Hilda Abbott

Hilda Gertrude Abbott (née Harnett; 9 September 1890 - 26 May 1984) was the wife of the former Administrator of the Northern Territory, Charles Lydiard Aubrey Abbott. She is best known her contribution to the Northern Territory's Red Cross branch.

Hilda Abbott
Mrs C. L. A. (Hilda) Abbott, wife of the Administrator of the Northern Territory
Born
Hilda Gertrude Harnett

(1890-09-09)9 September 1890
Eucumbene station, near Adaminaby, New South Wales
Died26 May 1984(1984-05-26) (aged 93)
Bowral, New South Wales, Australia
Resting placeSouth Head cemetery
Known forContributions to the Northern Territory's Red Cross branch
Spouse(s)
​
​
(m. 1916; died 1975)​

Early life

Abbott was born at Eucumbene station, near Adaminaby, New South Wales on 9 September 1890. She was the daughter of Australian grazier John Joseph Harnett.[1]

Life in Darwin

Abbott arrived in Darwin, Northern Territory in 1937 with her husband Charles Lydiard Aubrey Abbott, who was the Administrator of the Northern Territory from 1937 to 1946.[2] During that period she became known as the "First Lady". Hilda wrote numerous newspaper and magazine articles.[3] In 1946 the Red Cross named one its buildings "Hilda Abbott Cottage" in her honour.[3]

Hilda had previously worked for the Red Cross in Cairo. After moving to Darwin, she revived the local branch of the Red Cross, as its President.[4]

She left for New South Wales in 1946.[5] She explored and documented on film the Aboriginal cave paintings of Kimberley and Arnhem Land in the 1950s and 1960s, and lectured on Australian topics.[3]

Abbott's diaries, "Good Night, All About: Reminiscence of life in Darwin and the Northern Territory 1937-1946", were published in 2015 by the Historical Society of the Northern Territory.

Darwin Red Cross

In Darwin the Red Cross is rendered war-time service to the members of the three services. Besides giving comforts to men in hospital, members of the Red Cross emergency service and help in the hospitals. Business girls de-vote several hours each evening to helping and enthusiastically attended.

References
  1. Carment, David (1993). "Abbott, Hilda Gertrude (1890–1984)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. 13. Melbourne University Press. ISSN 1833-7538 – via National Centre of Biography, Australian National University.
  2. "Charles Lydiard Aubrey Abbott" (PDF). Government House. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
  3. "Hilda Gertrude Abbott". Territory Stories. Northern Territory Library. hdl:10070/217925. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  4. "Women of North. Help War Work". The Argus (Melbourne) (29, 331). Victoria, Australia. 24 August 1940. p. 7. Retrieved 22 July 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. Abbott, Hilda (2015). Good Night All About: Reminiscence of life in Darwin and the Northern Territory 1937-1946. Darwin: Historical Society of the Northern Territory. ISBN 9781925167498.
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