Lara Leahy
The first in a series of public lectures at Evans Head Living Museum kicked off with the Marjory Henderson Lecture on Wednesday, August 20.
Marjory died aged 64. Five of her nine children were at the museum for the lecture. Three of them – Scott, Andrew and Margaret shared their stories.
Museum Life member Dr Richard Gates and author Jo Kijas spoke about Marj’s life.
“With her involvement in the Air Force, her work with local reserves and National Parks and the environment, wildlife, First Nations people, unemployed youth and other community affairs, her spread of influence is considered major,” Richard said.
“She touched on most aspects that Evans Head is known for and is a fitting person of note to name the series after.”
Richard read a passage from Jo’s book Places that Inspire about Marj’s work in the 60s.
Everybody knew of Marj – whether they thought she was wonderful, a mentor, inspirational, eccentric, politically dangerous or “that bloody woman.
If she saw an injustice, she worked out what to do about it and acted.
Marj joined the Air Force as a teenager, and her intelligence was quickly recognised.
“They took her into a room, without colleagues or her superiors and offered her a job. There was no job description, and she was told she could not talk to anyone about it – friends, comrades or family. And she accepted it,” Andrew said.
Marj moved to Ascot in Brisbane where she worked with the Central Bureau in code breaking during the war.
It was during this time she met George Henderson, who was doing similar work.
Marjory was demobbed in May 1946, she married George a month later and they began their lives together in Evans Head.
(To be ‘demobbed’ from the army means to be released from military service)
“Just about everyone in Evans at the time were Air Force or ex Air Force or involved somehow,” Scott said.
“To bring about change, you needed to make calls and write letters, and with the contacts Marj had made, she did just that, getting tacit support for a better world.”
Those contacts were numerous and influential, and included a direct line to the deputy prime minister at the time – Doug Anthony.
Some of the topics shared about Marj’s works include having the Gummigurrah or Bundjalung Reserve protected and gazetted in 1966, a year before the National Parks and Wildlife Act was passed in 1967.
Marj worked with Olga Yuke who was the first indigenous appointee to the National Parks Advisory Committee involved with the formation of the Broadwater and Bundjalung National Parks.
As Marj’s health began to fail in 1986, she was still working to surround Evans Head with National Parks and was part of the push to gazette Dirawong Reserve.
Marj sought elder Douglas Cook to be one of the advisors for the cultural aspects of the Dirawong and Gummigurrah areas. She also influenced the appointment of Frank Gomes and Dan Roberts, who became the first indigenous rangers in this area protecting National Parks.
Another major feat was the formation of Henderson’s Army, which gave unemployed youth work experience and pride in their hometown.
Hendo’s Army was well known in the area and was the forerunner for the ‘work for the dole’ scheme.
David Parkinson who was mayor at the time of Hendo’s Army said, “We fought quite a bit, but I had a great deal of respect for Marj.”
He said Marj talked him into feeding Hendo’s Army at his fish and chip shop.
Marjory’s work in the community saw her become the go-to-person when things happened. Like when a tidal surge uncovered a wealth of indigenous artefacts at New Zealand Beach, most of which are now in the Australian Museum in Sydney. (They will be returned to Evans Head when an appropriate keeping place is located.)
When souvenir collectors started to denude the ancient coral reef in Evans River, reported to be 118,000 years old, Marj was instrumental in having it protected.
Marj was known to pop into the local primary school and drag the whole class out to see a koala, or other wonder, and have an impromptu science lesson for the day.
Another story involves the famous British naturalist and writer Gerald Durrell.
Kyogle-born Harry Frith who was the chief of Wildlife Research at the CSIRO at the time, was a friend and colleague of Marjory’s.
When Gerald wanted to come to Australia to learn about native animals, Harry told him that a visit wouldn’t be complete without an introduction to Marjory.
Gerald spent time in Evans with the Henderson family.
Many memories were shared at the lecture – how the Henderson household was a safe space for First Nations Peoples, the endless streams of kittens and puppies, working with orchids, teachers and senior citizens and long walks out to the headland.
Marj and her enthusiasm for the area has left a lasting impression, and her legacy has found a home at the Living Museum.
Richard was pleased with the lecture.
“I think last night was confirmation of the community’s thirst for knowledge about our history and about the need for space to serve that need,” he said.
The lecture was recorded and will be available at the Living Museum.
The next public lecture is in November, with the guest speaker to be announced soon.
