Anne Fraser Bon
Anne Fraser Bon | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Perthshire, Scotland |
| Died | June 5, 1936 (aged 98) Melbourne, Australia |
| Occupation(s) | Pastoralist, philanthropist, Aboriginal rights advocate |
Anne Fraser Bon (9 April 1838 – 5 June 1936) was a pastoralist, philanthropist, and advocate for Aboriginal rights, originally from Scotland and later based in Australia.
Life
Anne Fraser Bon was born in Perthshire, Scotland, as the second daughter of physician David Dougall and his wife Jane (Fraser). In 1858, she wed John Bon, a family acquaintance, and moved to Victoria where her husband had developed pastoral enterprises.
Throughout her life in Victoria, Bon dedicated herself to supporting disadvantaged communities, including the Chinese population, visually impaired veterans, and residents of state mental health facilities. She was instrumental in initiating a public investigation into the conditions faced by Aboriginal people in Victoria, which culminated in the 1881 Coranderrk Inquiry. Bon was appointed as a member of this inquiry and later served on the Aboriginal Protection Board of Victoria. In 1934, she laid the foundation stone for the Healesville monument honoring William Barak, a figure with whom she shared a long-term connection.
Anne Fraser Bon passed away in Melbourne on 5 June 1936.