Mortlake's pioneer women in print

FROM the wives of wealthy squatters to those who were pastoralists in their own right, stories of the pioneering mothers, sisters and daughters of Mortlake have been compiled in a book.While the lives of their male counterparts are well-documented this is the first time the women of the Mt Shadwell district, which would later become Mortlake, have been the subjects of a book.Researched and written by Florence Charles and Craige Proctor, Women of the Mount documents the lives of 40 women during the period from 1839 until 1864.The first major publishing project of the Mortlake and District Historical Society, the book launch on Saturday was attended by many descendants of the pioneering women."It was tremendously successful," Proctor said."Many people who attended know it was a special event. "It was wonderful to hear stories about these women who have been long forgotten and I'm thrilled to see it finished." Women profiled in the book include Anne Ware, who became the ancestress of the Murdoch dynasty; Jane Mackinnon, the first wife of Lauchlan Mackinnon, owner of The Argus newspaper; and Lavinia Gibson who later settled in Port Campbell and nursed Eva Carmichael - one of two survivors of the Loch Ard shipwreck - back to health.Also featured are the wife of a shoemaker, humble farmers' wives, a blacksmith's four daughters and the wife of a Van Diemen's Land convict.