2011 - Theses - Flinders University

wanting to attract their attention. With Mary Woods, herself so new to station life, andfussing about the kitchen she has to cope with to turn out the smokos and dinners, Mrs Forbesis again that young woman finding her way into station life, ‘back ’o’ Bourke’, on Winbar.‘I don’t know about that young Princess Elizabeth, then, and her Greek. How’s that goingto be then, just a Queen and no proper King, and him a foreigner!’ Mary exclaims, rolling hereyes theatrically.‘But she’s royal blood, don’t forget, and born to it, like the old Queen. Queen Victoria. Iremember her. She had her German, too. But you don’t know these women! Oh, she wasgood to the people, Queen Victoria.’ Mrs Forbes is sitting upright, a queen in her own home.Her hands lie together in her lap, and she looks straight at the younger woman.‘Oh here comes the pommy blood to the foreground!’ cries Mary, eager to break theserious moment that has developed.‘I’m not! I’m an Australian!’ They are both taken aback by the force with which MrsForbes speaks. She drops her gaze, watching her hands, and explains, ‘I’m an AustralianAboriginal, I’m not a pom!’ 222Mary says nothing. The young child has laid down her pencil and is watching the twowomen now.Mrs Forbes goes on, as much to herself as her friend. ‘I had my Aboriginal.’ She looks upat Mary, wondering what she already knows. ‘When I married, a wife takes her husband’snationality, unless she’s a Queen.’ Mrs Forbes smiles at Mary, who is watching her carefully.‘That makes me an Australian Aboriginal. Just about the only real white Australian there is, Itold that journalist lady. Did you read about that?’ Mary shakes her head, although she is155