Connie Bush Explained

Constance Doreen Bush (1919 – 1997) was an Australian aboriginal health worker.^{[1] [2]}

Bush was born in 1919 at Borroloola. Her mother, Norah, was a Garrwa and her father, Tom Turner, was a mounted police constable. Connie and her mother were separated in 1924, and never saw each other again.^[3] Bush was raised at the mission in Groote Eylandt.^[4]

A street in Alyangula, Northern Territory, is named in her honour.^[5]

Bush was appointed MBE in the 1981 Birthday Honours "for services to Aboriginal women".

In 1990, Bush published several short works, including two autobiographical works, in a special issue of Australian Short Stories on Aboriginal Short Stories, edited by Bruce Pascoe. The volume was dedicated to Bush and to Maureen Watson.^[6]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Bush, Constance (Connie) Doreen . The Encyclopedia of Women and Leadership in Twentieth-Century Australia . The University of Melbourne . 1 August 2023 . en-gb.
2. Web site: Bush, Constance (Connie) Doreen . The Australian Women's Register . National Foundation for Australian Women and The University of Melbourne . 1 August 2023 . en-gb.
3. Web site: Tom Turner . 2024-06-25 . www.samuseum.sa.gov.au.
4. Dewar . Mickey . 2005 . You in Your Small Corner: The Love Song of Alfred J Dyer: Early Days of Church Mission Society Missions to the Aborigines of Arnhem Land . Humanities Research . XII . 1 . 10.22459/HR.XII.01.2005.04. free .
5. Web site: Map of Connie Bush St Alyangula, NT 0885 . www.whereis.com . 1 August 2023.
6. Aboriginal Short Stories . Australian Short Stories . 1990 . 32 . 1–80 . Austlit . 25 June 2024.