Mayse Young

Mayse Young OAM (19 July 1912 – 20 March 2006) was an Australian outback publican and a pioneer of the Northern Territory's hospitality industry. She ran pubs in Pine Creek, Katherine and Darwin.

Early life

Young was born in North Queensland to parents George and Elizabeth Dowling. Her siblings names were Ted, Jim and Ethel. Her father was a ganger on the railways and worked throughout the state and this meant that her childhood was somewhat itinerant and that the family travelled regularly – from job to job. Times were tough and Young did not have a pair of shoes until she was 11 years old and attended school only when there was one available nearby.

She became known there as a generous and friendly spirit with a good sense of humour. It is said that she was able to connect with all the visitors at the pub.

In 1933 Young married Joe "Bogga" Young who worked in construction and they first lived together at Spring Hill mine

During World War II she was evacuated by air on 31 December 1941 to South Australia and she was soon after joined by her husband. They spent the remainder of the war running a hotel at Crystal Brook. On their return to Pine Creek after the war they found that the pub had been used as a soldiers recreation hall and was stripped and derelict. This was co-authored by journalist and film producer Gabrielle Dalton.

Young was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for her service to the community in 1994. many of these images document the pioneering days of aviation, a field of special interest to Young.