Crafting of an Australian Citizenship Quilt NSW Contributions

McGann, Barbara
Gordon NSW
“The Family Bible & The Sturt Desert Pea”
The artist is a fifth generation Australian, with three
children and five grandchildren. Her ancestor, Mary
Ann Lewis, migrated to Australia in 1834.
“When she arrived in Sydney she was only 18. She
was an educated woman and worked as a nurserymaid
in Parramatta. Her son’s birth in 1836 made him a first
generation born Australian.
ID282
“Mary Ann recorded his birth date in her Bible. This
tradition was carried on by his wife, who recorded the
births of their seven children in the Bible.
“They lived in Rawsonville on a property they called ‘Mt
Druitt’. My grandmother, the eleventh child of their
second son Henry, was raised by her grandparents
after her mother died giving birth to her third set of
twins. The eldest child was ten.
“The family Bible was passed to her and she gave me
the Bible before her death. I am the keeper of a small
part of Australian history.
“I chose to do the Sturt Desert Pea as they are delicate
but hardy plants, just like the children of my ancestors.
The plant has a spreading nature, and I feel that this
plant typifies the growth of my family. From one small
child the family has spread and multiplied across this
wonderful country we call Australia.”