[“Social Notes”, The West Australian, Tuesday 25 July 1916, page 8]
SOCIAL NOTES.
(By “Adrienne.”)
Miss Lenihan, who has been for the past three or four years in the Government service working among the native girls up at Port Darwin, Dorre Island, and Bernier Island, has recently returned to Perth and brought with her a most interesting set of wool caps, the material used in the making having been spun by the native girls. The management of the Bon Marche kindly exhibited the collection in the windows, and no doubt the many ladies interested in spinning took the opportunity of seeing the native girls’ most clever work. It seems that they spin with the simplest little spindle—two pieces of stick in almost the form of a cross. Miss Lenihan describes the actual way the girls spin as exquisitely graceful end natural; they hold the spindle and wind with the left hand, and take the raw wool and rub it against the right leg with lightning-like rapidity. The wool that was on view was made from kangaroo hair in a grey and soft buff shade, and when the spinning had been accomplished there were caps for the soldiers made out of this very warm durable wool. Miss Lenihan is to be congratulated upon bringing this great new interest into the lives of the native girls with whom she came in contact, and also for bringing the specimens to Perth so that friends in the city may see what the aboriginal girls can do. Miss Lenihan has much of interest to tell of the native character.
...
AB notes:
Harrite Lenihan is reported to have been working with Aborigines at Port Darwin since about 1913.
Having taught ‘her girls’ to spin and knit,
“Miss Lenihan is to be congratulated upon bringing this great new interest into the lives of the native girls...”
“The wool that was on view was made from kangaroo hair . . . caps for the soldiers made out of this very warm durable wool.”
