Emily Young by Annabel Geater-Johnson


                                                         Emily Florence Young

At age 41, Emily Young was killed while working at the Darwin post office.

Emily was born in Queensland on August 1st, 1900. She was the only child of her parents, Robert Tighe and Augusta Fredrickson. After spending her childhood in Brisbane, Young decided to travel to Darwin, where she arrived sometime between 1917 and 1918.

It didn’t take long for Young to make friends, often being a bridesmaid at her friends’ weddings. Young enjoyed the social aspect that Darwin had to offer, often participating in events organised by the Returned Soldiers League as well as playing tennis and golf.

On the 21st of December 1918, Young woman passed her elementary bookkeeping and intermediate shorthand examinations at St. Joseph’s Convent School. It didn’t take long for Young to be employed as a telephonist at the Darwin Telephone Exchange, where she worked until July 17th, 1924. Young resigned from her job so she could marry her partner James Walter Young in front of 150 guests on the 8th of September 1924. At that time, women were required to leave their jobs once they were married. James was a returned Northern Territory ANZAC that worked at his car hire and garage business.

Unlike most people, when people were told to evacuate, Young stayed in Darwin. Young volunteered to stay and because of her knowledge of using the telephones at the exchange, she was able to help overcome staff shortages. Young knew she was putting her life at risk, so when she heard the air raid sirens on the 19th of February 1942, she and the other nine workers took cover in the pre-dug trenches.

Unfortunately, a Japanese bomb fell within metres of where Young and the other workers were taking shelter. All 10 postal and communications workers were killed instantly, and the Post Office was completely destroyed.

Young was buried in a temporary grave at Kahlin before being reburied at the Berrimah War Cemetery. Emily Young is now laid to rest at the Adelaide War Cemetery.

Young's sacrifice and bravery were recognised by many. Young Park, Young Crescent, and Emily Gardens are all named in her honour within the suburb of Alawa.

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