On the Frontline: Rare Women of the West

On the Frontline reveals the stories of two women who are significant voices in the story of the Swan River and its people. Mary Ann Friend and Fanny Balbuk each had very different experiences of colonisation. Until recently, their stories were little known. Through her journal of a voyage to Hobart with an account of the settlement on the Swan River (1829-30), Mary Ann Friend provides a glimpse into the living conditions, the environment of the river, and encounters with Noongar people. Fanny Balbuk, born around 1840, was a prominent Whadjuk Noongar woman who lived through the devastating impacts of colonisation. Whadjuk Noongar Elder, Marie Taylor, recounts the story of Balbuk’s life and her legacy. This podcast explores how the State Library is helping to preserve their stories and why shining a light on the women’s stories of the Swan River Colony is essential today. Podcast created by Gina Pickering - Latitude Creative Services and commissioned by the State Library of Western Australia. You can view a digital copy of Mary Ann Friends journal, read a transcript or watch a short documentary on the State Library of Western Australia Catalogue.