Growing Up Under the Stars: Trailblazer Edna Zigenbine (#301)

In the vast, untamed landscapes of Northern Australia, where the sky stretched endlessly and the land whispered stories of resilience, a young girl was growing up under the stars.

Born in 1926 in Thargomindah, Queensland, Edna Zigenbine spent her childhood on the stock routes, learning the ways of the bush under the guidance of her father, the legendary drover Harry Zigenbine.

From an early age, Edna defied expectations, breaking in horses by the age of six and, alongside her sister, training the entire team of horses needed for their father’s droving operation.

What’s a drover?

A drover in Australia is a person who moves livestock, usually cattle or sheep, over long distances, often across remote and rugged landscapes. This practice, known as droving, was historically essential for transporting livestock to markets, railheads, or new grazing lands before the development of modern transport like trucks and trains.

Drovers were highly skilled horsemen and women who had to navigate extreme weather, scarce water sources, and the constant risk of losing livestock to predators or natural hazards. They relied on packhorses, working dogs, and stock whips to manage the herd.

While droving is less common today due to mechanized transport, it remains an iconic part of Australian history and folklore, celebrated in literature, poetry (like Banjo Paterson’s Clancy of the Overflow), and film (The Man from Snowy River).

The legendary drovers, like Edna Zigenbine, were known for their toughness, resourcefulness, and deep understanding of the land.

Stepping Into History

In 1950, life threw Edna a challenge that would etch her name into Australian history. While droving a mob of 1,550 of Tom Quilty’s bullocks from Halls Creek in the Northern Territory to Dajarra in Queensland, her father fell ill and had to leave the journey. Before departing, he turned to Edna and said, “You take over. You’re the best man I have.”

With just two stockmen and a cook, she took the lead, driving the cattle across the harsh Australian outback. Six months later, without losing a single bullock, she arrived in Dajarra - an extraordinary feat for any drover, let alone a woman in a world dominated by men.

As the dust settled and the cattle were loaded onto trucks, Edna admitted, “When those old bullocks went, I really missed them badly. Some of them had become like mates to me.”

Her remarkable achievement made headlines, captivating the nation. She became a media sensation, admired by many, and even received marriage proposals. Yet, despite the recognition, she remained deeply connected to the land that had shaped her.

A Life Rooted in the Bush

After her historic trek, Edna took a brief break from droving, working in a hospital and as a waitress before returning to the only life she had ever truly known.The life of a drover.

Eventually, she married fellow drover Johnny Jessop, and together, they had a son, Jack. Though the bush called to her, she made a difficult decision to move to Mount Isa, ensuring that Jack received the education she never had.

Rick's Commentary

Edna Zigenbine was a woman ahead of her time. A trailblazer in an era when few women dared to challenge societal norms.

She firmly believed that women made better drovers than men, and she proved it with every cattle drive she led. She never sought fame, yet her story became a testament to the grit, resilience, and quiet determination of the women who shaped Australia’s rural history.

On September 15, 2007, Edna passed away, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire. She may have grown up under the stars, but her name now shines among them. A guiding light for future generations of strong, independent women.

Sisters Kath and Edna Zigenbine surrounded by military admirers at Newcastle Waters during their droving trip from the Kimberley, Western Australia, to Queensland in 1941.

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