Josie Thorne was born on Dunglebill Station, between Collarenebri and Lightning Ridge. Her mother was Pearlie Mason and her father was Donald Morgan. Thorne's family moved to Angledool Mission when Thorne was eight or nine and Thorne attended the town's school. The people living at Angledool Mission were moved by truck to Brewarinna Mission on the promise of better homes and accommodation but the Brewarinna homes were two room huts and Thorne's family didn't stay there long. When Thorne was apprenticed to work on stations at fourteen, she was paid sixpence a week; they were called 'the sixpence people'.
