Through my search of Aradale Asylum patient archives, I have only been able to find the record of one Aboriginal female patient, Jennie/Jenny Green (aka Jeanie). This is not to say she was the only Aboriginal to be incarcerated there – it means their records are not so easy to find.
In the 1830’s, Europeans began settling in south-west Victoria and the Gunditjmara fought for their land during the violent Eumerella wars – a war that waged for more than 20 years. Countless Aboriginal people were displaced and the Government began to build Reserves. Many refused to move from their ancestral land so the government built Lake Condah Aboriginal Station, within sight of Budj Bim.
In the 1950’s, the mission was destroyed but the Gunditjmara continued to live in the area and protect their heritage and in 1987 the land was returned.
Jennie was ‘Protected’ under the ‘Aboriginal Act’ of the time and housed at the Station.
However in 1907 (September 23), Jennie became a patient of Aradale Asylum. According to Public Records of Victoria records, her health was in good order on admission. Her records describe her as being a 70 year old widow with two living children, both sons (the youngest being 30 years old). Her Medical Officer, Dr. Bennett, wrote that Jennie was, ‘noisy and quarrelsome, wanders about – shouting and screaming complains of various pains which are obviously only imaginary’. Jennie was also disruptive at night and set fire to a box of clothes, she was a incendiarist. Jennie had tried to commit suicide on a number of occasions and had auditory hallucinations. She believed someone was trying to murder her son. She also suffered from bouts of depression ‘probably from the thought of being here’.
During her treatment, her photograph (above) was taken by Dr. Maurice Gamble, then Medical Superintendent of Aradale. Dr. Gamble noted on her photograph that Jennie was a ‘Daughter of the Sod’ and also the “Queen” of the Kerrup – jmara people.
An inquest conducted in January 1908, barely four months after Jennie was admitted, claimed she had been well cared for but had passed away from heat exhaustion and senile decay – not something unexpected considering her age.
But her story doesn’t end there …
Moving forward 110 years, Jennie’s Country – Lake Condah and the The Budj Bim National Heritage Landscape – remains a land of great importance and continues to be effectively managed by the Gunditjmara people through the Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC and Kerrup Jmara Elders Aboriginal Corporation.
Jennie’s Country contains many unique features which includes one of the world’s largest and oldest aquaculture systems. and on July 7 2019, the area was added to UNESCO World Heritage List. According to Chris Johnson (Muckleford Forest), Jennie was a significant knowledge holder in relation to basket making and I have now passed her story on to her great grand-daughter.
Jennie’s story isn’t just about an Aboriginal woman who fought all odds during the violent upheaval of colonisation and her incarceration experiences at the Lake Condah Aboriginal Station and Aradale Asylum.
It’s about recognising and celebrating the Queen of an ancient People who continue to nurture, manage and protect their Country today – a Queen worthy of remembrance.
I acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land, the People of the Kulin Nation, and pay respect to the Elders past, present and emerging.
jacsplace.wordpress.com 
Hi Jacqui – I think Jenny Green was a significant knowledge holder in relation to basket making – suggest you pass this on to Damein Bell at Gunditj Mirring – email me if you need contact details – she is featured in the World Heritage nomination that I and many other have prepared
Hi Chris – thank you for this gem of information. I have added it to the blog, let me know if it needs changes. I have also sent an email to Damein Bell at Gunditj Mirring.