@sparett
Yes interstitial keratitis can manifest for many reasons. But when I'm hearing hooves I'll say horses, not Zebras for now.
I suppose I'm looking for opinions or help either way, as it's all unverified. That's the problem. There's no actual proof of Alice's parentage either way (paternal and maternal). It makes starting anywhere very difficult. She is a 'brick wall'.
As mentioned by someone earlier, from her paper trail it looks way more like she originated in WA, and all I have to dispute that is the fact it's been passed down through oral history that she was raised at the Yalata Homestead where she was then somehow acquired by the Voakes (who later left Alice money, as mentioned above).
I spent a while researching Tietkens, as I figured he would be the best place to start given he was a well documented man back then (by comparison). Over the decades our family have procured his journals from his expeditions (both from him as well as other men he was accompanied by) and various correspondence letters to try finding any proof of him ever travelling with a 'companion', infant, or perhaps evidence of him sponsoring an Aboriginal child.
Neville Collins actually wrote a book about him (published 2016) to which one of my family members reached out about the possibility of him fathering an illegitimate child, which was seemingly dismissed (it is mentioned at the end of the book, but I do not have it anymore).
I myself thought it was strange nobody ever journaled, detailed, photographed or mentioned Tietkens as being one of the many (both) documented and undocumented men who had Aboriginal partners or fathered Aboriginal children back then. Furthermore, I find it odd that someone who had researched Tietkens so closely (Neville Collins) would dismiss the possibility of an illegitimate child if they ever found anything hinting toward that. I don't right now know what further steps I could take to access any existing restricted material about him or the area (Yalata, Fowler's Bay, Wookata, Coorabie) without going there (which is not an option right at this minute). Any suggestions?
I additionally tried to explore the Thomas Timkins name (as that's the father's name given on her marriage certificate) but I couldn't find a good match. If she knew her father was William Harry Tietkens, why put something as random as Thomas Timkins...? So many confusing questions that to me, point toward her just having absolutely no idea about when, where or to whom she was born.
But, I urge you to consider that Aboriginal people were heavily neglected and controlled at this time. It was not uncommon for Aboriginal people to be told they were an estimated age when it was not verifiable or correct just so the person documenting could put something down. This is what I have attributed her more recent hospital documents to (because if you didn't know when you were born or how old you were, at some point you're just going to have to pick).
Where would you recommend taking the course of this research? I fear I'm overcomplicating things by exploring leads with no proof, but it doesn't seem I can find legitimate evidence anymore. I appreciate your help and insight, thanks
Amber
