The gravesite of the woman who history says helped hundreds of women give birth safely in the early 1800s was found by accident by Ms Nurpula-Stephenson in 2002.

“I was trying to pick up this relatively small rock to move it and I couldn’t budge it,” she said.

“After removing surrounding soil and dirt after seeking further information and photographing the site, I was told it was a grave – and one of historical significance.

“It has since been substantiated as the gravesite of Mammy Johnson.”

Mammy Johnson was an Aboriginal lady who lived along the then known Tillegherry River system.

She delivered the babies of pioneers and Aboriginal women as well as giving help to people along the river – black and white, said Ms Nurpula-Stephenson.

“The Australian Agriculture Company, who had possession of this area, recognised Mammy Johnson for her kindness and wealth of knowledge and many of the pioneers in the area would not have survived as there was a shortage of rations from England.

“She supplied them with such things as bush honey, wildlife, fresh water and a myriad of fresh seafood.

“Old identities in the local area have all agreed that it is to their knowledge the resting place of this dear old lady, but history was lost in 1856 as St John’s Church rectory in Stroud was burnt to the ground.”

The gravesite is recognised in Great Lakes Council’s heritage study.

However Ms Nurpula-Stephenson is concerned that constant blasting from the nearby mine is having an impact on the gravesite.

Located in the buffer zone and not far from the blasting area, stones surrounding the grave have moved up to one centimetre.

“Even though we have reinforced the gravesite with timber and packed it with shale, the rocks are moving and it is proving detrimental to what is a sacred site.

“I have no problems with the mine . . . I am not a tree-hugger, I have mates who work in the mine, but I want the mine to acknowledge the grave is there, verify it in their documents and protect it from being damaged any more.”

A spokesman for Gloucester Coal said the company is taking the issue quite seriously.

“(the grave) is 2.8 kilometres from the where the blasting is occurring and we take comprehensive measures in measuring the blasts,” the spokesman said.

“I am not in a position to express a view, but the matter will continue to be investigated.”