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Nell and Rose Lynch, the younger 2 of the four Lynch sisters, are debarking a virgin hoop pine log (Auracaria cunninghamii) in the scrub. The four Lynch girls were locally renown for their tree-felling ability. Most of their work was done in the Gympie area especially in the Mary Valley, and later in the South Burnett. As they became renown for their ability to do such heavy men's work, they sometimes gave exhibitions. One such occasion was at the opening of the Brisbane Valley railway at Yarraman. This photograph is from the Stehbens collection. While the Lynch sisters were renown, they weren't the only women that participated in the felling of the scrubs to make slabs and shingles for homes and to clear the land for farms. Daughters and wives in the Stehbens families were involved in doing the same. Stories of girls on the other end of the crosscut saw used to be an accepted part of the family folklore, handed down as mild complaints or gentle boasts. William Edwin Stehbens, who was known as Ned, married Isabella Gilliland and settled at "Lynwood" on the Isis Plateau just north of Childers. Ned and Isabella were known to have worked together at times, clearing the Apple Tree Creek scrubs to creat their property "Lynwood". This however is a remarkable photo depicting the contribution of women in assiting their fathers, brothers and husbands to transform the seemingly abundant resources into homes and farms.
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