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Dolly Bonson (Bett Bett)Print Page 
The memorial over the grave was erected in memory of Dolly Bonson who, as Bett Bett, featured in the novel We of the Never Never by Mrs Aeneas Gunn.
Dolly Bonson, aged 95, died in March, 1988. She was Bett Bett, the Aboriginal servant girl featured in We of the Never-Never and the lead character in The Little Black Princess books by Jeannie Gunn, now part of Australian folklore. It had been thought that Bett Bett had disappeared into the vast Australian bush in 1902. When Jeannie reluctantly left Elsey after her husband died, Dolly was distraught. But the event brought her into contact with her European father, Mr Cummings, for the first time. They became great friends, although the relationship was legally and culturally prohibited.
Dolly was caught between two worlds. Her own culture wouldn’t accept her "whiteness" and the European community refused to accept her Aboriginal heritage. She experienced abuse in foster homes and lived in seven homes in her 17 years of life. In 1918, she met and married Joe Bonson, a handsome Englishman. Their close relationship lasted until he died, 40 years later. Over the years, the Bonsons became part of the Darwin community.
Location
| Address: | Stuart Highway , Elsey Cemetery, Signposted Turnoff south of Mataranka, Mataranka , 0852 |
|---|---|
| State: | NT |
| Area: | AUS |
| GPS Coordinates: | Lat: -15.07918 Long: 133.12294 Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate. |
Details
| Monument Type: | Grave |
|---|---|
| Monument Theme: | People |
| Sub-Theme: | Indigenous |
Dedication
In Memory Of The Last Survivor
of
WE OF THE NEVER NEVER
BETT BETT
THE LITTLE BLACK PRINCESS
DOLLY BONSON
who died in Darwin 3 March 1988 - aged 95
She sleeps awaiting her Saviour`s
return and the gift of eternal life
