Doreen Braitling

Date:1904Doreen was born in Colchester, England in 1904. In 1909 the family travelled to Doreen's uncle's cattle station Glen Helen. They left the station and spent the next few years at the overland telegraph station at Alice Springs. The mining boom had started and once again the family travelled seeking work to Hatches Creek, Wauchope. While in Wauchope the family worked watering drover's cattle that were travelling through to the markets at the Top End of the Northern Territory. The Crook family established Singleton Station through calves which were left behind by the drovers. Doreen met Bill Braitling while he was droving and they were married in 1929 and their only son William was born. Both Bill and Doreen continued droving until they gained a pastoral lease in 1932 at Mount Doreen which Bill named after his wife. During 30 years on the station Doreen cared for people who came onto the station providing medical care, supplies and food as needed. Bill died in 1959 and the homestead was abandoned due to poor water supply. Doreen moved to Alice Springs and become active in the community. She campaigned heavily against the destruction of old historical buildings and established a branch in Alice Springs of the National Trust and was subsequently elected as their first president. Doreen was also a member of the Northern Territory National Trust executive. She was frequently asked to give short talks on radio about the history of Central Australia. After completing a writing course Doreen wrote several stories and poetry. Ted Egan set a number of these to music. Doreen was awarded a British Empire Medal (Civil) in the New Year's Honours but died in January 1979, before she could accept it.PastoralistPioneerHistorianWriterPoetEnglis