Social Interaction with the Mackay Community
These cartoons depict various aspects of life at Mackay in the 1870s. The first deals with an upcoming election, and presumably the Rawson’s stance on the subject. It appears that the Rawsons supported WH Long rather than Henry Beor who advocated the retention of Kanaka labour on sugar plantations.
The vaccination referred to was probably for Smallpox, as a result of a scare in Sydney in 1877. The Report of the Qld Central Board of Health for that year shows that Health Officers had been appointed for North Queensland and that they were also to act as Public Vaccinators.
23 April 1877
‘Yah! No slavery’
‘Hurrah! for Long’
‘Long for ever’
‘Vote for Long’
‘Down with the slave trader!’
‘Beor! and down with Kanaka labour’
Elector coming up to poll
16 Feb 1877
Vaccination Day in Port Mackay!
30 June 1871
A Mackay Ball – Manners and Customs of the Natives
Last updated: 10th January 2008
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