'Emily Margaret Horneville lived a traditional life, she was born at Milroy Station on the banks of the Culgoa River in north-western New South Wales. She was the fourth of six children, she had a happy childhood, that was spent in the Aboriginal camp on Milroy Station. Her mother was a strong influence in her life, she learnt the Muruwari standards of behavior, rules of conduct and kinship obligations. When Emily's mother died, and keeping within tradition Emily left the Station and journeyed to Weilmoringle Station.'
'When Emily was ten she worked at Bunari Station, where in 1904 she married in a Christian ceremony. Both her and he husband spent their married life working on stations. When her husband died in 1940, she remarried in 1942 to Frederick Horneville, a drover. Her adult life was spent wandering far and wide throughout Muruwari territory, she never lived on a mission, and freedom of movement and spite denied to most Aboriginal people of her day.' (Source: Fighters & Singers, 1985: 106-122)
