Norah Savage’s Bonnet

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c. 1923

Overview

small, cotton infant's bonnet.

Historical information

Norah Chester Savage (b.1921) was the daughter of Wilfred Savage, teacher of the South Greenough State School in the 1920's. Norah drowned in the school grounds in the winter of 1924 and is buried in the Greenough Cemetery.
"Between 12 and 1 p.m. yesterday, little Norah Savage, aged 3 years, was missed from her home at South Greenough. Her father, Mr. Wm. Savage, the local school teacher, instituted a search and about 1 pm. he found her at the bottom of a well in his garden. The child was apparently lifeless and Dr. Boyd was immediately sent for. He arrived at about 2.25 p.m. and after all efforts at artificial respiration had been exhausted the doctor was forced to pronounce life extinct. The well was used for garden purposes and was in size about 6x6x14 feet and had about six inches of mud in the bottom. It is thought that the child had been playing about the well and had fallen in, although no cries, it would appear, were heard. Dr. Boyd has given a certificate of death by drowning and an inquiry will probably be held." Little Girl Drowned, Geraldton Guardian 1 July 1924
The South Greenough State School was located immediately to the south of the St James' Church near the corner of Brand Highway and Flat Rocks Road. Between 1865 and 1871 William Stokes of South Greenough gave land on the South Flats for an Anglican Church. George Shenton gave 1/4 acre of land beside the church allotment for a public school. The school opened in 1871 and was almost identical in design to the North and Central Greenough State Schools. Only about 10 children attended the school, including members of the Duncan, Bagley, Stokes, Criddle, Knapp and Wilton families, all well known in the area.
Following the introduction of school buses, South Greenough School closed in 1944. The ruins of the school were bulldozed in 1993.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-72-GMOB0202

Item type

Hats

Material

Cotton (Textile)

Width

210 mm

Height or length

110 mm

Depth

210 mm

Themes

People

Social History

Contextual Information

Up until about sixty years ago infant deaths through illness or accidents were an unfortunate factor of life. This bonnet is a reminder of infant mortality. It can also be seen as a memento mori in that the bonnet was kept by members of Norah’s family. The bonnet is also representative of infant clothing of that era.

Keywords

Greenough

Place made

Western Australia
Australia

Year

c. 1923

Statement of significance

The object 'Young Girl's Bonnet' (GMOB0202) has high aesthetic significance, given its (form, colour, texture) and has some rarity value. The item has low scientific significance, although being representative of the class COSTUME/Children's in fair condition. The item has historic significance for the local community and has good interpretive potential. This item has very high social significance given it was used by NORAH CHESTER SAVAGE(c1923), associated with Pioneer Cemetery Fmr. Greenough Cemetery(1924,1991), associated with Fmr. South Greenough State School(1924),

Primary significance criteria

Social or spiritual significance

Comparative significance criteria

Interpretive capacity

Object’s condition or completeness

Rare or representative

Well provenanced

Greenough Museum and Gardens

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