NIVEN Bonita Anne    

Researched and created by Gordon Freegard in February 2026 from information gathered from many sources including valuable details from her children and grand-children.  
 

Australian Aboriginal history dates back more than 40,000 years. The Wongatha is the name of a language group of Aboriginal people of the North-Eastern Goldfields. They helped the early prospectors to find gnamma (watering) holes by providing them with their local knowledge. They also played an important role in the discovery of gold.

Bonita was part of the stolen generation on Wongatha country and her birth was registered at the Kalgoorlie Community Hospital on 11th September 1935. Her birth name was Yvonne Dawn Wilde or in some paperwork just Yvonne. Paperwork shows birth records with two different wrongful mothers were registered over the years. Extensive searches of the Norman Tindale records show that she was sent to the Mount Margaret Mission and so became part of the stolen generation.  When she was finally adopted they named another wrongful mother (different to that again of her birth registration) this woman corroborated this story for her later in life.This was often done to allow for an easy adoption.

     
  BONITA "BONNIE" ANNE NIVEN          #1
                                  Image enhanced by Linton Goodyear

History of Mount Margaret Mission

Located 20km south west of Laverton on the traditional lands of the Wongatha people, Mount Margaret Mission was founded in 1921 by evangelist Rodolphe Samuel Schenk with the assistance of the Australian Aborigines Mission. Initially established as a refuge for the people of the surrounding area, by the end of the decade the ethos would become increasingly diversified with the creation of a school, dormitories, and various commercial enterprises in line with Schenk’s vision of evangelicalism and education.
During this period, many children were forcibly removed from their families and sent to the mission in line with government policy whilst others were placed there by their parents. In some instances, entire families were admitted.
For over half a century, countless families would pass through the mission, some staying a short time whilst others more permanently. People were drawn to the mission from as far east as the Warburton Ranges, Wiluna to the north, with a smaller number coming from the south coast and south-west regions.
From an historical perspective, Mount Margaret is generally acknowledged as being more caring and progressive than other institutions of the era.
From indepth research it appears that one of the siblings of the Niven family actually worked doing missionary work out in the goldfields possibly at Mount Margaret Mission, around the time Yvonne was adopted.
 

MOUNT MARGARET MISSION             #2
 

MOUNT MARGARET MISSION             #3
 

MOUNT MARGARET MISSION             #4
 

MOUNT MARGARET MISSION GIRLS DORM             #5
 

MOUNT MARGARET MISSION SCHOOLROOM             #6
 

    ALEX NIVEN        #7

Adoption
Yvonne was adopted by a Pickering Brook
couple after she became a ward of the State from neglect and
her birth father enlisted to fight in World War 11. Her adoptive parents, Nita and Alexander Niven, renamed her Bonita Anne Niven. She was commonly called "Bonnie".and attended Pickering Brook Primary School, where she excelled at her studies and at sport.

NITA NIVEN & SISTER IN LAW MAVIS GODBOLD (nee Niven)            #8
 

PICKERING BROOK PRIMARY SCHOOL            #9
 

At the age of 10, during a playground argument, another child taunted her by telling her that her mother and father were not her real parents and she was adopted. Distraught she ran 3.2km home and confronted her parents in the packing shed and they confirmed what she had been told.
Her High School years began at Perth College but "Bonnie" left at 14 to look after her ill adopted mother and help her father around the farm because he had a spinal injury and could not manage 9000 laying hens and an orchard by himself.
After leaving school, she worked at a general store, helping make school lunches and minding the owner's baby, at the Sanitarium factory packing cereals, at her aunt's hairdressing salon in Geraldton and as a kitchen hand and maid in a guest house.
She had a son, Peter, at 17 and gave him up for adoption, though in the year 2000, the two made contact again and he came to call her Mum.
 

   ENTRANCE TO NIVEN'S PROPERTY "MONTROSE"         #10
 

RUINS OF THE OLD NIVEN HOUSE             #11
 

Bonnies Early Life at Pickering Brook
To gain an insight to her early life at Pickering Brook we look at letters Bonnie wrote to a cchildrens page run on the Western Mail newspaper by "Aunt Mary"
1948 September 9th  For the first week of my school vacation I had one of my girl friends up here to stay. We left school on August 18th and went to Perth to do some shopping. After doing the shopping we caught the ferry and went to my friend's home to persuade her mother to let her come home with me. It wasn't long before we had caught the bus and we were soon home. Everything passed smoothly and next morning on awakening we were greeted by a perfect day and Eve asked to be shown around. I showed her an old spare camp of ours and she asked if we were allowed to stay there for the week. Mother said yes, and we took all our foodstuffs and bedding up in the horse and cart. After quickly unpacking we lit the fire and I prepsred tea. We took it in turn to prepare the meals and wash up. Daily we rambled through the bush looking for wildflowers and orchids, until the day came for Eve to depart. We had so enjoyed the week that we are hoping to do the same thing during the Christmas vacation.
1948 October 28th "Laddie", my Collie dog, jumped five feet today, after weary but careful training done by myself. I got a post of about 6ft in height and put it near a gum tree. I then marked the tree at every six inches by hammering in a nail until I reached five feet (I could not go any further). Then I got a big piece of sheeting(which was of no use to Mummu) and I put it across from nail to nail, and at my command "Laddie" would jump over it, and then come straight over to me to be patted and be given a pice of cake, If he did not jump it he would not come to me until he had.
1949 May 9th   For school this winter our headwear has changed. Instead of felt hats we will be wearing berets. The Perth College badge has been changed to a smaller one. As the winter is drawing near, after the May holibays when the new term comes we will have to wear our woollen jumpers and berets.
1949  April 2th  "Laddie", my dog, picked up a poison bait a week after Christmas while Dad was in hospital. We were fortunate to save his life, Thanks to Malcolm Beard, of the general store 9who drove "Laddie" to help" and the Vet who lives in East Belmont opposite the Ascot Inn, Two weeks later he broke his front right paw! This resulted from putting his leg on the belt of our McDonald engine! We took him to the R.S.P.C.A. who did a wonderful job with the bad break, and he is left now with only a slight limp. So it seems that although he is intent in injuring himself, we are meant to keep "Laddie". Yesterday we sold one of oue pedigeed bulls who was getting a little savage. The other bull we have was de-horned when young. Many will laugh at the idea, but he has the kindest face of any animal and is very good natured with the other animals. The foxes have been very bad lately - last week we baited three and hope to get many more.
1949 June 30th   Recently my collie dog, "Laddie", died. We were told that eggs were the best thing for dogs so we used to give him eggs and milk for breakfast. When he died the Vet said eggs were the worst thing for him. Daddie didn't like telling me of "Laddie's" death so he went down to Perth while I was at school and bought me another dog, He is black with a little white on him. He's a border collie and I have called him "Sambo".
1949 July 28th  There is a fancy dress Ball tonight and I am staying home because I have five letters to answer. This afternoon "Samba", the dog and myself went for a walk in the bush just up from our place. On the way I saw only one roo. although I expext to see more. I walked and walked, carrying "Sambo" at times, and letting him follow me the rest of the time. I walked where I used to walk with "Laddie". Talking of "Sambo", at the moment he's lying on his back chewing my shoe and my leg, much to my sorrow. On Thursday last, VIA, VIP  and IVA, my class, went to the Royal to see "Heart of Virginia" and "Scott of the Antartic". Both were wonderful pictures.
1950 August 3rd    Would like the words to Mistletoe Kiss, Riders in the Sky, Overland Trail, Dying Cowboy, Old Shep, Tomorrow Morning is My Weddin' Day, Four Winds and Seven Seas,  My One and Only Highland Fling, Peg Leg Jack, Hop Acotch Polka, in exchage for Forever and Ever, Don't Be Cross, My Happiness, Galway Bay, Come Back to Sorrento, It Happened on Monterey, Home on the Range, Sonny Boy, Red Sails in the Sunset,Smiling irish Eyes,Bachelor Gay..
 

Wedding  
Bonita met and married former soldier Brian John Eaton. The wedding took place on Saturday, November 6th 1954, at St. Mary's Cathedral, Perth, where Miss Bonita Anne Niven, only child of Mr. and Mrs. Alec Niven of Pickering Brook, married Mr. Brian Eaton, the sixth son of Mrs. and the late Mr. Michael Eaton, and Mrs. Olive Gertrude Eaton of Carmel. The bride looked charming in her full length dress of white lace and tulle. She wore a circular veil of tulle and carried a bouquet of white roses. She was attended by Miss Pam Annetts, of Carmel, and Mrs. Campbell. Their dresses were full length pink tulle with silver thread embroidery with short tulle veils to match and bouquets of pink roses and the pretty flower girl, Miss Helen Godbold, the bride's cousin, wore a full length dress of white tulle over a mauve slip. The groom was attended by his brother Terry and Mr. Derek Godbold. The wedding breakfast was held at the bride's home and attended by the family and relations. Mrs Godbold and Mrs Eaton received the guests. Mrs. Godbold's dress was of maize coloured cyclet embroidered cotton with black hat and accessories. The lovely three tier wedding cake was made by their groom. Brian is Sergeant Cook at Swanbourne and has seen service overseas and is a really good cook and the cake was perfect. The groom's brother, Clem, took a movie film of the ceremony and reception.

    SERGEANT BRIAN EATON & CORPORAL FRANK WILSHUSEN
 PREPARING THE WEDDING CAKE         #12
                                                           Image enhanced by Linton Goodyear

 CARILLA HALL       #13
 

In the evening the reception was held in the Carilla Hall where over 400 guest spent a very happy time. Mr. and Mrs. Beard played for the dancing and the ladies of the district helped the bride's mother with the supper, after which the young couple left for their honeymoon with the good wishes of all their friends and relatives for their future life together. The young couple will make their home at Trigg's Island.
They eventually settled in Mount Lawley, where son David was born in 1966 and daughter Sharon in 1968. The pair split in 1973 and Bonita met her second partner, Salvatore "Sam" Castriani, four years later and they had two children, Samantha in 1977 and Matthew in 1979.

  BONITA NIVEN ON HER WEDDING DAY TO BRIAN EATON      
L - R : BRIDESMAID PAM ANNETTS, BRIDE BONITA NIVEN,
BRIDESMAID Mrs. CAMPBELL          #14
 

Community Involvement
Bonita involved herself with community groups including the Lone Parent Family Support Service. Crisis Housing Care, WISH (West Institute of Self-Help) and CROFT (Community for the Restoration Of Family Trust)  which is an independent, not-for-profit organisation, that grew out of humble but dedicated beginnings, CROFT has been providing crisis accommodation in Perth since 1982. Bruce Harris founded CROFT along with his wife Helen after his own experience of  being homeless. CROFT's aim was to "first and foremost" provide acceptance, a place to sleep, to stop and think. 
Accommodation is provided to men, women, couples and children to assist them in time of need to get their lives back
 together. As at 2018 CROFT now has seven self-contained units with 20 beds and a caretaker.
CROFT executive director Ray Eversden said Bonnie was one of the founding members of this organisation. "She was a rough diamond," he said. "Bonnie had a hard upbringing herself and yet she wanted to help those less fortunate than herself. She came to meetings towards the end of her life in a wheelchair. She would drive herself over even when it took her 15 to 20 minutes just to get out of the car. Bonnie told it like it was, she was fiercely independent and what you saw was what you got. She embodied a real ocker, Australian spirit."
Her own experiences of being adopted, giving up one of her children and facing other tough times helped make Bonita into a person who spent much of her life helping others as a foster mother, consumer advocate and champion of the underprivileged.
 

Remembered
Bonnie passed away from renal failure on July 21st 2005, aged 69, at Sir Charles Gardiner Hospital with daughter Sharon at her side. Her funeral was held on August 2nd 2005.
Bonita Anne Eaton was born on 11th September 1935 in kalgoorlie, an Aboriginal woman whose life was shaped by removal, survival, and an unbreakable commitment to community.
As a child of the Stolen Generation, she was taken from her family and spent her early years as a ward of the state. These experiences of loss, displacement, and institutional control never left her, but they became the foundation of her lifelong determination to stand up for others, especially people who had been silenced, separated, or pushed aside.
Bonita laid the groundwork for future generations to reconnect with and embrace their culture, something she herself was never fully afforded. Today, her daughter Samantha, son Matthew and her grandchildren, Tahlia, Leteesha, Teneeka and Trey continue Bonita’s legacy, working across diverse sectors with a shared commitment to honour her memory and support Aboriginal people.
And she is remembered by hundreds of people she helped as she tried to make life that bit better for the unfortunate in our society.

Every endeavour has been made to accurately record the details however if you would like to provide additional images and/or newer information we are pleased to update the details on this site. Please use CONTACT at the top of this page to email us. We appreciate your involvement in recording the history of our area.

References:                 Article:       Gordon Freegard
                                                  Tahlia Nock
                                                  Samantha & Matthew Eaton

                               Images:       1, 12    Newspaper Article
                                                   2,3, 4, 5, 6       Internet
                                                   7, 8, 10, 11, 13, 14  Gordon Freegard Collection
                                                   9    Lee Evans

Copyright :   Gordon Freegard     2008 - 2026