Bonnie, a published author, has long documented the history of Albany and its people. Her passion for literature and history is evident in her self-published books and articles on the History of Schools, Whaling in Albany, St Paul’s Lutheran Church in Albany and school packs used by students visiting historic Patrick Taylor Cottage. Bonnie also managed a museum of school history located at the Albany Education Office and provided students with an opportunity to experience school life of an era gone by. Students wrote on slate, learned to write with fountain pens at desks that had places for ink pots to sit.