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Episode One – Show Notes

From the railway towns and dusty hotel bars of early Central Queensland emerged the remarkable beginnings of May Bradford’s life story. In this opening episode, we travel back to the pioneering years of May’s maternal grandparents, Herman and Mary de Zoet, whose lives became deeply entwined with the growth of Queensland’s inland railways and remote hotel trade. From Westwood to Copperfield, Bogantungan, Withersfield and Emerald, their story reflects the resilience and movement that shaped early regional Australia.

We also meet May’s father, Charlie Bradford, whose life with the Fitzgerald Brother’s Circus brought another world of travel, performance and uncertainty.

When Charlie married Emily de Zoet, the couple embarked on a life lived largely on the road — a journey that would ultimately lead to the birth of May Gertrude Bradford.

This episode introduces the people, places and restless spirit that shaped May’s extraordinary beginnings.

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May Bradford’s childhood was anything but ordinary. Born in 1897, she grew up in Queensland’s central Gemfields, in a family where hard work, enterprise and entertainment were woven into everyday life.

Her father, Charlie Bradford, was a showman with an eye for opportunity, and the Bradford children were expected to contribute to the family’s endeavours. From helping with the work of mining to performing acrobatics, singing and dancing, May’s early years were filled with activity and adventure.

As the family’s enterprise evolved, travelling silent film shows brought entertainment to communities across regional Queensland. For May, these experiences offered an education beyond the classroom, introducing her to audiences, unfamiliar places and the practical realities of making a living.

This was a childhood shaped by both hard work and wonder. It helped foster the confidence, versatility and resourcefulness that would become important as May ventured into new worlds and began charting a remarkable life of her own.

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For May Bradford, the show ring offered more than an opportunity to demonstrate her skill as a horsewoman. It was a place where she could take charge, test her abilities and earn recognition in a world where women’s opportunities were often limited.

May developed into an accomplished equestrienne, competing in events that demanded courage, discipline and a strong partnership with her horse. Yet beyond the excitement of competition, she was navigating deeply personal challenges, including grief, loss and betrayal within her own family.

As circumstances beyond her control unsettled her world, May returned to the arena—a familiar space where her abilities spoke for themselves. On horseback, she could command her own space and demonstrate what she was capable of.

This episode explores the significance of May’s equestrian achievements, not simply as sporting accomplishments, but as part of a larger story about a woman finding confidence and agency amid uncertainty. The arena was both a physical space in which she excelled and a metaphor for the struggles she faced in her life.