Iris Smith from WA has made a special bonnet out of lace and pearls for convict woman Mary McCarty. Iris made the bonnet on behalf of Gladys Powel (WA)l who is descended from Mary. The bonnet will have both Iris Smith and Gladys Powell’s name on the inside hem of the bonnet and forms part of the collection of 25,566 that artist Christina Henri has conceived - Roses from the Heart(R) the first Memorial to all women transported to Australia as convicts. To date Christina Henri has 20,000 plus bonnets.

Mary McCarty was born in County Cork, IrelandShe was able to both read and write. She was transported to Van Diemen’s Land, (renamed Tasmania) on board the ship the Sir Charles Forbes. The ship sailed from London on September 16,1826 and arrived in Hobart Town January 3, 1827. Four of of the seventy-three convict passengers died on the voyage out. This ship made four voyages as a convict transport.  The Sir Charles Forbes was a 364 ton vessel built in Aberdeen in 1824. Eighteen year old Mary was taken to the Middlesex gaol on April 6, 1826 where she was convicted.  She received a Life sentence (Death recorded). Her crime was stealing twelve yards of lace - valued at 48 shillings - from Robert Orme in his dwelling house on March 30, 1826. Mary, who was married at the time, was one month pregnant when she stole the lace. She stated at her trial that she was in distress and her husband had been out of work for a  long time.  Two witnesses gave her good character references. Her Gaol report stated that her conduct in gaol was good. Two weeks out from Hobart, Mary gave birth to a male child ( J.J Madden). On arrival in Hobart both she and her infant were taken to the Colonial Hospital. According to Philip Tardiffs book Mary was  ’An innocent, inoffensive woman. [She] has suffered much from illness during the voyage out and lain in’.  Mary’s Conditional Pardon was recommended on September 20, 1837 and approved on 31st January 31, 1840.  No other offence was recorded the during eight years leading up to her Conditional Pardon. Notation stated that Mary was a married woman with a large family and her Pardon was strongly recommened. Mary married William Roberts at Norfolk Plains (now Longford) on January 3, 1831 Her son J. Madden was christened at St. Josephs Church in Hobart. Around 1837 the family moved to Melbourne. Mary died on December 16, 1866 at Carlton, Victoria.