Ann Hayes

Ann Jane Doolan, known as Jane, came to the Centre at the age of 13 travelling with her family from Port Pirie, South Australia in a horse and buggy. She drove her step-father's hawkers carts to Newcastle Waters and rode a horse all the way back to Alice Springs over 800-kilometre round trip she was a wonderful horsewoman. In 1910, in Alice Springs, Jane married Edward Hayes and the couple went to live on one of the Hayes properties, Mount Burrell (now Maryvale station) and worked and raised their five children until they went to Undoolya in 1922. In1930, Mr and Mrs Hayes bought other members of the family out and they held the partnership in Undoolya until their son took over in 1953. Jane was known for her interest in worthy causes after the death of George Henry Wilkinson owner and manager of Wallace and Company's store and agency in Alice Springs and Oodnadatta she became main organiser of and contributor to his memorial which she unveiled in 1934. With her husband she raced Star Aim which won the Adelaide Cup in the late 1950's.She was patron of the Central Australian Show Society and a foundation member of the Country Women's Association (CWA) and gave generously to many sporting organisations. Jane was a patroness of a number of clubs, including football and cycling clubs and the only woman to be made an honorary member of the Memorial Club in Alice Springs. Also a Life member of the Central Australian Racing Club. She helped to finance the first RSL memorial club in Alice Springs and donated substantially toward the building of the existing Catholic Church in Alice Springs. After the Second World War Jane and Ted retired to Alice Springs their house was a place for family and friends where Jane continued the tradition of bush hospitality. Her husband died in 1960 and Jane in 1968 they both buried at the Alice Springs cemetery.PastoralistCommunity Voluntee