked her to find them another home. so whilst working as a spiritual adviser, she travelled extensively throughout the great southern until she decided that Gnowangerup would be a suitable place.
She joined a deputation to the Premier to request a piece of government land, with a dam, to be used as the Gnowangerup Native Reserve. In due course, the Government granted almost three hectares of low scrub around a medium sized dam.

      BROTHER & SISTER WRIGHT        #1

Whilst convalescing in the east, Sister Malcolm married another missionary, Brother Hedley W. Wright. Brother Wright came from Tasmania where at an early age he was cconverted to Christ. This dramatic experience resulted in his seeking theological training in the Melbourne Bible Institute. Here he became aware of the need amongst the Aborigines of our land. 
The Gospel to Brother Wright was good news for all people. It was worth sharing even if it meant 
leaving family and friends in his beloved Tasmania.
They settled in Gnowangerup and Brother Wright gradually began to establish a few amenities by scrounging bits and pieces from the nearby rubbish tip. Within a year the Government had provided materials which were used by Brother Wright and his helpers to construct a shelter on the reserve.

 

BROTHER & SISTER WRIGHT WITH THEIR TWO CHILDREN AND MISS PULLEY
OUTSIDE THEIR HOME ON THE TAMBELLUP ROAD               #2
 

The Wrights lived in a house on the Tambellup Road where they were content to live, even though times were lean. They depended on donations from supporters to keep them going. They obtained a vechicle for fifty pounds ($100) by fundraising in various ways and whenever it was parked in any of the neighbouring towns, Aborigines would congregate. It was a welcome contact point.
The Wrights were soon joined by a young schoolteacher, a Miss Pulley, who boarded with them and assisted with the teaching.

 
 

The Government advised the Wrights that they were plsanning to re-open the carrolup Settlement in Katanning, so the Wrights decided to establish a Mission Station  that was not under the control of the Government. With the support of friends, they raised the deposit of 75 pounds ($150) on 61 hectares of land, which became known as "The Mission". The debt was paid off in four years with donations from various sources.
Brother Wright was also Aboriginal Protector and was responsible for the issue of government rations, although he received no payment for this.
The Wrights had close ties with the Baptist Church and young men would come from Perth to work at the Mission as probationary missionaries. In 1937 Sister Wright was asked to form an Endeavour Society, and it was the foundation laid in this work which ensured the permanency of the Gnowangeup Baptist Church.
During the war, the Wrights ended their association with the Mission heads, and Brother Wright became pastor of the local Baptist Church, where he stayed for eight years. The Wrights never forgot their Aboriginal friends and made daily visits to the Reserve, offering advice and assistance in many ways.
They had two children and lived in Gnowangerup until they passed on.

 

 

Every endeavour has been made to accurately record the details however if you would like to provide additional images and/or newer information we are pleased to update the details on this site. Please use CONTACT at the top of this page to email us. We appreciate your involvement in recording the history of our area.

 

References:                 Article:      Gnowangerup The Town by Pearl Marshall
                                                 Gnowangerup Star Newspaper

                                  Image:    1, 2     Gnowangerup The Town by Pearl Marshall
                                                   

 

Copyright : Gordon Freegard 2024