Tell me, convict boy James Borrow
What may be your fate tomorrow?
Streets of Sydney glowing gold
For Mary Reiby, merchant bold

When you’re next at Circular Quay
Take a stroll down Reiby Place
See a travel-worn ship docking
And a teenaged convict’s lonely face
Was she anxious, hopeless, fearful
Bitter, raging at her plight?
Or did she see sun on water glinting
Thanking God he’d spared her life?

Denied a loving place in family
Young Mary took a desperate ploy
To escape her situation
She masqueraded as a boy
James Borrow was the name she took
Three months she roamed a wandering course
Til penniless, in rags, and starving
From a field she stole a horse

Could she have known this reckless act
Her whole destiny would shape?
Despite all pleas she was transported
To spend her days in a strange landscape
Conditions on the ship were hard
A fever cost them many lives
But Mary, lucky and resourceful
Somehow managed to survive

Assigned to working as a servant
In Lieutenant Grose’s home
She caught the eye of a young sailor
Thomas Reiby was his name
On the banks of the Hawkesbury River
Together they farmed a grant of land
Began their lives as equal partners
In love and business, hand in hand

A flood destroyed their Hawkesbury home
So the Reibys moved to Sydney’s Rocks
Mary ran their trading stores
Tom sailed the world purchasing stock
For many years the business prospered
‘Til fever took Tom from her side
But Mary carried on undaunted
Although her tears had scarcely dried

Alone, she brought up seven children
Her sons upon her ships enrolled
Her steady hand made wise investments
Until an empire she controlled
She stood her ground among the men
With commonsense and business skill
Yes, we salute you Mary Reiby
Your life inspires all women still