'A collection of Hilda Abbotts’s memories written from her diary, edited by Stephen Ashford, published by the Historical Society of the NT.
'Hilda arrived in Darwin with her husband who was the Administrator to the Northern Territory in 1937. During the 9 years in the Territory Hilda was known as an energetic “First Lady”.
'Hilda wrote about the bombing raids and machine gun attacks on Government House in graphic detail, the trauma and disorientation and the hazardous journey by road and train to Katherine, Larrimah and finally Alice Springs.
'Hilda had previously worked for the Australian Red Cross in Cairo and with this connection to the organisation she revived the Darwin branch of the Australian Red Cross. In 1946 the Red Cross recognised her work as the Branch President and in aftermath of the war naming one of its buildings “Hilda Abbott Cottage”.' (Publication summary)
