Secretary Red Cross of Australia,
Author,
Filmmaker,
Date of death
1984-04-26,
Place of death
Bowral (N.S.W.),
Place of burial
Waverley Cemetery (N.S.W.),
Biographical notes
Hilda arrived in Darwin with her husband who was the Administrator to the Northern Territory in 1937. During the 9 years in the Territory Hilda was known as an energetic 'First Lady'. Hilda had previously worked for the Australian Red Cross in Cairo and with this connection to the organisation she revived the Darwin branch of the Australian Red Cross. In 1946 the Red Cross recognised her work as the Branch President and in aftermath of the war naming one of its buildings 'Hilda Abbott Cottage'.
Hilda travelled through the Territory and made a film in Central Australia. She was inspired by the Territory to record her memoirs in 'Good Night, All About' as well as writing numerous articles newspapers, magazines under her pen name 'Haliden Hartt' about Territory life.
In 1946, the Abbott's left Darwin and returned to New South Wales where Hilda wrote a children's book 'Among the hills'.
During the 1950s and 1960s Hilda continued to travel through the Kimberley and Arnhem Land making films on Aboriginal cave paintings as part of a scientific exhibition.
While travelling through Europe and Asia she delivered lectures on Australia and Central Australia.
Source: Northern Territory dictionary of biography. Darwin : Charles Darwin University Press, 2008.,
Language
English,
Subject
Northern Territory,
Women,
Related materials
Northern Territory dictionary of biography. Darwin : Charles Darwin University Press, 2008. NTC 920.9429 NORT,