Veronica Dawson (nee Blagg), was born and raised in Chinchilla on Queensland’s Darling Downs and is a descended from two foundation members of Mizpah, one of the three communal groups featured in the book.
Veronica moved to Brisbane after leaving school and qualified as a librarian, working in the libraries of three of Brisbane’s universities during her 40-year career. In 1896 Veronica completed a Bachelor of Arts in Modern Asian Studies at Griffith University having studied Asian politics, economics and history. She is best known for her work as a medical and health sciences librarian and for the co-ordination of library service provision for students with a disability.
Following her retirement Veronica indulged in her enthusiasm for history and genealogy to become the author of this book on what was a just a brief period in the history of her birthplace and of Queensland as a whole. Since the book’s publication she become the author or co-author of four peer-reviewed journal articles on communal settlement in rural Queensland and the creator of a searchable database of Queensland’s communal settlers which is available via the Genealogical Society of Queensland.
Book by Veronica Dawson
