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Aboriginal members of Murray Household

Mr Jimmy Possum (R) was an important member of the Murray household at "Rosedale". Orphaned by an attack on an aboriginal encampment in North Queensland, he was a small boy when rescued by investigating Native Police Officer, John Murray. This orphaned child was raised by John and Rachel Murray in their home "Kirtleton" at Cardwell, North Queensland. After John Murray died, Rachel returned to "Rosedale" near Bundaberg with her children, including her indigenous child, "Jimmy Possum". In Rachel Murray's diary, Possum is regularly mentioned as a resident in the house, working on the property, and accompanying her brother, James Little, who was the owner of "Rosedale". "I done Possum's room out...Possum and Joe came before dinner with the horses...Att, Possum, Joe, Arthur went & cut a drain through the grass at the end of the lagoon to let the water run out....James & Possum went out with Brotherton and got his cattle....Possum went visiting...I worked on Possum's hat...Gasner & Possum drew in timber for the buggy shed..." [Rachel Murray's Rosedale Diaries, 1893-94, transcribed by Robert Murray]. Possum married Tabena Sims on "Rosedale" in 1904. Taken at "Kirtleton", the other photo (L) of three of the Murray girls, Wilhelmina, Harriet & Julia (known respectively as Dolly, Bess and Sybel) with Louie, an aboriginal housegirl. The earlier generation of Murrays at Warrawang had Nelly as one of their aboriginal servants. And Jessie Murray wrote from "Teebar" of her companion, Bessy, with whom their was an affectionate relationship, though the two women had vast differences of education, experience and skills. "I asked Bessy the other day who made the trees and everything - she thought for some time then said she did not know. I told her about God who made all the white men and all the black men and that He would take care of her if she was good." [PHOTOS courtesy: Robert Murray]

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