Legendary drover Edna Zigenbine became Australia’s first woman boss drover in the 1950s. Having grown up on the stock routes of northern Australia, she was on a run with her father Harry along the notorious Murranji Track and Barkly Tableland when he got sick. Her father remarked, “Don’t worry about Edna, mate, she’s the best man I’ve got and what’s more, she’s a drover.” Over six months she successfully drove 1500 head of cattle into western Queensland and became a celebrity along the way. When she returned to Tennant Creek afterwards she was met by the national press and later inspired the Slim Dusty song Give My Regards to Edna. Her story is told as part of Northern Territory Library's new exhibition, A Territory Story, which opened last week. It's open Tuesday to Sunday. More at ntl.nt.gov.au.

Image: Northern Territory Library, Douglas Lockwood Collection

Published: 29 July 2018