Susan Jane Russell 1860 - 1932

KUNDAIBARK — WOMAN OF THE WILD APPLE TREE

Susan Jane Russell, remembered within her family as Kundaibark, was a respected Biripi/Guringay woman whose life connected the Aboriginal families of Gloucester, Barrington, the Manning Valley and Purfleet.

Her story has been preserved most importantly through the memories and writings of her granddaughter, Cinderella Jane “Ella” Simon, whom Susan raised with her husband, George Russell.

BORN BENEATH A WILD APPLE TREE

According to the family history recorded by Ella Simon, Susan was born beneath a wild apple tree at Monkerai, in the valley country south-west of Gloucester. Susan’s traditional mother, remembered as Nell O’Possum, died during childbirth. The name Kundaibark is understood within the family story as a reference to the wild apple tree beneath which Susan was born.

The Gathang words gundaybang and gundaybak refer to a mahogany or “apple” tree. This language connection gives special meaning to the name by which Susan was remembered.

As a baby, Susan was taken to a homestead in the Manning Valley, where she was cared for during her early childhood. She was later brought to the Aboriginal community at Purfleet, where she remained, raised her family and became an important figure in the life of the community.

SUSAN AND GEORGE RUSSELL

Susan married George Russell, and together they raised their family at Purfleet. They are remembered by their descendants as being among the early families who helped establish and strengthen the Purfleet Aboriginal community.

Their granddaughter Ella was born at Taree in 1902 to their daughter Annie Russell. Following Annie’s death in 1909, Susan and George raised Ella at Purfleet.

Susan passed her culture, language, spirituality and family stories to Ella. She encouraged her granddaughter to read the Bible aloud and taught her through storytelling. These early lessons helped shape Ella’s later life as an Aboriginal leader, storyteller, evangelist and community advocate.

The Australian Dictionary of Biography records that Susan was also known as Kundaibark and that Ella returned to Purfleet to care for her grandmother before Susan’s death in 1932.

CONNECTIONS TO GLOUCESTER AND BARRINGTON

Susan is remembered in family history as the younger sister of Jack Cook, the Aboriginal horseman associated with Gloucester and Barrington.

Although Susan made her home at Purfleet, her family connections with Gloucester and Barrington remained strong. Ella recalled spending time at Barrington with Jack Cook and his partner, Jessie Brummy.

During these visits, Ella enjoyed the company of her relative and friend Maggie Cook. Maggie is also remembered in Through My Eyes, including an occasion when Ella and Maggie attended the Wingham Show together.

These memories demonstrate that the Aboriginal families of Purfleet, Gloucester and Barrington were not isolated communities. They remained connected through kinship, visits, shared experiences and the passing of stories between generations.

SUSAN’S LEGACY

Susan Jane Russell’s legacy lives through her descendants and through Ella Simon’s remarkable autobiography, Through My Eyes.

Through Ella’s memories, Susan is remembered not simply as a name in a family tree, but as a mother, grandmother, cultural teacher and storyteller. Her life connects the old families of Monkerai, Gloucester, Barrington, the Manning Valley and Purfleet.

Susan’s story also preserves the memory of her mother, Nell O’Possum, whose life might otherwise have disappeared from the written historical record.

By sharing Susan’s history, her descendants honour the strength of the women who maintained family, culture and identity through generations of hardship and change.

FAMILY CONNECTIONS

• Traditional mother: Nell O’Possum

• Birthplace: Monkerai district, south-west of Gloucester

• Traditional name: Kundaibark

• Brother: Jack Cook

• Husband: George Russell

• Daughter: Annie Russell

• Granddaughter raised by Susan and George: Cinderella Jane “Ella” Simon

• Communities connected with Susan’s story: Monkerai, Gloucester, Barrington, the Manning Valley and Purfleet 

• Children of Susan and George Russell

Susan and George Russell raised a large family whose descendants became closely connected with Purfleet and communities throughout the Manning Valley and surrounding districts.

Their known children were:

• Marion Russell

• Esther Russell (1878–1912)

• Caroline Russell (born 1883)

• Maria Alice Russell (1883–1961)

• Lucy Ann known as Annie Russell (1885–1912)

• Rachel Russell (1885–1961)

• Susan Jane Russell (1886–1913)

• Georgina Russell (1890–1970)

• William Russell (1892–1970)

• Andrew Russell (born 1894)

• Mabel Russell (born 1895)

• Elsie Russell (1899–1973)

• Arthur Russell (born 1901)

Through their children and grandchildren, Susan and George established a large and enduring family legacy. Their descendants carried Susan’s cultural knowledge, stories and family connections across Purfleet, Taree, Gloucester, Barrington and the wider Manning Valley.

Sources and Further Reading

Ella Simon, Through My Eyes, Rigby, Adelaide, 1978.

John Ramsland, “Cinderella Jane Simon (1902–1981),” Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University.

Amanda Lissarrague, A Grammar and Dictionary of Gathang: The Language of the Birrbay, Guringay and Warrimay, Muurrbay Aboriginal Language and Culture Co-operative, 2010. AIATSIS catalogue record.

FirstVoices, Gathang Dictionary, “gundaybang/gundaybak — mahogany or ‘apple’ tree.”

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Family oral history preserved by the descendants of Susan Jane Russell, Jack Cook and their connected families.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander visitors are respectfully advised that this page contains the names and image of a deceased person. 

PHOTO CREDIT Eve Simon