2004 painting by Peter Gouldthorpe
A SINGULAR ACT OF FEMALE REBELLION IN VAN DIEMEN'S LAND
The Rev. Robert Crooke records in his diary an occasion in 1844, when
the Rev. Mr Bedford, Chaplain of the Female Factory at Cascades near
Hobart Town, conducted Governor Franklin and Lady Jane Franklin around
the institution. The Governor, a humane and popular man, addressed the
gathering of between 300 and 400 women and was accorded a good
hearing, as was Lady Franklin. But when Mr Bedford, whose hypocrisy
had earned him the ridicule and contempt of his female flock, and
especially that of a group of hardened offenders known to Hobart Town
as `The Flash Mob,' began to address the women from the dais, "on
a sudden the three hundred women turned right round and at one impulse
pulled up their clothes shewing their naked posteriors which they
simultaneously smacked with their hands making a loud and not very
musical noise. This was the work of a moment, and although constables,
warders etc. were there in plenty, yet 300 women could not well all be
arrested and tried for such an offence and when all did the same act
the ringleaders could not be picked out. The feeling of the Governor
and her Ladyship may well be conceived..." — although it was said
that her Ladyship managed to restrain her mirth until she was safely
homeward bound in the viceregal carriage.
Prehensile Eye, ScarletMote, neonarcade, snarkyman, and 5 other people added this photo to their favorites.
N1ghyom1 84 months ago | reply
Would it be possible to cite this photo so that fellow Flickrers can read the wonderful text that goes along with it? Thanks!
Oh, and great shot, thanks for posting it!
lackaff 83 months ago | reply
Sorry for the slow reply -- I've added the text. Cheers!