I'm here at Mataranka, the
capital of The Never Never.
00:00:11.91\00:00:15.81
This is the original
site of Elsey's Station,
00:00:15.84\00:00:19.21
one of the biggest cattle
properties of the Northern
00:00:19.25\00:00:22.18
Territory. In 1902, Ginny
Gunn arrived here with her
00:00:22.22\00:00:27.19
new husband to live and
work on Elsey's Station,
00:00:27.22\00:00:30.29
she had traveled all the
way from Melbourne in Victoria.
00:00:30.33\00:00:34.06
This is the place that inspired
the writing of two classic
00:00:34.10\00:00:38.63
and much loved Australian books,
"The Little Black Princess"
00:00:38.67\00:00:42.37
and" We of The Never Never."
00:00:42.40\00:00:44.74
Although the books were released
as novels, everyone knew
00:00:44.77\00:00:48.44
that they were based on a
cast of real-life characters.
00:00:48.48\00:00:51.81
One by one these characters
were identified by the public.
00:00:51.85\00:00:56.72
They fell in love with
the stories of The Never Never
00:00:56.75\00:00:59.72
only one character's
identity remained a mystery,
00:00:59.75\00:01:04.13
The Little Black
Princess Bett Bett.
00:01:04.16\00:01:06.73
Who was this Little Black
Princess of The Never Never?
00:01:06.76\00:01:10.73
This was a question of the
readers of the book for decades.
00:01:10.77\00:01:14.64
The true identity of Bett Bett
stayed unknown until she herself
00:01:14.67\00:01:19.77
revealed it more than 60 years
after the books had first been
00:01:19.81\00:01:24.21
published. Together
we'll follow the footsteps of
00:01:24.25\00:01:27.92
The Little Black Princess
and discover the true story of
00:01:27.95\00:01:31.19
Bett Bett's life.
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It's a story we should all hear
as it reminds us of some of the
00:01:32.79\00:01:37.16
darkened days of our history
as a nation but more so of the
00:01:37.19\00:01:41.73
power of kindness and love
to transform a person's life.
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Come with me on a
journey into The Never Never.
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In the year of the Cattle
Kings, this area was home to
00:02:11.13\00:02:16.90
Aeneas Gunn and his young
bride Jennie who arrived here
00:02:16.93\00:02:20.57
in 1902 to live and
work on Elsey's Station.
00:02:20.60\00:02:24.54
Aeneas, known as The Maluka
was a part-owner and manager
00:02:24.57\00:02:29.81
of the property, Jeannie was
one of the first pioneer women
00:02:29.84\00:02:34.05
of the Outback and had traveled
all the way from down south
00:02:34.08\00:02:37.69
in Melbourne. Elsey's Station
was one of the earliest and
00:02:37.72\00:02:43.02
largest cattle
stations established in the
00:02:43.06\00:02:46.19
Northern Territory. It consisted
of a homestead, kitchen,
00:02:46.23\00:02:51.30
out buildings, staff
quarters, cattle yards and a
00:02:51.33\00:02:55.37
small cemetery to the north.
00:02:55.40\00:02:57.21
Over the years, the old Elsey
Homestead has become a part
00:02:57.24\00:03:02.24
of the legend of living in
the harsh Australian Outback
00:03:02.28\00:03:05.91
many kilometers
from civilization.
00:03:05.95\00:03:08.52
This landscape and the
people Mrs. Gunn encountered
00:03:08.55\00:03:13.19
inspired the writing of
the classic Australian books
00:03:13.22\00:03:16.69
"The Little Black Princess"
and "We of The Never Never."
00:03:16.73\00:03:19.69
What is The Never Never?
Well, it's a term that was
00:03:19.73\00:03:23.90
first used in the late 19th
century and describes the vast
00:03:23.93\00:03:27.84
remote Outback
regions of Australia.
00:03:27.87\00:03:31.44
It was under trees like
these near the Billabong and
00:03:31.47\00:03:34.91
just downslope from the
homestead that Mrs. Gunn
00:03:34.94\00:03:38.71
first met Bett Bett, one
of the central characters of
00:03:38.75\00:03:42.02
The Little Black
Princess, who also appears in
00:03:42.05\00:03:45.12
We of The Never Never.
Although the books were released
00:03:45.15\00:03:48.52
as novels, everyone knew
that they were based on a cast
00:03:48.56\00:03:51.96
of real-life characters.
00:03:51.99\00:03:53.86
One by one, these characters
were identified by the public
00:03:53.90\00:03:58.77
who fell in love with the
stories of The Never Never.
00:03:58.80\00:04:01.34
Only one character
remained a mystery, Bett Bett.
00:04:01.37\00:04:05.61
Who was this Little Black
Princess of The Never Never?
00:04:05.64\00:04:09.31
For decades, readers of
the book continued to wonder.
00:04:09.34\00:04:13.52
After Jeannie Gunn left Elsey's
Station, Princess Bett Bett
00:04:13.55\00:04:18.25
seemed to have just melted
away into a lonely palace in the
00:04:18.29\00:04:23.12
bush. However, the true identity
of Bett Bett wasn't known until
00:04:23.16\00:04:28.00
she herself revealed it more
than 60 years after the books
00:04:28.03\00:04:32.37
had first been published.
00:04:32.40\00:04:33.74
Elsey's Station was on
the traditional lands of the
00:04:33.77\00:04:38.54
Jawoyn people, a tribe of hunter
gathers who lived and wandered
00:04:38.57\00:04:43.48
over the vast catchment's of
the Katherine and Roper Rivers.
00:04:43.51\00:04:47.42
In 1894, a baby girl
was born to a Jawoyn woman
00:04:47.45\00:04:52.55
who immediately rejected the
baby because her light colored
00:04:52.59\00:04:56.73
skin showed that her
father was a white man.
00:04:56.76\00:04:59.93
The baby girl was rescued
by her aunt and named Dolly,
00:04:59.96\00:05:04.20
little did anyone realize that
this unwanted little half-cast
00:05:04.23\00:05:09.37
aboriginal girl was to become
known and loved throughout
00:05:09.40\00:05:13.11
the world as The
Little Black Princess.
00:05:13.14\00:05:16.08
Dolly spent her
childhood wandering the lands of
00:05:16.11\00:05:20.88
the people and living in
simple portable bark shelter.
00:05:20.92\00:05:25.12
Here at Bitter Springs, she
helped her aunt search for yams,
00:05:25.15\00:05:30.93
waterlilies, sugar bag and
wild honey, goannas, snakes,
00:05:30.96\00:05:35.50
and crocodile eggs. She
loved to play in the water,
00:05:35.53\00:05:39.13
and learn the dances and stories
told by the tribal elders.
00:05:39.17\00:05:43.47
But her nomadic childhood
ended in 1902 when her aunt
00:05:44.24\00:05:49.28
told Dolly that she was
to live at Elsey's Station.
00:05:49.31\00:05:52.45
Dolly was eight years old
and didn't fully grasp the
00:05:52.48\00:05:56.25
significance of this. She
assumed that she would simply
00:05:56.28\00:06:00.32
rejoin her aunt in the
great Outback at some point
00:06:00.36\00:06:03.83
in the future. Much of the
Northern Territory has never
00:06:03.86\00:06:08.46
been occupied by white
people as the nature of the soil
00:06:08.50\00:06:12.03
and the climate rendered most
areas unsuitable for farming.
00:06:12.07\00:06:16.77
Many commercial ventures were
tried but ultimately failed.
00:06:16.81\00:06:21.78
What was moderately successful
was the pasture industry.
00:06:21.81\00:06:26.65
There were enormous cattle
stations, bigger than many
00:06:26.68\00:06:30.79
small European nations.
Aboriginal men and women
00:06:30.82\00:06:35.32
were vitally maintaining
these stations which would have
00:06:35.36\00:06:39.16
failed without them. Elsey's
Station was one of the biggest
00:06:39.19\00:06:43.20
cattle stations and Dolly was
to join a large aboriginal group
00:06:43.23\00:06:48.00
who lived and
worked at the homestead.
00:06:48.04\00:06:50.64
Dolly soon fitted into a
new life at the homestead,
00:06:52.71\00:06:55.58
sweeping floors,
watering the garden,
00:06:55.61\00:06:58.11
helping the Chinese cook and
doing other household chores.
00:06:58.15\00:07:02.08
she delighted Mrs. Gunn
with her stories and adventures.
00:07:02.12\00:07:05.85
Mrs. Gunn tried to get
Bett Bett to sleep on a bed
00:07:05.89\00:07:09.86
but to no avail. She preferred
the stars and a dog on the
00:07:09.89\00:07:14.93
veranda. Bett Bett
found comfort under the stars,
00:07:14.96\00:07:18.90
and she would spend
hours watching them.
00:07:18.93\00:07:21.80
They were her friends and
she would whisper her secrets to
00:07:21.84\00:07:26.21
them and share
the events of the day.
00:07:26.24\00:07:28.44
Mrs. Gunn was impressed with
Bett Bett's energy and drive,
00:07:28.48\00:07:33.48
her curiosity and wild
ways, the two developed a close
00:07:33.52\00:07:38.05
relationship and a
bond was formed which.
00:07:38.09\00:07:41.02
lasted their lifetimes.
00:07:41.06\00:07:42.39
Bett Bett soon became a
part of the household, Mrs. Gunn
00:07:42.42\00:07:48.06
was to have a profound
effect on the girl's life.
00:07:48.10\00:07:50.70
She started to teach her
how to read and write and
00:07:50.73\00:07:54.30
sew clothes, both Jeannie and
her husband Aeneas were children
00:07:54.34\00:07:59.04
of church ministers, they
loved the Bible and it's message
00:07:59.07\00:08:03.31
and Jeannie told Bett Bett
stories from the Bible and so
00:08:03.35\00:08:07.55
from a young age, she
developed a love for the Bible.
00:08:07.58\00:08:11.25
Tragically after only 18
months at Elsey's Station,
00:08:11.29\00:08:16.96
Jeannie Gunn's husband
died of Black Water Fever
00:08:16.99\00:08:20.16
a severe form of Malaria. Now
Mrs. Gunn was alone in a tough
00:08:20.20\00:08:26.33
vast land, the Outback.
00:08:26.37\00:08:28.70
There was no reason or
way for her to remain on
00:08:28.74\00:08:32.37
Elsey's Station and she was
forced to return to Melbourne
00:08:32.41\00:08:35.84
alone. But the Outback remained
with her, she wrote of her
00:08:35.88\00:08:40.68
time here and of the characters
that have become famous
00:08:40.72\00:08:44.52
through her books.
00:08:44.55\00:08:46.02
Jeannie wanted to take
Dolly, her Bett Bett with her,
00:08:47.82\00:08:51.09
but Dolly wasn't allowed to
leave the Northern Territory.
00:08:51.13\00:08:54.36
Instead, she was
introduced to her father,
00:08:54.40\00:08:58.47
an Englishman who worked on
the overland telegraph line.
00:08:58.50\00:09:01.57
Dolly traveled with him for
a while before he decided that
00:09:01.60\00:09:06.17
Dolly should live with
a white family in Darwin.
00:09:06.21\00:09:08.74
This marked the beginning of
a succession of Foster Families
00:09:08.78\00:09:12.81
for Dolly. Her first foster
family treated Dolly harshly,
00:09:12.85\00:09:18.72
she was forced to work
hard, sleep on the floor
00:09:18.75\00:09:21.79
on the veranda and she was
not given any clothes or toys,
00:09:21.82\00:09:25.83
she was also beaten regularly.
00:09:25.86\00:09:28.36
During these difficult times,
Dolly found solace at night
00:09:28.40\00:09:33.67
in her friends the stars and
shared her burdens with them.
00:09:33.70\00:09:38.07
It was comforting to know
that they were the same stars
00:09:38.11\00:09:42.18
that she looked at when
she had known perfect happiness
00:09:42.21\00:09:45.25
at Elsey's
Station with Mrs. Gunn.
00:09:45.28\00:09:47.78
When the unkind foster
family moved into state,
00:09:47.82\00:09:51.49
Dolly was placed with a
family of a Mr. Ward who worked
00:09:51.52\00:09:55.72
at the post office in Darwin.
The Ward family treated Dolly
00:09:55.76\00:10:00.16
as their daughter, she
was given a bed to sleep in
00:10:00.20\00:10:02.80
and clothes to wear,
and to Dolly's delight,
00:10:02.83\00:10:06.10
was taken to this church.
00:10:06.13\00:10:08.04
Today it's the oldest
church building in the
00:10:08.07\00:10:11.37
Northern Territory, it's been
part of Darwin's history since
00:10:11.41\00:10:14.98
1897. This church building
has survived the bombing of
00:10:15.01\00:10:19.98
Darwin during World
War II, cyclones, termites,
00:10:20.02\00:10:23.55
and the hot
humid tropical climate.
00:10:23.59\00:10:26.59
And it was in this church that
Dolly learned more about Jesus
00:10:26.62\00:10:30.79
and the Bible stories that
Mrs. Gunn had shared with her.
00:10:30.83\00:10:34.40
It was then that Dolly decided
she would like to know more
00:10:34.43\00:10:38.97
about Jesus and the Bible.
00:10:39.00\00:10:40.84
She had an inquiring
mind and so had many questions
00:10:40.87\00:10:45.64
about her
favorite book, the Bible.
00:10:45.67\00:10:48.81
Who wrote it? Where was
God? Who made the world?
00:10:49.04\00:10:53.88
And why did Jesus have to die
if He was such a good person?
00:10:53.92\00:10:58.95
Mrs. Ward would open her Bible
and patiently try to answer
00:10:58.99\00:11:04.43
Dolly's questions
as best she could.
00:11:04.46\00:11:06.93
Dolly was delighted when
one evening Mrs. Ward pointed to
00:11:06.96\00:11:12.87
the brilliant stars, the
same stars the Dolly looked at
00:11:12.90\00:11:16.54
every night and explained
that the God of the Bible,
00:11:16.57\00:11:20.18
had made them all. Now she
loved the stars more than ever.
00:11:20.21\00:11:26.82
Mrs. Ward became another
mother to Dolly and the Ward's
00:11:26.85\00:11:31.45
her new family. But although
Mrs. Ward was a school teacher,
00:11:31.49\00:11:35.52
she firmly believed as
many people did in those days,
00:11:35.56\00:11:39.89
that education was
wasted on black children
00:11:39.96\00:11:43.16
and so Dolly never
learned how to read properly.
00:11:43.20\00:11:46.40
In her nightly talks to
the stars, she told them that
00:11:46.43\00:11:50.61
if ever she had children of
her own, she would make sure
00:11:50.64\00:11:54.61
that they would
be well-educated.
00:11:54.64\00:11:56.85
While living with the
Wards, Dolly had the opportunity
00:11:56.88\00:12:00.75
to travel with them to
Sydney Adelaide in Melbourne.
00:12:00.78\00:12:04.09
In Melbourne, Dolly was
reunited with Jeannie Gunn
00:12:04.12\00:12:08.12
who again is trying to
get government permission
00:12:08.16\00:12:10.96
to bring Dolly to Melbourne
to live with her once more.
00:12:10.99\00:12:14.40
Permission was denied, but
Dolly was happy to continue
00:12:14.43\00:12:18.67
to living with the Ward family.
She'd grown into their hearts
00:12:18.70\00:12:22.44
and they loved her. To
Dolly, it was a time of settling
00:12:22.50\00:12:26.94
into a new routine, a time
to learn about Darwin and it's
00:12:26.98\00:12:30.98
people. Little did she
know that her life was about to
00:12:31.01\00:12:35.22
take yet another
remarkable twist.
00:12:35.28\00:12:38.45
When Dolly was 15, the
good years ended, Mr. Ward was
00:12:38.49\00:12:44.39
transferred to Adelaide,
the same law that had frustrated
00:12:44.43\00:12:48.46
Jeannie Gun now stopped the
Ward family from taking Dolly
00:12:48.50\00:12:52.77
with them, their request
was denied by the government
00:12:52.80\00:12:56.84
and Dolly was moved to
yet another foster family.
00:12:56.87\00:13:00.38
As a teenager, Dolly was
now viewed by this family
00:13:00.41\00:13:04.51
as a source of labor and income.
She was treated like a slave
00:13:04.55\00:13:09.22
and beaten regularly,
these were the dark years of
00:13:09.25\00:13:13.69
Dolly's life. When she was 17
Dolly was forced to work in the
00:13:13.72\00:13:18.66
bar of a local pub, her
foster mother worked there also
00:13:18.69\00:13:22.36
and decided to rid herself
of responsibility for Dolly
00:13:22.40\00:13:26.53
by selling her to an
old man as a teenage bride.
00:13:26.57\00:13:30.31
Summoning all her courage,
Dolly decided to walk across
00:13:30.34\00:13:35.31
Darwin to the office of the
Government Appointed Protector
00:13:35.34\00:13:39.25
of Aborigines, she was
terrified but after describing
00:13:39.28\00:13:43.79
her situation and fear of
being forced to get married,
00:13:43.82\00:13:47.16
the government officials
supported Dolly's position
00:13:47.19\00:13:50.39
which resulted in
greater anger and abuse from her
00:13:50.43\00:13:54.43
foster family. So Dolly decided
to break the law and run away.
00:13:54.46\00:13:59.93
During the two years since
the Ward family had returned to
00:13:59.97\00:14:04.64
Adelaide, Dolly had continued
to attend a local church,
00:14:04.67\00:14:08.84
she was about to run away when
she was offered lodging and work
00:14:08.88\00:14:13.45
by a kind woman
named Mrs.Tindle.
00:14:13.48\00:14:16.25
Now this was still
considered breaking the law
00:14:16.28\00:14:19.45
as Dolly was supposedly still
in the care of her guardian
00:14:19.49\00:14:23.86
foster family. The punishment
for running away was to be sent
00:14:23.89\00:14:28.40
to one of the mission
homes or state institutions.
00:14:28.43\00:14:31.43
Instead of forcing Dolly to
return to her foster family,
00:14:31.47\00:14:35.07
the protector of Aborigines
looked at her case and
00:14:35.10\00:14:39.14
determined that now Dolly was
old enough to care for herself.
00:14:39.17\00:14:42.98
She was finally free of
her abusive foster family,
00:14:43.01\00:14:47.38
no one had the faintest idea
that Dolly was the Bett Bett
00:14:47.42\00:14:52.32
of The Little
Black Princess fame.
00:14:52.35\00:14:54.56
Mrs. Gunn's books had now been
published and were high on the
00:14:54.59\00:14:58.93
Best Seller's List.
Everyone in Australia it seemed,
00:14:58.96\00:15:03.20
was talking about Bett Bett
and wondering what had happened
00:15:03.23\00:15:06.80
happened to her. Without being
aware of it, Dolly was probably
00:15:06.84\00:15:11.61
the best known Australian
Aborigine in the world,
00:15:11.64\00:15:14.78
it was a secret
she guarded well.
00:15:14.81\00:15:18.28
Dolly spent the next
three years with Mrs. Tindle
00:15:18.31\00:15:23.02
working with her and attending
the church in Darwin, it was
00:15:23.05\00:15:27.36
of this church that Dolly
met a handsome young Englishman
00:15:27.39\00:15:31.26
Joe Bonson. Joe was a quiet
and gracious man, but it seems
00:15:31.29\00:15:36.56
that when he met Dolly,
it was love at first sight.
00:15:36.60\00:15:39.70
They were married in
1918 and had five children.
00:15:39.73\00:15:43.84
Dolly and Joe quietly
raised their five children
00:15:43.87\00:15:48.24
in the suburbs of Darwin.
Dolly's promise to the stars
00:15:48.28\00:15:51.78
so many years ago
was kept to the letter.
00:15:51.81\00:15:54.98
All of her children
learned to read and write
00:15:55.02\00:15:58.05
as soon as they were old enough
and received a good education.
00:15:58.09\00:16:02.32
It was by sheer chance,
that Dolly's daughter Florence
00:16:02.36\00:16:06.80
found out that her
mother had a secret.
00:16:06.83\00:16:09.36
Well, one day I happened to be
going through an old tin trunk
00:16:09.40\00:16:14.77
and low and behold, there was
a book there plus some letters.
00:16:14.80\00:16:18.84
After going through the book,
I came to the final chapter
00:16:18.87\00:16:23.24
there was a little chapter
written and I saw my mom's name
00:16:23.28\00:16:28.42
come up, and I thought, this is
who this book is written about
00:16:28.45\00:16:34.42
it's about my mom. And that
was the first time I realized
00:16:34.46\00:16:39.33
that my mom had a history
I didn't even know about.
00:16:39.36\00:16:43.26
Flo asked her mother
what they were all about.
00:16:43.30\00:16:46.47
A reluctant Dolly explained
that she was Bett Bett,
00:16:46.50\00:16:50.97
The Little Black Princess
of two World Famous books.
00:16:51.01\00:16:54.28
She begged Flo not to
tell anyone about the discovery
00:16:54.31\00:16:58.11
because only Joe, her husband
and a very few other people
00:16:58.15\00:17:03.08
knew. She explained to her
daughter that Joe and Dolly had
00:17:03.12\00:17:06.82
agreed before they were married,
that the secret be kept as long
00:17:06.86\00:17:10.83
as possible so they
could live as normal people.
00:17:10.86\00:17:14.43
Over the years, the Bonson's
became known and respected
00:17:14.46\00:17:19.00
throughout the community as
a loving and sharing family.
00:17:19.03\00:17:23.14
The street Bonson Terrace
is named after their family.
00:17:23.17\00:17:27.51
Dolly and Joe had a very
happy marriage and they remained
00:17:27.54\00:17:31.98
inseparable for 40
years until Joe's death.
00:17:32.01\00:17:35.58
During her eventful life, Dolly
experienced great depression
00:17:35.62\00:17:40.86
and abuse, but she also
experienced great kindness
00:17:40.89\00:17:45.19
and love. Prejudice and
poorly formed government policy
00:17:45.23\00:17:49.76
were barriers that
repeatedly caused Dolly pain.
00:17:49.80\00:17:53.70
But key individuals in Dolly's
life showed her unconditional
00:17:53.74\00:17:58.27
love and tried to
fight these barriers.
00:17:58.31\00:18:01.28
Jeannie Gunn repeatedly tried
to get permission for Dolly
00:18:01.31\00:18:06.15
to live with her in Melbourne.
The Ward family raised Dolly
00:18:06.18\00:18:09.98
as their own daughter but
couldn't get permission to take
00:18:10.02\00:18:13.69
Dolly with them when they
moved from Darwin to Adelaide.
00:18:13.72\00:18:16.22
And Mrs. Tindle opened
her home to Dolly as an escape
00:18:16.26\00:18:20.53
from horrible violence.
00:18:20.56\00:18:22.60
Before she turned 18, Dolly
had experience the best and
00:18:22.63\00:18:27.40
the worst of human nature.
Her challenge was to decide
00:18:27.44\00:18:32.51
what kind of woman
she wanted to become.
00:18:32.54\00:18:34.94
What example would she follow?
00:18:34.98\00:18:37.51
Would the hardship, violence
and loss she'd experience
00:18:37.55\00:18:41.28
result in a life of anger
and for Princess Bett Bett?
00:18:41.32\00:18:45.75
Or would she find
something that gave her strength
00:18:45.79\00:18:49.36
in the dark years from the
faith of those who loved her?
00:18:49.39\00:18:53.09
The people who showed
Dolly love, all had something
00:18:53.13\00:18:57.13
in common. They were all
active Christians, Jeannie Gunn
00:18:57.17\00:19:02.37
introduced Dolly to the Bible
right here at Elsey's Station.
00:19:02.40\00:19:06.47
Whilst the Ward family
took Dolly to church with them,
00:19:06.51\00:19:10.11
and so did Mrs. Tindle.
After gaining her freedom,
00:19:10.15\00:19:14.75
Dolly continued to attend
church, she considered it a
00:19:14.78\00:19:19.25
safe-haven. A place that
had given her a small glimmer of
00:19:19.29\00:19:23.06
hope during the difficult
times, but she still had
00:19:23.09\00:19:27.03
questions. Questions that
were at the very heart of her
00:19:27.06\00:19:31.57
search for happiness.
Could God accept a person
00:19:31.60\00:19:35.50
who couldn't read the Bible?
Could God love a half-cast?
00:19:35.54\00:19:39.47
Someone who was
neither black nor white?
00:19:39.51\00:19:42.54
Some time after Joe's
death Dolly had a dream...
00:19:42.58\00:19:47.75
Well, my mom had a dream
of the second coming of Jesus
00:19:47.78\00:19:51.02
and I didn't know about
the dream until one day we were
00:19:51.05\00:19:56.42
able to see it up on a screen
and she revealed to me that
00:19:56.46\00:20:01.53
she had already had this dream
where she saw the second coming
00:20:01.56\00:20:05.87
of Jesus and she was
so thrilled about it.
00:20:05.90\00:20:09.14
Determined to learn more about
this picture, Dolly asked to
00:20:09.17\00:20:14.34
talk with the preacher.
When they met, she flooded him
00:20:14.38\00:20:18.51
with the questions that had
bothered her for so many years.
00:20:18.55\00:20:22.02
She wanted to know about
the second coming of Jesus
00:20:22.05\00:20:25.29
and if He would accept her.
00:20:25.32\00:20:27.56
Sensing her fear and urgency,
the pastor reassured Dolly
00:20:27.59\00:20:32.53
that everyone is equal in
the eyes of God, regardless of
00:20:32.56\00:20:36.33
whether they can read or
not. Regardless of the color of
00:20:36.36\00:20:40.10
their skin, regardless of their
culture. The only thing that
00:20:40.14\00:20:44.47
really matters is their
relationship with Jesus Christ.
00:20:44.51\00:20:48.48
And Jesus Himself
said in John chapter 14.
00:20:48.51\00:20:51.85
Finally, she discovered the
peace and assurance she'd been
00:21:12.40\00:21:15.84
looking for. The promise of
Christ's return gave her hope,
00:21:15.87\00:21:20.58
the second coming of Jesus
became her passion and focus.
00:21:20.61\00:21:24.55
Her greatest desire was
to share what she had found
00:21:24.68\00:21:28.62
and when she found Jesus,
she wanted to share it, but her
00:21:28.65\00:21:32.79
biggest problem in
sharing was for her own culture.
00:21:32.82\00:21:36.52
And it seemed an impossible
task, but God had a plan
00:21:36.56\00:21:42.50
where people of her culture
are learning to know about Jesus
00:21:42.53\00:21:47.57
and to love Him and to realize
that He was there for them too
00:21:47.60\00:21:53.04
like he was for her.
00:21:53.07\00:21:54.74
As Dolly grew older, she moved
to Humpty Doo where she lived
00:21:54.78\00:21:59.31
with her children. She loved
to sit on the veranda in the
00:21:59.35\00:22:02.65
evening and watch the stars,
they will still the same old
00:22:02.68\00:22:07.26
friends that had witnesses
her long and eventful life.
00:22:07.29\00:22:10.73
Now they could share her inner-
peace in knowing that she'd
00:22:10.76\00:22:15.23
always been accepted by
Jesus and was part of the family
00:22:15.26\00:22:19.13
of God and that Jesus
is coming back for her.
00:22:19.17\00:22:23.00
Dolly's story illustrates
why we need to talk about and
00:22:23.04\00:22:29.61
be aware of the poor
treatment of aboriginal people.
00:22:29.64\00:22:32.38
The mistakes of prejudice
and bad government policy
00:22:32.41\00:22:36.69
and why many thought it was
important that our government
00:22:36.72\00:22:40.36
apologize to
aboriginal people in 2008.
00:22:40.39\00:22:45.29
But your past circumstances
don't have to determine
00:22:45.33\00:22:49.06
your present or your future.
The story of Mrs. Gunn and
00:22:49.10\00:22:53.67
Bett Bett is a
powerful illustration of this.
00:22:53.70\00:22:57.11
Yes, Jeannie Gunn could be seen
as just a white colonial woman
00:22:57.14\00:23:02.68
who tragically lost her husband
after one year of marriage.
00:23:02.71\00:23:06.31
Dolly Bonson could just be seen
as a child who grew up without
00:23:06.35\00:23:11.32
her biological family
and childhood security
00:23:11.35\00:23:15.39
but their
legacy's say otherwise.
00:23:15.42\00:23:17.59
Jeannie Gunn's journey led
her to publish two Best Selling
00:23:17.63\00:23:22.20
Books and she worked tirelessly
for war veterans in Victoria
00:23:22.23\00:23:26.47
during and after
the two World Wars.
00:23:26.50\00:23:29.50
Dolly Bonson's journey led her
to 40 years of a happy marriage
00:23:29.54\00:23:34.71
and five much-loved
children and in the last decades
00:23:34.74\00:23:38.68
of her life, Dolly also found
a spiritual peace in her faith
00:23:38.71\00:23:42.98
that she had been searching
for since Mrs. Gunn had first
00:23:43.02\00:23:47.09
told her that God beyond
the stars when she was a child
00:23:47.12\00:23:51.59
here on Elsey's Station.
00:23:51.63\00:23:53.33
Here at Elsey's Cemetery
just a short distance from the
00:23:53.36\00:23:58.40
original homestead is the grave
of Aneaes Gunn and a memorial
00:23:58.43\00:24:02.47
to Jeannie Gunn who died in 1961
and was buried in her hometown
00:24:02.50\00:24:07.31
Melbourne. There's also a
memorial here to Dolly Bonson
00:24:07.34\00:24:11.75
in the heart of The Never Never
in the landscape she loved.
00:24:11.78\00:24:15.82
The words are as follows.
00:24:15.85\00:24:18.12
When Dolly died at
the grand old age of 95,
00:24:39.07\00:24:42.58
she was secure in her faith
that Jesus is coming for her
00:24:42.61\00:24:46.88
and that her journey would
continue at the resurrection
00:24:46.92\00:24:50.09
when He returns and that
she would reach her final home
00:24:50.12\00:24:53.52
with Jesus among
her friends the stars.
00:24:53.56\00:24:56.19
If you would like to experience
the faith and assurance
00:24:56.22\00:25:00.13
that brought peace to
Dolly's life, why not ask for it
00:25:00.16\00:25:04.23
right now as we pray.
00:25:04.27\00:25:06.60
Dear Lord, The story of
Dolly is both heartbreaking and
00:25:06.63\00:25:11.37
inspiring but we can also take
encouragement from Dolly's story
00:25:11.41\00:25:15.84
knowing that you love us
and care about us and that our
00:25:15.88\00:25:19.71
past circumstances don't
have to determine our present
00:25:19.75\00:25:23.39
or our future. You have a plan
for our lives and you have the
00:25:23.42\00:25:28.12
power to change them for
the better. Help us to trust you
00:25:28.16\00:25:32.29
and give us the peace
and assurance that comes from
00:25:32.33\00:25:35.30
knowing Jesus. In
Jesus name we pray.
00:25:35.33\00:25:38.73
Amen!
00:25:38.77\00:25:40.17
The story of Dolly Bonson
is a fascinating and inspiring
00:25:42.77\00:25:47.11
piece of Australian history.
00:25:47.14\00:25:48.71
If you've enjoyed
exploring the places and details
00:25:48.74\00:25:52.61
highlighted in Dolly's story,
and would like to experience
00:25:52.65\00:25:56.18
Dolly's story more deeply,
you'll want to make sure you
00:25:56.22\00:25:59.65
receive this special gift we
have for all our viewers today.
00:25:59.69\00:26:03.39
It's a book called "The
Girl Who Talked to the Stars."
00:26:03.43\00:26:07.93
Just before she died,
Dolly contributed to a biography
00:26:07.96\00:26:12.53
about her life and shared
more about the faith that's
00:26:12.57\00:26:16.40
helped her
through the dark years.
00:26:16.44\00:26:18.11
In its pages, you'll learn
more about the joy and sorrow
00:26:18.14\00:26:22.81
that Dolly experienced
and be inspired by her faith.
00:26:22.84\00:26:26.38
You'll also discover the source
of her peace and happiness
00:26:26.41\00:26:30.05
and learn how it changed
her life forever and it could do
00:26:30.09\00:26:34.29
the same for you. Remember
there's no cost of obligation
00:26:34.32\00:26:38.89
whatsoever. "The Girl Who Talked
to the Stars" is absolutely
00:26:38.93\00:26:44.13
Free. Here's the
information you need.
00:26:44.17\00:26:46.97
Phone us now on 0481.315.101
or text us on 0491.222.999.
00:26:47.00\00:27:00.32
or visit our website at
www.theincrediblejourney.tv
00:27:00.35\00:27:05.09
to request today's Free offer.
00:27:05.12\00:27:07.19
So don't delay,
contact us right now.
00:27:07.22\00:27:10.99
If you've enjoyed todays
journey, be sure to join us
00:27:18.17\00:27:21.27
again next week when
we will share another of
00:27:21.30\00:27:24.17
life's journey's together
and experience another new and
00:27:24.21\00:27:27.78
thought provoking perspective
on the peace, insight,
00:27:27.81\00:27:31.48
understanding and hope
that only the Bible can give us.
00:27:31.51\00:27:35.68
The Incredible Journey truly is
television that changes lives.
00:27:35.72\00:27:41.32
Until next week remember
the ultimate destination
00:27:41.36\00:27:45.43
of life's journey.
00:27:45.46\00:27:46.80
Now I saw a new
heaven and a new earth
00:27:46.83\00:27:49.66
and God will wipe away
every tear from their eyes,
00:27:49.70\00:27:53.13
there shall be no more
death nor sorrow nor crying
00:27:53.17\00:27:56.40
there shall be no more
pain for the former things have
00:27:56.44\00:28:00.71
passed away.
00:28:00.74\00:28:02.34