ABORIGINAL dig gers from World War I through to Vietnam will feature in an exhibition at Parra matta City Library from November 5 through to 30. Titled Too Dark for The Light Horse, the collection of documents and photo graphs includes the story of the strategic French town of Villers- Bretonneux where, among S' I the graves of almost 11,000 Australians, there 2 - I are 13 Aborigines. Australia’s original in- jhabitants were at first |barred from military ser vice, but when World War I broke out, a significant number tried to enlist and some succeeded. At least one Aborigine was in Aboriginal Corporal Brisbane’s famous 9th Bat talion which was the first Charles Mene and unit to land at Gallipoli. his mates (top left) enjoying a break In The battle of Pozieres in the Ebisu Camp can July 1916 saw Australia teen in Tokyo suffer 23,000 casualties and when Billy Hughes’ Corp Mene (right) Government failed to win receives a military the conscription issue, medal for bravery in standards for voluntary 'Country gave action in Korea enlistment were relaxed Private Wallie and there were 18 Aborigi Johnson, (left) 47 nes in one reinforcement Battalion AIF, killed unit for the 11th Light them nothing' Horse. in action in 1917 Villers-Bretonneux, it “The Aboriginal popu “While 13 dead Aborigi must be remembered at lation in 1911 was only nal soldiers may not seem the time. Aborigines in about 80,000, so an enlist many out of nearly 11,000 Australia were denied the ment of more than 400 Australians who died at vote, the invalid and old men was a significant per age pension and the Com capita effort for a country monwealth’s Maternity Al which at the time denied lowance,” said author Aboriginal people basic David Huggonson, who is human rights,” he said. compiling the exhibit. — CHRIS FXYNN fH b o H i G\ n ^
Majorie Woodrow with Sydney Cunningham at the launch of her book One of the Lost Generation Clan set to gather for big reunion PARRAMATTA author Marjorie Woodrow is finalising what promises to be one of the nation’s biggest reunions and certainly one of the most emotional. It’s a gathering for the Aboriginal Ybuwgn people of the Wonboora clan to be held at the Nanima reserve on the outskirts of Wellington in central NSW from September 27 to 29. Invitations went out last month in a typically Aboriginal way. Letters were sent to just 21 land councils in surrounding towns and then spread by word of mouth. The RAAF in Dubbo is lending marquee tents, tables and chairs and lighting for the event. Wellington Shire Council will have the reserve and its surrounds in pristine condition and Wellington Police Sgt Neil Scarr said Aboriginal liaison officers would be on hand to smooth any organisational bumps. Mrs Woodrow said Nanima, on the banks of the Macquarie River, was the oldest reserve in NSW. “We thought of the reunion in March,” she said. “These get-togethers are pretty common for Aborigines. The clans would meet every now and then to sort out any problems.” Mrs Woodrow said the reserve would be “dry” for the weekend. “It’s a ‘families’ reunion, so there’s plenty of food and drink, but no grog,” she said. Organisers are still trying to get everybody’s favorite. Slim Dusty to appear, while the double award-winning Aborigi nal dance troupe, Bah-Ta-Bah is set to perform. There’s also talk of a song and dance talent quest. Reserve chairman Neville Barwick said everyone was welcome to attend. Those who were planning to stay overnight should bring sleeping gear. Money raised on the weekend goes to the reserve. Nanima is on (068) 45 3390. • Book shows p IS native links PARRAMATTA’S early dealings with its native people are in the book The Parramatta Native Institution and the Black Town launched in Parramatta on September 12. Co-written by Blacktown historians Jack Brook and Jim Kohen, the 290-page book describes how well-meaning, but bumbling, authorities annexed the Aborigines’ land and then sought to “civilise” them. There was a native school in Parramatta as early as 1814 and the city of Blacktown gained its name because the area’s native people were herded into another institution there. “If the lessons had been learned by the teachers rather than by the pupils, perhaps the outcome would have been different — there was a failure to recognise an Aboriginal culture existed,” the authors say. Mr Kohen said the book-writing project started 11 years ago. “Libraries can be marvellous places for delving for information, but when you hear of Aboriginal descendants who have a working knowledge of 500-600 of their family — it’s a goldmine,” he said. The authors will be at Parramatta author Marjorie Woodrow’s Wonboora clan reunion at Nanima Reserve in Wellington this weekend (Septeniber 28-29). PARRAMAHA CITY COUNCIL
LIBRARY SERVICES DIVISION
LOCAL HISTORY SERVICE - Vertical File Collection
SUBJECT: ^eoAzx/oBS
SOURCE: Ady/e.p- i PAGE NO:
DATE: CLASS. NO:
We’ve nothing to fear from Mabo
AS controversy continues to rage, often verging on hysteria, over the High Court M ab o ruling, Parramatta solicitor David Bdnnerman looked at its application here
PEOPLE in the Parramatta Mr Bannerman said it was area have nothing to fear significant the judges did from the controversial not decree native title to two M abo ruling by the High acres on the island which Court, solicitor David w ere leased, in 1880, to the Bannerman says. London Missionary Society “The ruling means native for a church and store. title can'only exist where Granting of that lease had there have been no land extinguished native title to grants inconsistent with it," those two acres. he said. “ In a sim ilar way, granting land to the pioneers of Early land grants in the Parramatta extinguished Parramatta area to John title to that land; native title Macarthur, Darcy only exists so long as there Wentworth, James Ruse and has been no action such as a others would extinguish any grrant or some legislation native title to land subject of inconsistent with it,” Mr the grants. Bannerman said. The Parramatta-based He believed M abo was only solicitor of the Supreme a precedent where a C ourt believed a m ajority of situation sim ilar to the Australians would agree island o f .Mer existed. with the High Court ruling “I can think of no land on once they understood the the mainland where the decision. situation was sim ilar to the T he ruling applied only to island of Mer," he said. the island of Mer (originally “There is no basis for claim s M urray) which was not against land in the Crown land under the P arram atta area or city ' David Bannerman .. . early land grants would Queensland Crown Lands CBDs which could be based extinguish any native title Act. on the Mabo decision." Place of Eels:
vborieinal Parramatta in Au^i;raiian Hi_->tor\
Michael Rynn
^ ’ HE Australian Bicentenary of manism. By using new perspectives many more trivialised a complex story 1988 was in many ways an which recognise the diversity of the with a few 1 ines about hapless or treach L orgy of self-congratulation past in ways which the writers of other erous blacks and depicted rock art as a puffed up by the false confidence of eras did not, it is possible to continue kitsch curiosity. Local history in Par that decade’s economic boom. Two of the process o f discover}^ in the same ramatta and the westem suburbs of the most enduring and contrasting im humanist tradition. This process began Sydney has not been free of these ten ages of Australia Day 1988 are the sails in the Australian context well over a dencies; in addition, the area has suf of the ships o f the First Fleet re-enact century ago with James Bonwick and, fered from being ignored as a backwa ment wafting into Sydney Harbour despite a few stops and starts, is still ter, far from the centres of power in bearing gigantic Coca-Cola logos and going on. Historians are reinterpreting Macquarie Street and the city. the exuberant Aboriginal march through the documents Bonwick used and lo The rise o f the Parramatta Central the streets of the city. The day finished cating others that he overlooked. As Business District, a more heritage-ori off the one dimensional stereotypes of Thucydides would tell you, a century is ented municipal council, the formation the sturdy Afrikaner-like pioneer and not a long time; at the beginning of the of an Aboriginal Darug Land Council the bakky-chewing ‘Native’, but found age of informafion technology Aus and the westward shift of Sydney’s Australia in a ferment of new ideas as tralian history presents a field as rich population centre have contributed to a the Cold War approached its tumultu and diverse as the natural world must new view of the history of Parramatta ous climax. Since 1988 a new sense of have seemed to the botanists of the and its hinterland which, in the half confidence in the emerging Australian eighteenth century. century after 1788, rivalled Sydney in identity has encouraged a more complex One of the most significantelements importance and hosted the second vice and critical view of the past. of this re-examination of identity has regal residence. The spotlight was The political modishness and post been the question of the place of Abo turned on Parramatta’s remarkable modernism of recent years have un riginal people and their heritage in the Aboriginal heritage by two recent doubtedly been carried to excess in broaderculture. The Mabo decision has books: The Parramatta Native Institu some quarters, including parts of the drawn attention to a painful realisation tion and the Black Town by Jack Brook field of Australian history. But, as three that indigenous Australia was subju and James Kohen (1991) and r/it? Darug American academics Joyce Appleby, gated by an expanding European empire and their Neighbours by James Kohen Lynn Hunt and Margaret Jacob argue in using militaiy force. A collective am (1993) which have drawn attention to a recent book Telling the Truth about nesia which resembles the silly attempts the presence in Sydney of descendants History, W.W. Norton and Co., 1994, a of pre-war Australia to disown its of its Aboriginal clans. Moving on from new consensus is emerging which rec convict beginnings is breaking down in the more limited scope of these books it ognises that the old certainties of con a similar way. is possible to probe further into the ventional history were flawed, but Condescension and outright racism Aboriginal man from Botany Bay whose challenges the extreme view that de aside, one of the main problems of pre- lengthy evidence to a select committee rides attempts to find objective mean 1988 history has been Aboriginal invis of the New South Wales Legislative ing in the historical record as futile and ibility. Time after time local histories Council in 1845 has survived. looks back to the past with a hostile, produced in the twentieth century Any history of the Aboriginal expe judgemental eye and with little sym completely ignored the Aboriginal di rience of early colonial New South pathy for the traditions of Western hu mension through ignorancc or distaste; Wales is necessarily dominated by
HISTORY December 1995 jcnnclong. Only lasi year previously the harbour and Botany Bay called the banks of Duck River, at a place they unknown Treasury documents came to themselves Eora (which meant ‘people called ‘Watergoro’ which may be a light (PRO Tl/731-3) which gave a of this place’ or ‘people here’). The corruption of the Sydney language terms detailed view o f the first Australian westernmost Eora clan was the Wadi-ora‘wood place’or‘wooden club Aborigines to visit England. Benne- Burramatlagal, of Parramatta-'the place place’ - possibly the campsite at Ca long and Yemmcrrawannie. who were where the eels sit down’ which marked mellia described in Thomas Fowlie’s presented to King George III in May the border between the cultures of the ‘History of Granville’ (Mitchell Li 1793. Expense accounts lodged by harbour and the inland. West of Parram brary). a remarkable unpublished gem Governors Phillip and Hunter reveal atta were the Cannemegal clan of Pros o f 1918 which describes the shell mid that the two Aboriginal men stayed at a pect and the Warrawarry of Eastern dens of Parramatta River, Duck River fashionable West End address in Mount Creek; to the south were the warlike and Clay Cliff Creek left from meals Street. Grosvenor Square, played shut Bidjigal, who inhabited thick bushland over thousands of years. Numerous tlecock, swam, went boating, attended around Prospect Creek, Salt Pan Creek descendants of the Sydney clans live the trial of Warren Hastings in West and north of the Georges River. on. many of them descended from Darug minster Hall and the theatres of Drury Lane and Covent Garden. A lso chronicled is Yemmerrawannie’s declining health in the Surrey village of Eltham, where he died in 1794. A close look at early Abo- riginal-European contact his tory brings new evidence of the locations of a series of contacts and conflicts, includ ing the first fatal spearing of convicts in the vicinity of Rushcutters Bay and Iron Cove in May 1788. In the same month GovemorPhillip stum bled on a large Aboriginal
gathering which can be identi An Attack by S’atives, Port Jackson Painter cl 7SS. Natural History Museum London fied as taking place at Long Bay. A close examination of the docu The Burramattagal and neighbour of the Hawkesbury district and the mentation of Phillip’s first exploration ing clans survived the occupation and western suburbs. of Parramatta’s western hintedand in settlement of their territories, the fron Parramatta’s beautiful, park-like April 1788 reveals that the orthodox tier wars which followed, and main landscape had been created by Abo view that he went only as far as Pros tained their cohesion into the 1830s riginal firing practices over thousands pect Hill or a little beyond is deeply when documentation of the issue of of years. To the Europeans it seemed Hawed. His party is much more likely blankets at the annual 'Native Feast' at like a garden of Eden whose fertile soil to have traversed Toongabbie. Seven Parramatta allows a partial reconstruc saved the colony from starvation after Hills and Blacktown to climb tion of the old clan structure and the the establishment of a farming settle Bungarribce Hill, Doonside and reach identification of such key figures as ment there in November 1788 within ing Eastern Creek and Rooty Hill. Burung, Bidgee Bidgee and Baluderri what is now Parramatta Park. It was One of ihc most distinctive features as members of the Wallumattagal clan. also the focus of a savage frontier con of pre-1788 .Aboriginal Sydney was the Three previously unknown Parramatta flict which began with an Aboriginal cultural divide between the inland returns for the years 1836, 1839 and attack on the first emancipist farmers of paiendra 'tomahawk people' who 18-10 have recently been found. They Prospect in 1791 and spread to Toong hunted game and used their stone accs to indicate that the pre-1788 Wangal and abbie soon afterwards. The streets of cut climbing marks on trees and ihe Wallumattagal clans remained in the Parramatta were the setting for the ‘high katungal 'sea people’ who were ori 1830s as the Concord and Kissing Point noon’ confrontation between Pemul- ented towards the seafood produce of ‘tribes’ and remnants of the wuy’s rebel Bidjigal clan and the New the saltwater harbour, estuaries and Burramattagal clan survived as an South Wales Corps in 1797. The strug ocean beaches. The katungal people of ■Aboriginal group who camped along gle in the Sydney region .set a pattern
HISTORY December 1995 /v-hich was followed across the conti by Aboriginal ceremonies and cor- joking with curious Londoners. On re nent: initial friendly contact, mistreat roborees which helped maintain tradi turning to Australia he was tom be- ment and atrocities committed by tion and a sense of continuity with a tv>.cen a desire to return to Aboriginal whites, sporadic Aboriginal guerrilla past which had been shaken by inva life and a position as a wage earning attacks, gubernatorial efforts to achieve sion, disease and hardship. In Uie case -.tockman. He raped a white girl near reconciliation and failed legal investi of Parramatta such meetings may have Parramatta and was hanged the day gations. Watkin Tench’s literary ap actually predated European settlement. Macquarie declared an end to his Abo proach to his story of the First Fleet was The pro-Aboriginal attitudes of a riginal frontier war of 1816. imbued with the humanist perspective small educated minority which included The popular image of the Aborigi of an enlightened ‘Man of Feeling’ of George Caley. George Shelley. Roger nal warriors who challenged the first the eighteenth century. His quotations Oldfield, William Walker and Arch arrival of the white men in Sydney from Melon's Paradise Lost reflect his bishop John Bede Polding reflect the Harbour is one of wild, gesticulating view of the colony as a ‘nether Eden’ existence of a body of egalitarian, anti- savages. A more realistic image in the from which the Aboriginal Adam and racist feeling in the colony which, at its context of what is still empirical history Eve had been expelled. would use the more detailed Henry Reynolds has descriptions of the men demonstrated how conven Phillip saw: their/la/ra-like tional history often down song and dance on the cliffs played the extent of Abo and headlands around riginal resistance and the Bondi, Maroubra and Coo process of negotiation with gee, the powerful symbol the European conqueror ism and artistry of theirbody which produced such an paint, the appearance of the unfair settlement for the ghost-like painted face of Aboriginal side, even in the woman who stood comparison with other settler watching Phillip from arock societies like America, New in Sydney Harbour. An Zealand and Canada. Again enhanced sense of place the pattern begins in the which draws on Aboriginal Sydney region. In 1805 Par concepts can only benefit ramatta was the site of two the new sense of Australian
Aboriginal-European con- Founding of the seiilemenl of Port Jackson ji Bolany Bay in iWh' Soitlh \Vales. 1799 identity, culture and lore: a ferences ‘with a view of ThomasGosse Rex San Kivell collection, Sational Library of Australia. Canberra recognition of the ancient opening the way to reconciliation’ with fringes, approached a recognition of human associations which sometimes the Reverend Samuel Marsden and the modem concept o f ‘native title’. On appear in the names of places which Governor King for which a group of the grimmer side of the story appears have long been covered by successive .Aboriginal women acted as intermedi the death of Arabonoo in the 1789 layers o f farmland or suburbia, like aries. Under Macquarie an attempt was smallpox epidemic and Baluderri’s I Dawes's names of localities traversed made to assimilate Aboriginal children dramatic confrontation with Phillip at on the walk from Parramatta to Pros at the Parramatta Native Institution Parramatta in 1791. .At the end of their pect in 1790... Parramatta, Wau-maille, which eventually failed as it became short lives both men were buried in Malgray-matta, Era-worong. Carra- drawn into the Governor’s political Phillip's garden at Government House, matta, Boolbane-matta, Carro-Wotong, struggle with the flogging parson. The the site of today’s Museum of Sydney. Mar-rong. | school's establishment in 1814 was ac The grimness also appears in atrocities Sourccs companied by an annual conference committed by brutalised frontier set Michael Flynn. 'Place of eels: Parramatta and feast at Parramatta which estab tlers whose attitudes verged on support and :he .-Xboriginal clans of ihe Sydney region, lished a tradition that survived into the for genocide. The sometimes tragic !'88-1845', research report for Parramatta twentieth century of annual distribution consequences of assimilation are rc- Ciiy Council. 1995. William Dawes, Abo of blankets. Although somewhat tlected in the littie-known story of riginal Grammar and Word Lists. School and tokenistic, the government-sponsored Moowattin, a Darug youth who went to iJricnial and African Studies. London feasts implied a recognition of clan England with Caley in 1810. met Sir ; MS-i 1645a-h. microfilm copy in Mitchell L'ibrarv j; .Aboriginal Blanket Rctum.s, Par- structure and were viewed openly by Joseph Banks and frequented a Chelsea r-imaita 1834-43. AONSW Col. Sec. 4/ Macquarie as a kind of compensation coffee house as 'a black beau', smok n6ooB.3. 4/2302.1. 4/1133.3, 4/2433.1. 4/ for land loss. They were accompanied ing a pipe, speaking g(X)d Engli.sh and - □
10 HISTORY December 1995 PARRAMATTA CITY COUNCIL LIBRARY SERVICES DIVISION
LOCAL HISTORY SERVICE - Vertical File Collection
SOURCE: ParramattaAdvatiser-CIIYNORiH PAGE NO:
^ATE: 1 8 J 1997
Council apologises for past wrongs • From page 1 said. “ It will prove to “ like the 1838 Waterloo them we have done the Creek massacre of 200 I think England has to wrong thing by them. Aborigines” . “ I believe we’ve built a apologise for sending good relationship with “ The history books them and they are part of were full of bias . . . We the convicts here. our community.” never saw or heard of the atrocities that were com The Queen should Australia’s colonial his mitted by the white man,” tory was “ a fact of life” Mr Worthington said. apologise, not us. ^ for which he would not apologise. “ People will argue “ I think England has to very conveniently that it apologise for sending the was the culture o f the day. But Councillor were “ responsible for convicts here,” Mr Issa “ Well, I think we Lorraine Weame said the something we haven’t said. should bow our heads in issue was “ not a concern done” . “ The Queen should shame that things like this of local government” and apologise, not us.” “ I don’t think the happened.” Mr Russo’s motion was The Advertiser called ■ “ ill-conceived and people of Parramatta gave us a direction to do that on the Deerubin Local Abor-1 Councillor Maureen rushed” . Walsh said Parramatta their behalf,” he said. iginal Land Council (for- 1 merly the Darug Land' must recognise its place in Councillor Tony Issa Council) but was told it the history o f annihilation said an apology implied Mr Issa believed an would respond only to of indigenous Australians. the people o f Parramatta apology would create div written requests for com ision, instead of reconcili ment. ation, between black and white Australians. Requests must be con sidered by the full council, “An apology will de which meets monthly — stroy our relationship with after the Advertiser’s them [Aborigines],” he deadline. PARRAMATTA CITY COUNCIL LIBRARY SERVICES DIVISION
LOCAL HISTORY SERVICE - Vertical File Collection
SUBJECT:
SOURCE: Fairfax Sun-PAraWHSAHA PAGE NO: 7
DATE: 1 1 J l 139?
Native Title shocic By ANTHONY O’BRIEN ■ A NATIVE Title claim which takes in parts NATIVE Title on Crown Land may not have been of Parramatta has gained credence as a extinguished according to a leading Aboriginal local historian reveals there were strong historian. links with the city.______Historian Jim Kohen, who holds a PhD in Aboriginal Prehistory and has written several books on the Darug Aboriginal people said the Darugs may acting from the claimants, Eddie Neumann, said it never have relinquished their connection to the land - only had to pass procedural checks before being giving credence to a Native Title application lodged accepted. late last month. Mr Kohen said the first incidents involving The application, lodged by Colin Gale and Ian Aboriginal children being taken from their families Watson on behalf of Darug descendents, covers Crown Land in three quarters of metropolitan Sydney, also occurred in Parramatta, after the Parramatta including Parramatta Park, Lake Parramatta Reserve Native Institution to educate Aboriginal children was and land around Toongabbee Creek. set up in around 1815. The claim is yet to be placed on the Native “The first case of the stolen children, if you like,” Tribunal's administrative register, but a solicitor Mr Kohen said. PARRAMATTA CITY COUNCIL LIBRARY SERVICES DIVISION
LOCAL HISTORY SERVICE - Vertical File Collection
SUBJECT: ^ •
SOURCE: FjSlter Sim-PARRAMATTA PAGE NO:
DATE: 1 9 N 37 The signs of all of the times PARRAMATTA Coun ■ RESIDENTS of cil’s Aboriginal and Tor Western Sydney, and res Strait Islander Com Parramatta Council, mittee has recommended will continue the that council erect signs at push for bridge the the entrance to the city gap between indige telling people the land nous and non-indige- was previously occupied nous people.______by clans made up of Darug Aboriginal people. Deputy Lord Mayor Phil Russo, who chairs National Council for Rec the committee, said the onciliation in an attempt recommendation will now to bring the message of go to a full meeting of reconciliation to the council. people in Parramatta. It comes on top of a Ms Bennett said it was policy adopted by Parra just as important to con matta Council earlier in vey the message of recon the year, which apolo ciliation at a local level as gised to Darug people for it was at a national or any past injustices global level. inflicted on them over the She said the group was past 200 years. made up of people from Cr Russo said both all walks of life, including initiatives would go a university students, long way to achieving a retired people, the clergy, lasting reconciliation professional people and between indigenous and mums and dads. non-indigenous Austral ians around the Parra "The message of rec matta region. onciliation is a very But the Western Syd important one for the ney Residents for Recon people of Western Syd ciliation (WSRR) will try ney because of its pre-Eu- and take that message ropean history of Darug further at a public meeting ownership in the area,” about native title at 7.30 Ms Bennett said. tonight at Parramatta “We find the facts and Town Hall. the legal framework of the WSRR chairperson current laws on Native Pauline Bennett said the Title have not been pres group emerged out of the ented clearly and fairly.”. PARRAMATTA CITY COUNCIL LIBRARY SERVICES DIVISION
LOCAL HISTORY SERVICE - Vertical File Collection
SUBJECT:
SOURCE: Fairfax Sim-PARRAMAJTA PAGE NO:
DATE: 1 8 J 139? Apology splits council By RACHEL DERHAM PARRAMATTA Council will apologise uncondi tionally to Australia’s Aborigines in a contro versial decision which split the chamber last week. Councillor Bob Dwyer, in a move that shocked and outraged his indepen dent colleagues, crossed the floor to vote with Labor councillors and see the motion passed 7-6. Labor Councillor Phil Russo moved the motion which also called for a report on signs that could be erected in the city to recognising the original ownership of the Parra matta area by the Darug ■ CR Phil Russo stands outside Old Government House, one of the sites of Aboriginal activity In the people. early days of white settlement. Lord Mayor John Books voted against the ■ PARRAMATTA Councirs decision to point of view “talk is motion, expressing con unconditionally apologise to Aboriginals has cheap. cern about the possible sparked controversy both in and out of the “But this is a start. An legal ramifications. channber and could strengthen Native apology is an admission “I would have pre Claims, including one lodged last month for and we welcome it.” ferred to get legal advice Crown land in the city.______Mr Neumann lodged a before making the deci native title claim late last sion. I’m not uncomfort didn’t own the land, they decided beforehand to let month for crown land able with the apology but moved around. It was Phil (Russo) talk. We including Lake Parra the term ‘unconditionally their home but they didn’t wouldn't say anything matta and Parramatta apologise’ rings [alarm] claim to own the land.” and then we’d just knock Park. Colin Gale, a Darug bells with me. We should Cr Russo spoke pas it back. Bob (Dwyer) had descendant and one of the have found out our legal sionately for the motion, told us he’d vote against people leading the claim, position," Cr Books said. saying it was the “right the motion - yet on the said Parramatta was a “Council’s apology time” to recognise and night he voted for it. I’m good place to start. may strengthen a native apologise for the grave disappointed and out “This is where the title claim in the future. injustices to Aborigines. raged that my colleagues native institution was; There’s already a claim in In the first vote, Cr and I were gagged by the where they took our chil for crown land like Lake Dwyer did not raise his actions of Cr Dwyer.” dren away - the first case Parramatta. hand, making his a nega Cr Dwyer said the of the stolen children.” Cr Books said he was tive vote. When the Labor independents were being He declined to com “happy” to have signs councillors called for a cynical. “As an indepen ment on whether the recognising that the division, Cr Dwyer was dent ... I prefer to listen apology would have any Darug people lived in forced to choose and he to debate on the day and bearing on the Darug Parramatta as long as voted for the apology. make a decision.” claim, which includes 40,000 years ago. Independent Cr Roger Eddie Neumann, solic crown land covering three “But the term ‘owner Gregory claimed there itor for the Darug claim quarters of metropolitan ship’ is a worry. They had been “a set up”. “We ants, said that from a legal Sydney. PARRAMATTA CITY COUNCIL LIBRARY SERVICES DIVISION
LOCAL HISTORY SERVICE - Vertical File Collection
S O U R C E : raifamaBaAfl\«fUsef-UIYIiORTH P A G E NO: ( i-
1 8 JUN 1997
It’s not unique for us to be doing this. [But] it won’t be done by the highest level of government which can’t find the strength of will, character or commitment. «
PARRAMATTA City Council will unconditionally apologise for the way previous governments and generations o f white Austra ians have treated indigenous people. Council will also place signs throughout the City acknowledging that Parramatta originally belonged to the Darug people. Councillor Phil Russo ______moved for the apology last by SARA BYERS week after returning from the National Convention for a leader in Aboriginal and Reconciliation, held last Torres Straight Islander cel month in Melbourne. ebrations each July. He described the conven tion as “ a most moving and Newcastle, Manly and emotional experience” Ipswich councils already which had stirred great have resolved to apologise feelings of sorrow. to native Australians. “ It’s time to say we have “ It’s not unique for us to committed errors in the past be doing this,” Mr Russo and there has been grievous said. injustice done,” Mr Russo “ [But] it won’t be done said. by the highest level of “ It’s an ongoing com government, which can’t mitment of walking find the strength of will, together towards reconcili character or commitment.” ation.” Councillor Chris Parramatta was the Worthington, who has second settlement of Aust worked for three years in ralia, where contacts with outback Australia, re Aboriginal people were minded council of events prolonged, and council was • To page 2 Spanning the millenia — members of the Gamilaroi Dance Group walk “ on stage” . PHOTO: Dave Hill Darug Link walking taller THE DARUG Link got For the record. Robert together on Saturday Lock came to Australia on and a lot of people in the Grenada in 1821. Sydney’s west are walk after reunion Aged 21. he was a ing taller today. carpenter from Norfolk whites coming, he said. It was supposed to be a and in the bush and every when he was sentenced to meeting of the descendants “The remaining ones scat one got stuck into the im seven years (his crime was of yesterday’s “trash" — a tered and a lot of people promptu soccer games and unspecified). He had no pre convict man and a native today still don’t know of cricket matches. vious record. their ancestry. woman — but Aboriginal June Workman said she’d He married Maria, daugh family ties being as close as “1 had three people come met a few more of the clan, up to me today and tell the ter pf Yarramundi. in 1824 they are. all members of the but had been too busy cook and they produced John. Darug tribe were invited. same ston' ■.. they’d been ing to socialise too much. told by their family their William. Mary. Charles. There were all sorts, of color was due to Islander. “We’re having another Eliza. Clara. James and emotions as people pored Spanish and Indian blood barbecue (in the same place) Martha, who in turn had a over family trees and met . .. anything but Aboriginal. in a few months." she said. total of 60 children. new family members at the "The stigma's still there tranquil Nurragingy Reserve for some reason." he said. in Doonside. The day was disorganised Historian Jack Brook and delightfully Aboriginal. helped tribal matriach Mrs The Gamilaroi Dance June Workman organise the Group was running about an reunion. hour late and nobody could “Some people are still say where they were and keeping their Aboriginal an when they’d be back. cestry quiet — it’s amaz All the kids, dancers and ing." he said. others wanted to be face- About two thirds of the painted and this took some ! 0 Darug people were wiped time. too. out by smallpox and other Small boys in football diseases within a vear of the jumbers played in the ponds PARRAMATTA CITY COUNCIL LIBRARY SERVICES DIVISION
LOCAL HISTORY SERVICE - Vertical File Collection
SUBJECT:
PAGE NO: T
< ( 5 .j 7
Stolen lives THE dregs of an op united him with his fam She was two years old. Ms Shareef, a nurse pressed society invaded ily. He now works for the “ There is an old pep with the Redfem Aborigi Australia and brought the organisation. percorn tree just near here nal medical service, finds oppression here, accord “ When 1 first met my where we would meet up it hard to show love. ing to indigenous author father I went through 101 and cry and say our “ Love was belted out Ruby Langford Ginibi. emotions,” he said. mothers don’t love us, our o f us,” she said. She was speaking at a fathers don’t love us, our “ I was scared he would “ It was a leather belt Stolen Land, Stolen Chil families don’t love us,” and we where hit by the find out I was raped, 1 was dren presentation at she said. buckle end.” bashed, and he would Granville library last “ They censored our think I was weak. It was time for the week. letters in the home. Government to apologise “ But Link-Up gave me “ In almost 210 years “ This was their way of for the stolen generation. an identity, a link with my the m entality hasn’t keeping us from our fam “ We would like the changed,” she said. culture — self-esteem.” ilies and not letting us Government to admit that “ Aborigines are the Ms Shareef was taken know they cared — so these things did go on and most marginalised and from her family while her some of us believed stop lying to the people of oppressed people in this mother was at a funeral. them.” Australia,” she said. country. “ We still have white men ninning our race for us as if we don’t have a brain to think with.” Stolen children Bruce Clayton-Brown and Nada Shareef also spoke. Both spent time in Christian homes. “ I was taken away and no reason was given,” Mr Clayton-Brown said. “In the homes I was bashed and I was raped.” Mr Clayton-Brown spent years as an al coholic and in mental institutions until Link-Up, an organisation which Author Ruby Langford Ginibi. . . 'Aborigines are the most marginalised and brings stolen children and oppressed people in this country' Photo: Darren Edwards their families together, re PARRAMATTA CITY COUNCIL LIBRARY SERVICES DIVISION
LOCAL HISTORY SERVICE - Vertical File Collection
SUBJECT:
SOURCE: Fairfax Sun - PARRAMATTA u 3 DATE:
Symbols to help bridge the gap More than 15,000 hands were placed on the bank of Parramatta River at the weekend in support of reconciliation. The colourful array of hands were planted, each hand bearing the name of those who have called for reconciliation and native title. The 15,000 hands are just a portion of the 120,000 hands owned by Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation (ANTAR) travelling around the country visiting town centres. Tom and Helen Quinn (pictured) of Parramatta braved the rain to plant their hands in support of reconciliation. The event was oi^anised by Reconciliation for Western Sydney. Early conflicts with Aborigines WITHIN the Baulkham Hills Shire and surrounding countryside are found many well-preserved rock carvings and cave paintings as evidence of the Aboriginal culture which prevailed in this district before the coming of European settlement. Implements such as stone the occupation of their for- authoriUes in their desire for axe heads and grinding mer hunting g^unds motiv a peaceful soluUon to the stones have occasionally ated the Aborigines in their problem became evident in been found. actions against those they February, 1805, when a white Some of the rock carvings considered as intruders. man was sentenced to the jail are very old. Others, depict Moreover, their custom of gang for “wantonly striking a ing such objects as sailing communal sharing probably native.” vessels, indicate that Aborigi suggested to them the logical In May of the same year, nes were still living in this solution that they should have as reported in the Sydney district, under organised their share of the settlers’ Gazette, setUers from north tribal conditions, less than 200 produce. ern farms and Baulkham years ago. In one incident in March, Hills combined to search for At the tone of the original 1797, a party of about 100 Aborigines in the white settlement at Sydney Aborigines plundered the neighborhood of Pennant Cove in 1788 contact between northern farms outside Hills. the Aborigines and the new Parramatta, killing a man One man was captui'ed and comers was friendly. and woman and making off persuaded to guide the set In November, 1788, a with clothing and supplies. tlers to the north rocks, second settlement was The neighboring settlers where property, stolen from formed at Rose Hill (later armed themselves and pur two stockmen who had been Parramatta). sued the natives whom they killed at Prospect, was found. Within a few years setUers overtook. During the search, the set were being placed on farms Realising that the setUers Uers came across a small within the neighborhood of were armed, the Aborigines number of Aborigines, one of Parramatta, a circumstance fled. whom, addressing them in which raised the problem of Eventually confrontation good English, defianUy de the co-existence of the Abor occured with the result that clared he would continue to igines and the setUers. five Aborigines were killed raid the farms. The native people lived by by musket fire and several But there was no way in hunting and had always been wounded. which the Aborigines’ way of free to roam about the land at One of their most life could survive. Their will, where it was essential to prominent leaders, primitive weapons were no the white man’s survival that Pemulwy, whom the setUers match for those possessed by he should setUe on and culti regarded as a “riotous and the settlers. vate an established area of troublesome savage” was Another great problem land. severely wounded. was the lack of meaningful A stage of hostility be The then Governor was communication. tween the two races soon 'disturbed that the lives oi so While some Aborigines arose. Parties of Aborigines many of the Aborigines had learned to speak English, frequently raided the set- been taken, but hoped the there is no evidence that any itler’S farms and homes, forc incident would act as a deter European settlers became ibly taking food and clothing. rent against more raids. familiar with the Aboriginal There can be no doubt that The sincerity of the language. ____
Setting up a H ST native school ALMOST from the earliest days of settlement the Aboriginal people and their culture suffered from the impact of European society. But in 1810 William Shelley of Parramatta, one of the missionaries who had fled from Tahiti in 1798, decided to do something about the neglect of the Aboriginals. He devised a scheme wherby adult natives who wished to become setUers were each to be given 10 acres (4ha) of land wiUi a hut and farming implements and instruction in farming methods. They would also be suppUed from the Government stores until Uiey could fend for themselves. The area set aside for these small farms became known as Black Town. His other plan was that the children should be taught in a special school in Parramatta. Pupils were to remain at the Native Institution, as it was called, until Uiey reached Uie ages of 16 for boys and 14 for girls. He was appointed Uie first superintendent and principal instructor at the school but on the day of opening, January 18, 1815, only three children were available for enrolment. The school continued in Parramatta until 1823, when it was moved, first to Blacktown and later to Liverpool where it lingered on for several years. UIN the Baulkliarn and persuaded to guide the Shire and surround- settlers to the north rocks, ountryside are to be where property, stolen d many w ell-pre- from two stockmen who ed rock carvings and had been killed at Pros ? paintings as ovi- pect, was found. e of the Aboriginal During the search the u'e wliich prevailed in settlers came across a district before the small number of Abori ing of European gines, one of whom, ad ement. dressing them in good iplements such as W ish m k i.ii, NEIL English, defiantly de e axe h ead s and at Sydney Cove in 1/6^, arose. Paiv.e;i oi . lon- The lunng sett clared that he would con ding stones have contact between the gincs frequently i. OqA ler ed ihemselves tinue to raid the farms. sionally been found. Aborigines and the new the settlers’ farm. "I am ued .he natives, But there was no way in >e also serve to re- comers was friendly and homes, forcibly tr., who ioy overtook. which the Aborigines’ way 1 us that the Aborigiii- effoils were made to en food aii I iiing that the sett of life could sum ve. eople once roamed courage this relationsliip. At t , an. lers were armed the Their primitive weapons parts. In November, 1788 a sec inenibi ' ll)en-families Aborigines fled, leaving were no match for those me of the rock carv- ond settlement was were ki; behind a quantity of coi n possessed by the white are very old. Otliers formed at Rose Hill (later There ca i be no doubt and articles which they Another great problem cting such objects as Parramatta). that the occupation of had taken from settlers’ was the lack of ng vessels which were Within a few years sett ■ heir former hunting properties. meaningful communi mon on the llawkes- lers were being placed o grounds motivated the Kventually confront cation. V River during the farms within the neigh Aborigines in their actions ation occured v/ith the re While some Aborigines ' days of settlement bourhuod of Parramatta, against those they re sult that five Aborigines learned to speak English :ate that Aborigines a circumstance which garded as intnidfirs. ’ere killed by musket fire there is no evidence that e still living in tliis raised in a more acute Moreovp' .. and several wounded. any European settlers be net, under organised form the problem of the • imii/.di sharingOne of their most promi came familiar with the il conditions, less than co-exi.slence of th”? Abori probably suggested to nent leaders, Pemuiwy, Aboriginal language. ^ears ago. gines and the settlers. them tlie lot'U’al solution whom the .settlers re In time, tlie settlers 'day, apparently, none 'I'lu! native people lived that liieyslic liavethf'ir garded as ;; “riolous and spread over tlie le Aboriginal peoj)le by hunting ami had always sh a re ot .sc’ tU'i In )Ie; !-iiie sava'.'e” was countryside, occupying se ancestors travel!i,d been 'I'ce t) ro i.’i nbout iMi'-’ijce .SI' (el; ..ojndeil. more and more of the age- hunted through tlie the kiiiii at will eas it one 'n e tlien ( .M'nior was old Aboriginal hunting for many centin ies, v/as cs.st?n':.)l! *nle ■i- ”h, lVil7. a I'lirly ui' d rbeu th: .. j hves of groundo. lin. m an’s . / V... ;.i '.OOAliiMj;. Ill' ary of .. In 18M the (’nloiiial Si'r- uch of the kiiowk'dge should you-
NSW eritage Office
■%*j: , . ^
i'-~Z
T-ii lJ i.: Aboriginal Heritage
Brewarrlna Fishtraps Listed
The Deputy Premier and a major tributary of the Minister responsible for Darling River in Western the Heritage Act, NSW. The stone fishtraps Dr Andrew Refshauge, already existed long before recently announced that European settlers came upon the Brewarrina fishtraps the site in the early 1850s. in Western NSW are to One traditional Aboriginal be listed on the State account has the fishtraps being Heritage Register. built by Baiame and his two sons Booma-ooma-nowi and Dr Refshauge said the move was part of an overall Ghinda-inda-mui during drought times when the strategy to make the State Ngemba people faced famine Heritage Register better reflect as Gurrungga (the water hole what the whole of society at Brewarrina) dried up. values as heritage. The traditional owners are the “I see it as a priority to add Ngemba people, but other Aboriginal places to the tribal groups, such as the State Heritage Register. In Murrawari, have a strong particular I will be working association with the site. with the Aboriginal Brewarrina Fishtraps. Photograph by Vince Scarcella. Stories associated with the community to encourage more fishtraps are found across traditional lifestyle and of the fishtraps for the whole nominations of sites of Western NSW and they are ownership. The local of the State. Aboriginal significance.” Aboriginal community is and depicted in stories and artwork "This is particularly important "Listing Aboriginal places such will continue to be actively as far afield as Cobar and in this case, as the fishtraps as the Brewarrina fishtraps involved in the management Byrock. The traps are of great were a traditional meeting increases our understanding of this site. spiritual importance to the place of significance for many of indigenous heritage. Aboriginal people who built Manager of the Brewarrina Aboriginal communities. It is an opportunity to them and use them. Cultural Museum at We look forward to a recognise the cultural heritage Today the fishtraps are greatly Brewarrina, Ms Donna Jeffries, partnership with the Heritage of the first Australians.” valued by the modern said that listing on the State Council that will ensure the The fishtraps are built on a Aboriginal community as a Heritage Register was fishtrap site is continued to be rock bar in the Barwon River, highly visible symbol of recognition of the significance seen as a link to our past.”
Discover the Aboriginal Heritage of Hornsby Shire
A new Aboriginal Heritage Council quickly saw the need state and local levels; Education Kit has been for brochures to explain this • guidelines for developers of produced by Hornsby Shire legislation to the general properties that may contain Council. The first of its kind public and to promote the Aboriginal sites or relics; in NSW, the kit will provide Aboriginal heritage of the area. • information for residents who own land that may contain developers, property owners Aboriginal Heritage Aboriginal sites or relics; and residents with clear Consultant, David Watts, was • instructions on how to record explanations of how engaged to work on the an Aboriginal site. Aboriginal heritage is brochures. The NSW protected and managed in Heritage Office provided a In addition, there are brochures the Hornsby Shire. dollar-for-dollar grant to a total on a range of related topics value of $10,000. including walking tours to Hornsby Shire Council was the Aboriginal engravings and The kit includes: first local government guides to Aboriginal sites and • the Aboriginal history of their features. authority in NSW to integrate Hornsby Shire; the management and • the European history of The Hornsby Shire Aboriginal protection of Aboriginal sites Hornsby Shire; Heritage Education Kit is and relics into its legislation • the legislation that protects available free of charge from and planning processes. Aboriginal heritage at both Hornsby Shire Council. ABORIGINES in Australian armed forces is the theme of a photographic display in Parramatta City Library this month. The pictures were gathered for a book by David Huggonson — Too Dark for the Light Horse. Parramatta Lord Mayor Alan Hyam opened the display last Tuesday in company with council aldermen, Mr Huggonson and Mrs Dorothy Saunders, wife of Reg Saunders, who died earlier this year, the first Aborigine commissioned as an officer in the Australian Army. “I hope this exhibition helps continue the good relations between whites and Aborigines in the Parra matta area,” Alderman Hyam said. “Aborigines contributed more than 400 men in World War I despite the restrictions on their enlistment then, more than 3000 in World War II and a considerable number in Korea and Vietnam,” he said. Mr Huggonson said Parramatta was an appropriate place for the exhibition because the city’s logo features an Aboriginal warrior. He said his book, which will be released next year, came about from a comment made by former Queensland Premier Joh Bjelke Petersen on Aborigine land rights demonstrations in Brisbane in 1987. Sir Joh had reckoned if it wasn’t for Americans fighting the Battle of the Coral Sea, we would all have Japanese names. “My father served in North Africa and New Guinea in World War II and any Digger will tell you it was the Australians who did the bulk of the land fighting against the Japanese in late-1941 the same treatment and to mid-1942,” he said. conditions as whites, an :¥■ “So Joh set the whole opportunity to prove their Highlight of worth and (like a lot of thing [the book] going, be cause the more I looked, whites) the pay. I Aboriginal serviceman John Corderoy (above) as the more I saw how many “Six shillings a day was a 21-year-old in the Torres Strait Islands and Aborigines were involved heroic feats an immense amount of I (right) with Parramatta alderman Phil Gordon in our armed forces — they money to Aborigines in civil rights demonstrations, would have ended on such those days,” he said. were even in the Boer « War,” he said. the Vietnam War, the con a pessimistic note,” he “But for those who re Mr Huggonson said it stitutional referendum in said. turned, the treatment of was hard to say how many 1967 which gave Aborigi He said enlisting Abor Aborigines in those days Aborigines went to nes full rights, and then igines were attracted by was even harder to take,” Vietnam, because armed there was the tent embassey adventure, the chance for Mr Huggonson said. forces records don’t ident in Canberra and Labor’s ify servicemen by race. election in 1972,” he said. But he said he could “1968 also saw the equal write a separate book on pay case for Aborigines in Aborigines in that conflict. Wave Hill. “Those wore interesting “I could have written a days in the mid-late 60s,” story on Aborigin'^s in he said. World War I, like the name “There were .Aboriginal of my book suggests, but it PARRAMATTA CITY COUNCIL LIBRARY SERVICES DIVISION
LOCAL HISTORY SERVICE - Vertical File Collection
SUBJECT:
PAGE NO: SOURCE: MvetKaer- CITYNOflTH
DATE:
Nuns’ garden honours the Aboriginal warrior Pemulwuy A gesture of reconciliation by BELINDA UVIS those to attend the Bound their house had also been ary St ceremony. given the Aboriginal SISTERS of Mercy at Community elder and name Wiangaberong Parramatta have dedicated renowned storyteller which in the Darug their garden to the mem Wesley Marne began the language means Sisters’ ory of local Aboriginal proceedings with a smok Place. warrior Pemulwuy at a ing ceremony before tell reconciliation ceremony. Aboriginal artists and ing the history of dancers were also in Sister Margaret Pemulwuy and the diffi volved in the celebration Hinchey said there were culty the British had cap and the house given a many monuments to Aust turing him. traditional Christian bless ralians who had fought in Pemulwuy was be ing as well as an Aborigi overseas conflicts but few headed in 1802 and his nal smoking. Blundah Buna dancers at the Sisters of Mercy reconciliation ceremony to remember those who remains sent to Britain had died defending their where they still remain. own land, people and food “ His spirit will not be sources. at rest until his remains “ Pemulwuy was an ex are returned and buried in traordinary warrior who this country,” Mr Marne resisted the British for said. more than 14 years in the Father Paul Hanna of areas around Parramatta, Mt Druitt’s Holy Family Castle Hill and community said it must Toongabbie,” she said. not be forgotten that Aust Members o f the Darug ralia had the privilege of people. Aboriginal com having the oldest continu munity elders, representa ing culture on earth still tives o f Parramatta Rec kept alive through the onciliation Group and Aboriginal and Torres Federal member Laurie Strait Islander peoples. Ferguson were among Sister Margaret said f 7
PARRAMATTA CITY COUNCIL
LIBRARY SERVICES DIVISION
LOCAL HISTORY SERVICE - Vertical File Collection
SUBJECT: Aeo/?r6x/^Es
SOURCE: PAGE NO:-5
DATE: a 4 - 6 • 9 3 CLASS. NO:
Native title THE NSW Aboriginal Land Council based in Parramatta is surprised by the recent native title claims under the Mabo ruling. It says it has no input into developing or lodging any of the claims. Whitlam to honor Tugagal natives by CHRIS FLYNN FORMER Prime Minister Gough Whitlam will unveil a plaque in Toongabbie on Saturday to commemorate the Aboriginal occupation of the area. The ceremony will be pan of Toongabbie's bicentenary celebrations which mark the establishment of a convict farm where Oakes Rd is now, in 1791. The Toongabbie area was mhabitated by the Tugagal clan. Tuga means thick wood and Toongabbie was named by Governor Phillip, who noted “this is the name by which the natives distinguish the spot”. Bicentenary committee secretary Elaine Evans said Blacktown author Jack Brock would display a selection of photographs, maps and records relating to the Aboriginal An Aborignai woman and child from an early occupation, at the festival. engraving. She is Ballendella, after whom a Mr Brook co-authored (with Macquarie University lecturer Dr Jim Kohen) the recently released book — The street in Toongabbie is named Parramatta Native Institution and the Black Town. A ' Histor>'. ■i?| He wrote how the Aborigines who escaped the introduced diseases which decimated the coastal plain clans, were then hunted down on Governor Macquarie’s orders for killing the white man s animals. Those who resisted were to be shot or hung and their bodies left hanging in trees as a warning to others. “It is imponant we acknowledge the Tugagal clan lived here for generations before the white invasion and it (the invasion) had a devastating elTect on them.” said Ms Evans. Our remembering the tragedy white settlement brought to the Aboriginal occupants is a significant part of the 200 years of history we will be commemorating on Saturday,” she said. Toongabbie is white .Australia’s third settlement (after Sydney and Parramatta) and like Parramatta, its potential for crop production was crucial to the survival of the i f i i j f j infant colony. Mr Whitlam will unveil the plaque at the Oakes Rd Reserve, at 11.45am. • More Toongabbie stories on page 12 f-1. Equality ‘a myth’
EQUALITY in Australia is a hollow myth despite 25 By CHRIS HUTCHINGS years of Aboriginal citizenship, court magistrate Pat O’Shane has told a Parramatta ecture audience. Ms O’Shane told the Mercury after the lecture. Government statistics blatantly highlighted the lack “ But 25 years and SIO million later there is no real of social justice for Aborigines, she said. improvement in the lot of indigenous people. She is angry govemnftnts did hot have the will to in ‘ ‘Instead morbidity rates are 19 times higher for Abo stigate real change, despite the 1967 referendum which rigines than for non-Aborigines, youth mortality rates gave Aborigines voting rights, legally making them citi are four times higher for Aborigines than for non-Abo zens in their own land. rigines, and there are four aborigines out of work for Ms O’Shane, the country’s first Aboriginal barrister every one non-Aborigine unemployed. and female Aboriginal magistrate and first woman to “ The $10 million the government has put into the head NSW ’s Aboriginal Affairs ministry, was speaking Reconciliation Council could have been put into hous when opening the University of Western Sydney’s 1992 ing, health, education and employment and made an lecture series at its Westmead campus last Wednesday. immense difference. “Twenty five years ago I felt optimistic. Like many “Governments don’t do it because they don’t have others I felt we were on the road at last.” a passionate the will to do it. “ It’s in their interest to have a sector of the com munity in that situation.” She said the country’s leaders and highflyers were more concerned with “ the privatisation of wealth and the socialisation of debt,” than egalitarianism. Entrepreneurs stoked up massive debts then expected the taxpayer to bail them out. More grass-roots action groups, like the Aboriginal Forum in Queensland, were needed to stop govern ments hijacking the human rights campaign, she said. She would like to take an active ro e when they de velop in NSW. ) C - H a A/^ / T“ / t S S
Delivering the cultural goods at Granville South . . . the Bangarra Aboriginal Dance Group ^ A matter of culture A BRIDGE of cultural and nology and Couralllie High operation day on Friday. A lations in her town but the racial harmony was made at Schools has a large Aborigi concert on the day featured project was improving Granville South High nal population. the Bangarra Aboriginal things dramatically. School last week which now All three schools are in Dance Group plus contri “If we keep working at stretches across the State. volved in pilot anti-racism butions from Granville understanding each other, I About 30 high school projects which are hoped to South students. think we will all be a lot students from Moree in be used as a blueprint in Aboriginal student better off for it,” she said. northwest NSW visited the promoting racial harmony Donald Craigie, 15, be Granville South’s school as part of an in schools across the lieved the trip to Sydney Anthony Saleh, 16, said exchange between cultural country. and the projects were all there had been racial dis melting pots. The visitors enjoyed a part of everyone “getting putes at the school in the While Granville South harbor cruise and school on” for the better. past but the project was has a high proportion of dance and the week culmi Moree’sKylieJarratt, 16, helping break down the students from migrant nated in the celebration of a said there was a contro barriers to mutual under backgrounds, Moree Tech peace and international co versial history of race re standing. Land council landlord Mini...... ti""Miiniiiiiiiii||||||||||||||ii to top
money o firms By CHRIS HUTCHINGS THE NSW Aboriginal Land Council has be come landlord in Parra matta to two of Aus tralia’s big financial companies. It has moved its State HQ from Liverpool to 33 Argyle St, Parramatta, and become landlord to giant insurance company the AMP Society and chartered accountancy DENIS Maher firm Ernst & Young in the network in NSW is quite a process. turnaround. An official flag-raising and opening dance cere- “ Our main function is inony next Monday will to get land back and estab coincide with 10 years of lish things like housing. land rights. “ We buy the land, set The Land Council occu up housing and rent it out. pies 2 1/2 floors of the nine- “ We also set up enter storey, $9.75 million prises — motels, restau building and rents out the rants, large developments rest. — to help people organise Sppkeman Denis and become self-suffi- Maher said: “ We needed cient. to expand and were ad vised this area was good “ And we pay rates like for property investment. everybody else. “To have companies Ernst & Young retains like AMP and Ernst & naming rights for the inod- Young, two large financial ern building, completed firms, as tenants in a only last year, but the Ab building owned by the original flag will also soon Aborigmal Land Council adorn the structure. PARRAMATTA CITY COUNCIL
LIBRARY SERVICES DIVISION
LOCAL HISTORY SERVICE - Vertical File Collection
SUBJECT: AeoAx.&T^E.s
SOURCE: e. ^ PAGE NO: f
DATE: /•-»•«? 3 CLASS. NO:
1,1 \RN iiu- (ii(imTi(l LIBRARY SERVICES DIVISION LOCAL HISTORY SERVICE - Vertical File Collection SUBJECT: ^ O A X * X SOURCE: PAGE NO: J DATE: 7 -7.93 CLASS. NO: - Sharing dreams ot better days - Flags fly in a mark of respect RAISING the Aboriginal and of the Aboriginal Culture and Torres Strail Islander flags in Heritage Committee, said Parra Parramatta Mall on Monday m atta was in the land o f the D aruk marked the beginning of people. . National Aboriginal and Many ancestors of the original Torres Strait Islander Week. tribes who came to Parramatta Aboriginal Land Councillor still lived in the area and were Robert Lester, welcomed by actively involved in Aboriginal Parramatta Lord Mayor John organisations across the region. Haines, said true reconciliation could only begin when mutual Four students from high schools respect and tolerance had been in (he Parramatta area, Renae achieved. Barlow (Macarlhur Girls), Victoria Hodges (Dundas Marist “This country will lead the Bros), Scott Moseley (Parramatta world in the future when we have come to terms with our past,” he Marist Bros) and Damien Cronin said. (Granville Patrician Bros), spoke on what Aboriginal culture meant “We can work together to build to them . a strong future for our children; but the future is in o ur hands if we. Festivities will continue of this generation, sow the seeds. throughout the week with an “This can and should be our Aboriginal feast on Friday includ future dreaming,” Mr Lester said. ing kangaroo and emu meat deli He called for “sensible dis cacies. cussion” of the controverial Mabo • This was the first time the ruling instead of “over-reaction”. Torres Strait flag had flown from Mr Lester, who is also chairm an Parramatta Town Hall. Experience ancient culture by NAN WEBBER and didgeridoo and guitar (10am and Schools com plete a m ural with 1 lain); didgeridoo playing (I0.30am Aboriginal painter Danny A T IM E W A R P 10 enjoy — and 11.30am); Kudjaries Dance Eastw ood. A ustralia in th e drcam tim e w Ith B ush T u ck er Supply ofTcrs Aboriginal storytelling, dancing, art Group (noon); Bah-ta-Bah Dancc traditional Aboriginal food, and traditional bush tucker— will Troupe (1 2 3 0 p m ) and G am ilaroi including kangaroo and em u m eat take place in Parramatta Mall this A rts and D ance G roup (1pm ). and native herbs and fruit. week. I'he public is invited to help paint a T h ere will also be displays from the P arram atta Council is providing the m ural a t th e S treet U v e l Art NSW Aboriginal Land Council, A member of the Ba-ta-Bah free non-stop en tertainm ent from G allery, see them selves w ith painted Regional National Aboriginal and Aboriginal Dance Troupe will 10am to 3pm on Friday to celebrate faces A boriginal sty le or watch Islander Day Observance p erform in Church St National Al>original Day. students from OLMC, Parramatta Committee and Aboriginal Catholic Amphitheatre on Friday The program includes story telling H igh and A rth u r P h illip H igh M inistry. PARRAMATTA CITY COUNCIL LIBRARY SERVICES DIVISION LOCAL HISTORY SERVICE - Vertical File Collection SUBJECT: SOURCE: PAGE NO: » DATE: / f . -7. f 2 CLASS. NO: THE pouring rain outside could not dampen crowded Town Hall last Friday. Children had such as rosella flowers, wattle seeds and the spirits of Peta Lonsdale (left). 20. and their faces painted, mums and daughters native peppermint. Aboriginal music stick Tanya Ellis. 22. of ttie Pemol Kudjanes dance learnt Aboriginal dances and others learnt to maker Greg Simms said the day was a group as Aborigine and Torres Stait Islander play the didgeridoo during a fun-packed day. success and a great way for Aborigines to Week was celebrated in Parramatta's Other delights included bush tucker treats share their culture with non-Aborigines. PARRAMAHA CITY COUNCIL LIBRARY SERVICES DIVISION LOCAL HISTORY SERVICE - Vertical File Collection SUBJECT: SOURCE: PAGE NO: d a t e : Music, dance anc the didgeridoo NEXT Friday, July 15, the Church Street Mall will come alive to the sound of didgeridoos, clapsticks, story telling and ancient tribal dancing as City Council presents an exciting program to celebrate National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Observance Day. The planned program is bigger and better than last year’s very successful event and will include Aboriginal wood carving. Street Level Art Gallery and local high schools completing an Aboriginal mural. Also included are painting river rocks, emu egg carving, painting didgeridoos and clapsticks and many other displays and activities. Back by popular request is the class teaching mural There will be live music in the amphitheatre including painting last year’s hugely popular Auriel Andrew who plays guitar. J The events are free and will run from 10am-2pm. PARRAMATTA CITY COUNCIL LIBRARY SERVICES DIVISION LOCAL HfSTORY SERVICE - Vertical File Collection SUBJECT: Cr /A / (TS SOURCE: /hver CLASS. NO: DATE: Community services plan launch PARRAMATTA Council will, tommorrow, publicly Councillor Chris Worthington, representing Lord launch its Community Services Plan relating to Mavor, John Haines, OAM. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people Representativ^es o f the Daruk and Gandangara Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Week Aboriginal Land Councils, the Damk Link Assoc- Lj^den Room at the Gazebo, ation and the Gol Go! Abonginal Group have been invited to the public release of the document by Attendance is by invitation only. c PARRAMAHA CITY COUNCIL LIBRARY SERVICES DIVISION LOCAL HISTORY SERVICE - Vertical File Collection SUBJECT: SOURCE: PAGE NO: ^ '3 ' DATE: CLASS.no: Aboriginal dance display PARRAMATTA’S Church Street Mall will Dance Treaty. The celebrations will include be alive with Aboriginal art and culture on demonstrations of wood and emu egg carving Friday to celebrate National Aboriginal and and special displays by the NSW Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Observance Day. Land Council and the Regional National Parramatta Council will present an excit Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance ing program in the mall between 10am and Committee. 2pm. The day’s highlight will be the completion There will be a street level art gallery of an Aboriginal mural by three local high where passers-by can help paint an Aborigi schools under the guidance of special guest nal mural and dancing will abound with 1992 Aboriginal Artist of the Year Danny performances by the Worrilga Dance Group, Eastwood. the Murri Dancers, Bah Ta Bah and the The day’s events are free and will also Rydalmere East Primary School Aboriginal include bush tucker tasting. fj / PARRAMAHA CITY COUNCIL LIBRARY SERVICES DIVISION LOCAL HISTORY SERVICE - Vertical File Collection SUBJECT: SOURCE: PAGE NO: DATE: CLASS. NO: Records suggest burial of Kooris By CHRIS HUTCHINGS cem etery on 20 N ovem ber 1842. Church St and West Pennant Hills Rd “We know there were people Parramatta in 1823. group trying to save Black Peter w as b uried on 12 boundaries for road widening. buried around the perimeter of the “Jacky Jacky is probably an Australia's oldest Catholic November 1864 after dying in Brian Pnidames said: “We want to cemetery but the graves there are no A borigine. ccinctcry believes 19th Parram atta Jail. find o ut for sure w hether o r not these longer marked.** A “ It should not take too m uch century Aborigines may be buried in The Friends group is writing to the people were Aboriginal. Historian Michael Flynn, who has research to dig out who he was. the Parramatta graveyard. Daruk Land Council at Mount Druitt **We think they probably were. been involved In uncovering the in»e “He could have been an Aboriginal The Friends of St Patrick's asking for its help in trying to find out “Jacky Jacky w as a com m on nam e history of the Dairy Collage in child of one of the women in the Cemetery have found records which exactly where in the graveyard the used for Aborigines and it would Panamalta Park, said it wa.s likely the factory. indicate two Aborigines are buned tw o are buried and to support the fight seem likely that sonnrooe callcd people were Aboriginal. somewhere in the grounds. to save the c em etery in its entirety. Black P eter w as A borigine too. “There s lots of Aborigines buried “Black Peter could have been' Jacky Jacky died at the Parramatta Parramatta Council and the RTA "W e d o n ’t know w here these In St John s Cemetery, including ihe Aboriginal but that could also apply Factory aged six. H e w as buried in the wish to take some fand along both its people are buried. son o f B ennelong w ho died in to som eone w ho is A frican o r Indian. Page seeks Koori say ore Aboriginal people government and non-government of the part they can play. need to become involved organisations. “They must become more Min local government, said The council recently set up its involved in local government. They State Local Government Minister own Aborigine and Torres Strait must communicate wisely with Ernie Page at the recent Local Islander advisory committee. council, they must talk about their Government Aboriginal Network Mr Page said the forum was a needs and aspirations. quarterly meeting in Parramatta. good way of helping to “break “In turn, councils must start Parramatta City Council down the barriers that discriminate. listening to and acting on the welcomed the chance to host the “But”, he said, “Aboriginal expressed needs of the indigenous two-day forum of people from people, too, need to be more aware people in their communities. PARRAMATTA CITY COUNCIL LIBRARY SERVICES DIVISION LOCAL HISTORY SERVICE - Vertical File Collection SUBJECT: S O U R C E : FalrtaxSun-PARRAMAnA P A G E NO: DATE:, -9J\i997 Native impact light A NATIVE Title claim over most of an assessment process by the tribunal and Sydney will have little effect on Holroyd an agreement will be negotiated with the if the Native Tide Tribunal grants it applicants if accepted. Holroyd Council general manager But in a report to council, Mr Trezise Dennis Trezise said the council had only a said land identification would take a long s m a ll number of properties vested with time and council also had the opportunity the Crown that may be affected by the to apply as an interested party to the claim. application. The claim was lodged on May 12 by He said the only properties that could Darug Aboriginal representatives, cover ing all Crown land in the greater be affected in the Holroyd area were Ted metropolitan Sydney, affecting 35 local Burge Sports Ground, Mays Hill Reserve, government areas. part of tfie Holroyd Sports Ground and a TTie ^plication has been undergoing small reserve behind Kurrajong Road. PARRAMATTA CITY COUNCIL LIBRARY SERVICES DIVISION LOCAL HISTORY SERVICE - Vertical File Collection SUBJECT: ^ S0URCE?**’»®teAdwrtls8r-aTYI^ PAGE NO: ^ '^ A T E ;. - g j u ; . i 9 9 7 Heated debate on flag FLYING the Aboriginal flag during NAIDOC week “ is one of the most divisive ideals we have created” . Independent Auburn Councillor Terry Keeghan made the comment during debate on whether Auburn Council, for the first time, should fly the Aboriginal flag during this week’s annual National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) week. “As I’ve said before, there’s one flag — it’s the Australian flag,” Mr Keeghan said. “To suggest we fly another flag is not in keeping with the racial relationships we have today. “There are many different groups from other nationalities in Auburn. If we were to support these people flying their flag on their particular day, a lot of other people would be incensed. A lot of people are incensed at the Aborigines flying their flag.” Liberal Councillor Emile Chantiri agreed, saying a decision to fly the Aboriginal flag would set an unwelcome precedent. But despite the objections, the Aboriginal flag is flying at Auburn Council this week after councillors voted 8-3 in favour of the proposal. Residents Action Group Councillors Judy Jones and Erica Hockley said a lot of people would be offended if council did not fly the flag. “Aboriginal people are the first people of this country,” Ms Hockley said. “ Flying their flag is not a sign of disrespect for the Australian flag, it’s a sign of respect for the Aboriginal community.” PARRAMATTA CITY COUNCIL LIBRARY SERVICES DIVISION LOCAL HISTORY SERVICE - Vertical File Collection SUBJECT: SOURCE: jpananattaAdvertiser-HOIJIOYD PAGE NO: 7 DATE: •• 16 J A timely apology by ALICE ATKINS State Minister for Abor iginal Affairs Andrew “ IN the hearts and minds of people there is ignorance of Refshauge said NAIDOC the process of [reconcili Week was a chance “ to ation] and an apathy about focus upon the rich cultural it,” the Reverend Ray heritage of our indigenous Minniecon said. people and . . . exchange knowledge” . But Parramatta Council had taken a “ step in the “At no time has this been right direction” by apolo more important than the gising unconditionally for present,” he said, the way previous govern “Two weeks ago I was ments and generations of privileged to attend the first white Australians had Black Parliament held in treated indigenous people, State Parliament - a moving he said. event that is a potent symbol The director of World of how far we have come in Vision’s Aboriginal Unit the reconciliation process. made the comments at a “Of course, we still have National Aboriginal and a great deal further to go.” Islander Day Observance The Aboriginal flag was Committee (NAIDOC) flag raised as part of day long raising ceremony in Parra celebrations which included matta last Friday. traditional dance perform “ We may have a long ances, didgeridoo playing way to go people, but it is and painting workshops. these little things which The Reverend Ray Minniecon. . . Parramatta's apology to indigenous people was make this process able to 'a step in the right direction' succeed,” he said. ■^1 PARRAMATTA CITY COUNCIL LIBRARY SERVICES DIVISION LOCAL HISTORY SERVICE - Vertical File Collection SUBJECT: S O U R C E ; !=artaxSon-PARRAIIWrTA PAGE NO : / Aborigines to join Australia Day here AN ABORIGINAL “Survival Day” indigenous and European activities. celebration could become a part of She said the council’s Aboriginal and Australia Day in Parramatta next year. Torres Strait Islander Advisory Com Parramatta Council has compiled the mittee had asked that the survey be results of a survey conducted during compiled. NAIDOC Week (National Aboriginal “A copy of that questionnaire has and Islander Day of Commemoration), been forwarded to council’s various asking people whether they believe the policy and community committees for council’s Australia Day celebrations their input. should be made up of both indigenous “We expect those results back by the and other events. end of the month.” Parramatta Council’s Multicultural Ms Chung said the special “Survival Social planner Eco Chung said although Day” activities would be held at survey results were still coming in, the Parramatta Park, but she stressed the initial response had shown support for concept had not yet received the an Australia Day comprised of both backing of the council. PARRAMATTA CITY COUNCIL LIBRARY SERVICES DIVISION LOCAL HISTORY SERVICE - Vertical File Collection SUBJECT: ^ SOURCE PAGE NO: ^Sun-PARRAMADA DATE: ^ 2 NOV 1997 Outback inspires painter WESTMEAD artist Carmel Nicholson (right) has been given a grant by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Board to boost indigenous art in the community. Laurie Ferguson, Federal Member for Reid, congratulated the Aboriginal artist on her $5700 grant which will be used to buy equipment and to travel. “It is a refreshing change to see the grant awarded to a deserving individual rather than going to an established Sydney CBD-based arts organisation,” Mr Ferguson said. Ms Nicholson has had several exhibitions. The 64-year-old’s works include scenes from her travels, traditional Aboriginal art and what she calls “imaginary art”. Her father was a king of the Puntamurra tribe in outback Queensland and her mother a It was then that Ms Nicholson different symbols and meanings, princess. took up the art of traditional so I also paint a lot of ordinary When Carmel was seven, her Aboriginal painting. images.” parents sent her to Brisbane Surprisingly she knew very At present, she has 20 paint little about the art and is under the care of a group of nuns ings on display in her home where she attended school. self-taught from books. depicting the beautiful colours of After the school closed down “I read and looked through the she lived in Brisbane for many books, learning the symbols, the outback, sunsets and birds. years until she moved to Sydney what the circles mean,” she said. People are welcome to view at the age of 60 to live with her “You have to be careful them on the weekends if they sister. though because each tribe has phone ahead on 9635 6315. PARRAWATTA CITY COUNCIL LIBRARY SERVICES DIVISION LOCAL HISTORY SERVICE - Vertical File Collection SUBJECT: /c6oP4Gr\NBS SOURCE: Fjj^Sun-rWWWirtn^ PAGE NO: DATE: boriginal council looks to the future By PETER JONES was placed in an investment fund LAST Wednesday was the official end while the rest of the money was used of Government funding for the to fund the council’s statewide net Parramatta based NSW Aboriginal work. Land Council (NSWALC). The invested funds will now be However the occasion was marked used to run the state office, branches as much by celebration as it was by and 117 local Aboriginal land coun commemoration of the NSW Aborigi cils. nal Land Rights Act of 1983 which Ms Glasgow said the future of the granted NSW Aboriginal people the council is in maintaining its current right to make land claims on certain focus on education and job programs Crown lands. for Aboriginal people while encour aging and providing opportunities for NSWALC spokesperson Trudy Glasgow said the council used the business growth. commemoration to launch its own ‘The council is proud of where it blueprint for the future. has come from and what has been accomplished in the past 15 years,” Beyond the Sunset recognises this she said. time as the biggest challenge the “The goals set by the council for the council has faced since the Act Aboriginal people of NSW reflect in commenced in 1983,” she said. many ways the road the council itself The sunset of the document’s title has travelled and continues to move relates to the sunset clause in the Act along. In the beginning the council ^'hich set a 15-year limit to Govern had to educate itself, it’s a very ment funding for the council. educated workforce now.” The NSWALC was set up as a The NSWALC has instigated or non-Govemment statutory corpora supported business and training proj tion under the NSW Minister for ects across the state firom art galleys Aboriginal Affairs. to farms and garbage collection For 15 years the NSWALC services. received Government assistance in the “In the future we want to ensure form of an annual grant representing that not only does the council survive 7.5 per cent of land tax collected in to help Aboriginal people in this state, NSW.I5W. we want it to prosper,” Ms Glasgow Fifty per cent of the grant each year said. ,: x ,. g NSW Aboriginal Land Council president, Councillor Ossie Cruse at the launch of the Beyond the unset document. (A w "Marks from the past show signs of an ancient meeting place o c c 7) 2 O m m o H Tribal site I to > • r O O o maintains ^ ? LO o its liistory 7J < THE last remaining scar W trees in the Sydney City by LUISA COGNO m district are living oh the 5 Royal Australian Navy’s Newington site at iginal tribespeople. 0 Homebush Bay, an ar Tribesmen would have cut m the scars into the scribbly 1 chaeologist has claimed. gum eucalyptus trees to < Emma Lee said long act as markers, or sign o before Homebush Bay be posts, more than 150 years 3 . came the home of next ago. o’ year’s Sydney Olympics it Nestled in thick T3 was a meeting place for bushland at the RAN site, > inland and coastal Abor- five scar trees have been o O m found but Ms Lee said Ms Lee’s pet project Archaeologist Emma Lee with the scribbly baric gum which bears an O more could be housed at has been compiling an Aboriginal maricer scar Photo: JOHN APPLEYARD z o the site. “ Inland tribes Aboriginal history o f the o lected the oral histories of was a meeting place,” he found at other Olympics • • from the mountains would Homebush Bay Olympic o Aboriginal elders to pre said. “ Homebush Bay I-*- have travelled down the site. sites including an Abor pare the report. will become a meeting hills to meet at Homebush iginal campsite at the o The consultant, who The National Parks and place for global tribes Horsley Park equestrian 3 Bay,” she said. also co-runs Darwala-Lia Wildlife Service will ac during the Olympics next centre. They would have car Archaeological Services, quire the land when it is year.” ried stones to be traded worked with the Metro vacated by the RAN in Ms Lee estimates the Small artefacts and an with the coastal tribes for politan Local Aboriginal December. scars were cut in autumn axe head were also found fish. Land Council and col- Olympic Co-ordination in the early morning when near Olympic shooting Authority Aboriginal the sap was running range at Cecil Park. strategy manager Maijorie through the trees. “These sites are a part Anderson said staging Hatchets would have been o f our history,” she said. n ext y ea r’s S ydney wedged into the trees be Olympics at Homebush fore a 15cm to 20cm piece “ It’s important that Bay would bring the area was cut from the tree in a these sites are mapped out to its original land use. vertical direction. and talked so the use o f “ The traditional use of Ms Anderson said Ab the land is knovra by all the land at Homebush Bay original artefacts were people.” PARRAMATTA CITY COUNCIL LIBRARY SERVICES DIVISION LOCAL HISTORY SERVICE - Vertical File Collection SUBJECT: ^^naAdvertiser-CnYNORTH PAGE NO: 1 SOURCE: DATE: 2 1 A 9 Aboriginal flag will fly PARRAMATTA Council government while the Ab a flag hanging there which will fly the Aboriginal by SHARON PAINTIN original flag was not. should not be because it flag after council voted on “ The flags that fly does not represent all of Monday, April 12 to en above the Lord Mayor’s the people of Parramatta, dorse the recommendation the Parramatta Council chair should be those rep it only represents a small by the Aboriginal and crest to be included on the resenting the three arms of per cent.” Torres Strait Islander Aboriginal Flag, or, as an government in Aust Council knocked back committee. alternative, a flag using ralia,” Mr Gregory said. the idea saying the cost of the Aboriginal colours There had been a “ They are the flag of redesigning new council suggestion by Councillor could be used as the new our city, the flag o f our flags would be great. Roger Gregory that sym council flag. State and the flag of our Councillor David Borger bols from the Aboriginal He said other flags fly country. applauded the move to fly flag and the council one ing above the council, “ We are going to have the Aboriginal flag. could be merged. Australian, State and Mr Gregory moved for council were all flags of Evonne Cawley. . . celebrating the discovery of her Aboriginal heritage Photo: ANN MORAN i have never been happier’ DESPITE the rain, they came in mination to triumph — she had everything from suits to high heels by DANIEL LEWIS learned from her mother or her to play tennis at Westmead Hospital grandparents. “ And that’s what this last Thursday. NAIDOC Week is all about: it’s when she showed promise and was respect for your elders and it’s Standing at one end o f the mock whisked away to Sydney at the age “ Wimbledon” outside the hos something that’s really got me of 11, the whole town chipped in to through my career.” pital’s staff canteen (strawberries buy her clothes and equipment. and cream a specialty), Evonne Cawley added that it was obvious She won Wimbledon twice, mar Cawley’s charm, grace and exquis the elders of some professional ried a mad Manchester United fan ite skills were proving as magnetic tennis players were not doing their and moved to America where she job. The behaviour of some players as ever. became a proud mother to Morgan made her “ cringe” . “ I didn’t realise there were so and Kelly. many tennis players about,” the Only once in her tennis career did Through her youth development 47-year-old said of the crowd that she encounter a racist taunt, and the work with Tennis Australia and the queued up to have a hit with her. opposition player who called her Aboriginal Sports Program, Cawley “ They all tired me out.” “ nigger” was banned. said she always emphasised that sport should be fiin, not fiill of While tennis made her famous Cawley said her lifestyle meant and still brings her great joy, she met queens, presidents, princes tantrums. Cawley told the hospital’s inaugural and movie stars, “ but I always Other speakers at the Westmead National Aboriginal and Torres thought there was something miss lectures included television journal Strait Islanders Week lecture series ing and that was finding out about ist Stan Grant and his father Stan that it was returning to Australia m yself’. Grant Snr, Neita Scott and Mick and getting to know her Aboriginal The death o f her mother in 1991 Dodson, who addressed the issue of culture which had made her truly convinced her to return to Australia. the stolen generation. happy for the first time in her life. Then she went on a “ timeless” This Sunday Holroyd Council During an hour-long talk, she outback camping trip with Aborigi will celebrate with an Aboriginal recalled the happy childhood she nal elders. and Torres Strait Islander Day of had in Barellan in country NSW. “ The experience was something Celebration at Central Gardens, But whenever a flash car came that I had been yearning for and I Merrylands, from 10am to 2pm. down the road there was a fear the can honestly say that I have never There will be didgeridoo playing, “ welfare man” had come to take been happier because I know who I dancing, art awards, a flag raising her away. am now,” Cawley said. ceremony, emu egg and wood Her father cut her first tennis Everything that she was proud of carving, river rock and mural paint racquet from an apple crate and — her happy disposition and deter ing, stalls and entertainment. PARRAMATTA CITY COUNCIL LIBRARY SERVICES DIVISION LOCAL HISTORY SERVICE - Vertical File Collection SUBJECT: SOURCE: PAGE NO (1 S 9 DATE: Join the roll for ATSIC election THE Aboriginal and missioners who make Torres Strait Islander up the ATSIC board. Commission (ATSIC) Regional councils decide is urging local Abor how ATSIC funds igines to enrol for the should be spent, help upcoming ATSIC draw up and carry out elections. plans to improve the The elections will be lives of indiginous held on October 9, Australians, let com with the Australian missioners know what Electoral Commission people in their region (AEC) accepting en rolments up to want and generally September 24. represent local people. Enrolment forms for There are 12 positions on people aged over 18 the Sydney Regional are available at post Council, which has offices, the AEC or by been divided up into phoning 13 23 26. wards for the first time ATSIC elections are held to help distinct com every three years and munities gain rep October’s will be the resentation. fourth. The Campbelltown ward There are 35 regional will return three mem councils throughout bers, Coogee one. La Australia and Parra Perouse one, Penrith matta is part of the six and Wollongong Sydney Regional one. Council. The Parramatta area lies Each regional council within the has between eight and Campbelltown, 12 members, depend Penrith and Coogee ing on its population, and regional council wards. lors in turn help Nominations for candi choose the 17 com dates close today. PARRAMATTA CITY COUNCIL LIBRARY SERVICES DIVISION LOCAL HISTORY SERVICE - Vertical File Collection SUBJECT: /K(?0 RlC, SOURCE: Fairfax Sun-PARRAMAHA PAGE NO: ~J DATE: J G 9 Have your say about healing of our nation MEMBERS of the public are Reconciliation and compiled into want to acknowledge history and invited to attend a meeting to the final document for reconcilia give indigenous people the respect discuss a draft Aboriginal recon tion, to be presented to the Federal they deserve? ciliation document in Parramatta Government in May next year. “The document we should have next week. The document aims to formally will make many people feel Part of a nationwide consulta recognise Aboriginal and Torres uncomfortable.” tion process, the meeting has been Strait Islanders as the first Austral A meeting held last month in organised by local group Reconcil ians, guide future relations and to Parramatta was pooriy attended. iation For Western Sydney, who set out commitment and actions to Mr Jackson said that was a sign of hope to see a large crowd put their make reconciliation a reality. the times in suburban Australia. recommendations forward. Jeff Jackson, the secretary of He said unless people are faced The Draft Document for Recon Reconciliation For Western Syd with the problem on a daily basis, ciliation is a working document ney, said he hoped the public will little thought was given to it. developed by the Council for give some serious thought to the Aboriginal Reconciliation. reconciliation process. He hopes Parramatta will better represented at the next and final The document set out strategies “It is not just an Aboriginal for the Federal Government to issue, now it is more so for white meeting for the area. adopt and implement throughout Australians to sit down and deal The meeting will be held at the all their policies. with the issues, work through their Leigh Memorial Uniting Church However the content is still problems and deal with their own Hall, 119 Macquarie Street Parra open for discussion, which is why guilt,” Mr Jackson said. matta on Saturday, October 23. the series of meeting are being “We have to think about what It will include a special chil held around Australia. we want, a document that we can dren’s program to highlight some All comments will be forwarded put up on the wall and think we are of the more basic reconciliation to the Council for Aboriginal all happy with, or do we really issues to young people. PARRAMATTA CrTY COUNCIL l ib r a r y s e r v ic e s d iv is io n LOCAL HISTORY SERVICE - Vertical File Collection SUBJECT: SO U R C E ;P3rram^a AiJvertiser - CITY NORTH D ATE: 1 3 0 9 ATSIC regional elections ABORIGINAL and Torres Strait Sydney Regional Council has 12 attempts to interview Ms Haroa Islander people will go to the polls positions. about her candidacy and the issues this weekend to elect their regional Most o f the Parramatta area lies affecting Aborigines in Parramatta councils. within Penrith Ward, which will and the Sydney region generally, The Aboriginal and Torres Strait return six o f the council’s 12 but was unsuccessful. Islander Commission (ATSIC) members. All Aboriginal and Torres Strait elections are held every three years There are eight nominated candi Islander people registered on the and this is the fourth. dates for Penrith Ward, with Rosa electoral role are entitled to vote. The 35 regional councils in turn Haroa the only Parramatta-based For more information phone the choose the 17 commissioners who candidate. ATSIC Sydney regional office on make up the ATSIC board. The Advertiser made repeated 9211 3555. PARRAMATTA CITY COUNCIL LIBRARY SERVICES DIVISION LOCAL HISTORY SERVICE - Vertical File Collection SUBJECT: PAGE NO: 2 S O U R C E : Parramatta A ^ r t i s e r - C n Y NORTH DATE: I /|2 /IS Forced out of area by LUISA COGNO booths in Parramatta although the State VOTERS from Parra headquarters are matta and Holroyd based here. will travel out of the Parramatta and Holroyd area to cast their votes fall under the Western to cast votes in the NSW Aborigi Metropolitan Region, nal Land Council elec which has 1314 regis The nearest polling She said this would be tion was an important tion on Saturday, tered voters. booths are at Bidwill the third land council occasion. December 11. There are seven polling Uniting Church and election and there was She urged Aboriginal Emerton Primary a “ window o f oppor There are no polling booths in the region. people to give carefiil School to the west, tunity” for a Parra thought to who they and Liverpool’s matta polling booth in wanted to elect. Gandangara Local the fiiture. Aboriginal Land Six candidates are com “The new council body Council. peting for the right to will be responsible for Polling booths are also at represent the region an organisation now John Warby Public on the State’s land valued at over half a School, Airds, Minto council for the next billion dollars in and Tahmoor public three years. assets and invest schools and Penrith The candidates are Paul ments,” she said. High School. Newman of Picnic Point, Pat Lock of St Aboriginal Affairs Min- A spokeswoman from Andrews, Robert ister Andrew the NSW Aboriginal Lester, Emu Plains, Refshauge said the Land Council said Busby’s Denise elected councillors there had never been a Williams, Hoxton would have a chal polling booth in Parra Park’s Theresa Ellis lenging task ahead. matta possibly be and Barry Gunther, of “ The coming three-year cause there were not Busby. enough voters. term promises to be Returning officer for the one of unparalleled However, the number of region is Rocco development and op voters was not avail Leonello. portunity,” he said. able from the coimcil. Across the State, 82 can didates are contesting “ I look forward to work the election in 13 re ing with the new gional seats. council to advance the The council’s executive interests and aspir director Norma ations of Aboriginal Ingram said the elec people in N SW .” FAR5RAMATTA CrTt' CCUNC:L LIERARY SSRV!C£3 CMSICN LCCAL HISTCRY S£iRV!C2 - Verticai F^ie Coilectian S U B J E C T : O f < ( ( p I ^ 3 CURC 2 : The rarrsm atta Aaverriser P A G c M C : -5> □ A T E ; Aboriginal initiatives A LONG-term strategy aimed at NSWALC chairman Ossie tackling unemployment, poverty Cruse said the aim of the policy is NSW Aboriginal Land G>uncil dancers. Inseh Ossie Cruse and housing problems in the Abor to “ liberate and empower” Abor transport and tourism projects. Mr Cruse said less than 11 per iginal community was launched in iginal people in NSW through cent of Aboriginal people in NSW Parramatta last Friday. economic and social independence. “ We have implemented attend tertiary institutions, 40 per The Beyond The Sunset policy To achieve this goal, the council programs which we hope will lift statement, unveiled by the NSW will set up a credit union and a our people to an area of pride and cent leave school before the age of Aboriginal Land Council mortgage fund for Aboriginal dignity,” Mr Cruse said. 15 and unemployment in some (NSWALC), is a far-reaching blue people, establish an Aboriginal “The NSW Aboriginal com areas is as high as 60 per cent. print for the development of Abor Sporting Council Network and also munity is severely disadvantaged He said the policy would go a iginal communities over the next develop various business in comparison with the community long way in addressing these decade. enterprises such as supermarkets. at large.” problems. PARRAMATTA CITY COUNCIL LIBRARY SERVICES DIVISION l o c a l h is t o r y s e r v i c e - Vertical File Collection SUBJECT: SOURCE- Advertiser-CITY NORTH PAGE NO; DATE: o 2 8 J 1"98 Land rights champion Support for Aborigines by SHARON PAINTIN WIK, Native Title and a bevy o f Aboriginal issues are the speciality of Trudy Glasgow. Ms Glasgow was recently appointed as public relations officer for the Parramatta-based NSW Aboriginal Land Council. As such she is responsible for co-ordinating activities between 117 local and 13 regional land councils. Promoting and developing Aboriginal communities is also part of her role. The council is based in Parramatta because of the area’s central location to many clients. Parramatta was also quite significant in terms of Aboriginal history, Ms Glasgow said. Despite having no cultural ties to the Aboriginal community Ms Glasgow brings a wealth of insight to her new post. She previously worked as an Aboriginal affairs reporter. The iVagga Daily Advertiser and Daily Liberal, Dubbo, are two papers in which she has written about Aborigines and the issues affecting their communities. “ When I arrived at Dubbo 1 was good friends with a local Aboriginal leader,” Ms Glasgow said. “ They said we would love to have a journalist who we could contact.” She took on the challenge and fought to have the reporting o f Aboriginal issues turn around — with positive stories starting to come through. “ It’s a time o f change and it’s very exciting for me to be part of that change for an organisation that is really one of the peak bodies in NSW,” she said. “ I have a lot of respect for the way Aboriginal people are aware of their heritage and aware of their family past.” Despite this Ms Glasgow grew up in a small country town which had no indigenous members. It was only when she went to boarding school, at 12, that she met people from the Aboriginal community. “ From that time on I just believed it was crucial that they get the same respect and treatment as other people who were not Aboriginal,” she said. Trudy Glasgow is overseeing public reloHons at the Parramatta-based NSW The NSW Aboriginal Land Council can be contacted Aboriginal Land Council on 9689 4444. PARRAMATTA CITY COUNCIL LIBRARY SERVICES DIVISION LOCAL HISTORY SERVICE - Vertical File Collection SUBJECT: SOURCE: FjjrtaxSun-PARRAMATTA PAGE NO: 7 DATE; - 1 A. 38 Tertiary hope for land council staff S /'! { # ‘4 ■ NSW Aboriginal Land Council executive director Aden Ridgeway talks through the finer points of the new in-house traineeshipg on offer at the land council with Mauire Maher. By ANTHONY O’BRIEN their training but also to share their employment potential too. ABORIGINAL people in Western new-found skills with other Land “This program has proven an Sydney will be able to further their Council staff members. excellent stepping stone for career goals with the help of the NSWALC training spokesman Aboriginal people wanting to get Parramatta-based NSW Aborigi Lorensz Herft said the program’s their diploma in community man nal Land Council (NSWALC). success had exceeded all expecta agement,” Mr Herft said. Having finished the Community tions. “These skills can now be put Planning Program, members of the Mr Herft said the program back into the communities and local Aboriginal Land Council helped ensure that Aboriginal staff help encourage the self-sufficiency staff are now looking to undertake working in Aboriginal organisa process across the State.” formal tertiary qualifications for tions would be better able to assist NSWALC executive director the first time in their lives. and encourage other Aboriginal Aden Ridgeway, who met the nine And the participants have not people to undertake more formal trainees last week, launched a only indicated a desire to continue qualifications and boost their special training award for them. PARRAMATTA CITY COUNCIL LIBRARY SERVICES DIVISION LOCAL HISTORY SERVICE - Vertical File Collection SUBJECT: SOURCE: f^rtaxSm-PAIWAMfftt PAGE NO: 11 2 6 N . b97 Call to heal black pain By ANTHONY O’BEIEN Residents for Reconcilia ■ THE people of Parramatta showed they THEY SAT in the aisles, tion, was attended by against the walls and had the will to seek a lasting reconciliation l^ople from all walks of flowed out into the Church between black and white Australians at a life and included leading Street Mall, as people meeting in Parramatta last week.______Aboriginal academic came together at Parra Marcia Langton, Freda matta Town Hall last week gathering, saying the person’s rights on a parcel Whitlam (sister to former to show their support for High Court’s native title of land and a cow that PM Gough Whitlam) and reconciliation between and Wik decision was a grazes there, then it is the Parramatta councillors indigenous and non-indig- very small victory for cow that has more right, Maureen Walsh, Robyn enous Australians. Aboriginal people, not an Aboriginal person. Whelan, David Borger More than 600 people despite being portrayed as “It is farcical to say, as and Deputy Lord Mayor turned up at the Town a big win. the Prime Minister has, Phil Russo. Hall last Wednesday “We ask nothing more that the pendulum has Cr Russo said the meet night to hear the truths than for our pain over the swung to far. ing was an overwhelming and dispel the myths past 200 years to be healed. “If a double dissolution success for the people of about native title and the This should not be a threat is called over Wik, then I Parramatta. Howard Government’s to the rest of the nation,” can think of nothing more “We showed here Wik legislation. Mr Ridgeway said. divisive and destructive tonight that the people of NSW Aboriginal Land “Wik is about co-exis for this country.” Parramatta do have a Council director Aden tence. If there’s a conflict The meeting, organised social conscience,” Cr Ridgeway spoke to the between an Aboriginal by the Western Sydney Russo said. PARRAMATTA CITY COUNCIL LIBRARY SERVICES DIVISION LOCAL HISTORY SERVICE - Vertical File Collection SUBJECT: ^^ ^ ^ SOURCE: Pananate Advertiser - CITY NORTH DATE: 1 S N 3? Signs of old times SIGNS drawing attention to Parramatta’s Aboriginal heritage will be erected around the city. The move was endorsed by the works and services committee of Parramatta Council last Monday. The signs will reflect the different clans which inhabited the area and the land’s original link to the Darug people. There is a chance the move may be referred to the full meeting of Parramatta Council next week which would see the matter redebated. M PARRAMATTA CITY COUNCIL LIB R A R Y SERVICES DIVISION ^^LOCAL HISTORY SERVICE - Vertical File Collection SUBJECT: ^ SOURCE panaFist^ /^rtiser HOLROYD PAGE NO: 5" DATE: _ , M/’Y 13 Women's stories told in art by SHARON PAINTIN shells, seed pods and bird ARTIST Cheryl Moodai wings and claws gathered Robinson, of Wentworth- from road kills. ville, and her second cousin Many of the items will be Pamela Croft are preparing put in bird cages — rep for the art exhibition of a resenting a loss of freedom lifetime. and natural environment. The two women only “ We talk about Aborigi began to know each other nal people being icons,” about a year ago yet their Robinson said. lives have worn similar paths. However, the work will Both indigenous artists, appeal to many who have Croft and Robinson are faced a separation in their putting together an exhi family. bition at the Casula Power “ It’s not just for Abor house from July 2 to 6. iginal people or to make No More Secrets will non-Aboriginal people explore many of the issues aware of issues,” Robinson which have confronted the said. women in their lives — “ White fellas will be including the secrecy which able to walk in there and has surrounded their indi genous background and say 'I have empathy with family ties. this because something like Croft, a member of the this happened in my family stolen generation, grew up too’.” with a white family from The women are working the age of six. out of the old Kings School Both women say their site in Parramatta. aboriginality is a “closed They believe they are the secret” with older members only artists to be working of their family. out of a studio in Parra “ It’s a closed secret be matta. cause of the shame and Artists Pamela Croft politics that has been put to Their exhibition has re ceived funding from the and Cheryl Moodai being an Aborigina de Robinson scendant,” Croft said. Australia Council and Photo: John Appleyard The exhibition will ex Queensland Arts Office. plore the two paths each woman’s life has taken and deal with issues surround ing Aboriginal Australians. It features a range of natural materials including PARRAMATTA CITY COUNCIL LIBRARY SERVICES DIVISION l o c a l h is t o r y s e r v ic e - Vertical File Collection SUBJECT; SOURCE; ‘••«"«iaMdvertaer-CnYiarW DATE: < j 3 Aboriginal focus THE Deputy Premier, Minister for ceremony in front of the Town Hall Health and Aboriginal Affairs, Dr at 11.30am on the Friday. Andrew Refshauge, will participate On both days throughout the mall in the annual National Aboriginal stalls will offer art, crafts, a n d Islander Days of ornamental goods and clothing for Commemoration to be held in the sale. Church St Mall between 10am and 2pm on Friday and Saturday, July Free face painting for children will 10- 11. feature the special designs and Dr Refshauge will join Lord Mayor colours used in Aboriginal art by John Haines in a flag-raising Anita Langton. PARRAMATTA CITY COUNCIL LIBRARY SERVICES DIVISION LOCAL HISTORY SERVICE - Vertical File Collection SUBJECT: A b0(^|Crl/^£S SOURCE: The Fairfax Sun . (O ’ ^ I DATE: Photo; DAVID MARIUZ ■ DARUG Aboriginal elder Colin Gale of Maria Locke, the first Aboriginal area handed down by his ancestors (pictured near the Parramatta River), woman married in St John’s Anglian from pre-European settlement times, will be delivering one of four Parra Church Parramatta, said he was but also about his people’s early matta Foundation Week Lectures at the pleased to take part in ttie celebration. experiences with white people. The Parramatta Heritage Centre later this Mr Gale said he would be speaking lecture series is free but bookings on month. The great-great-great-grandson about the history of the Parramatta 9683 6922 are recommended. PARRAMATTA CITY COUNCIL LIBRARY SERVICES DIVISION LOCAL HISTORY SERVICE - Vertical File Collection SUBJECT: SOURCE: F a ifa x S u n - P A fiR A IW H A .. PAGE NO: 2 S DATE: Plight of Aboriginal youngsters THE Parramatta Heritage white, act white, look Centre will host a moving white.” National Archives exhibi “For 50 years since 1912, tion titled Between Two Commonwealth Govern Worlds over the next four ment policy dictated the months. removal of Aboriginal chil The photographic exhi dren of part descent from bition follows the story of a their families and placement number of young Aborigi of them in government or nal children who in the early mission institutions,” Ms part of this century were Dover said. taken from their parents by “The intention of the law the government and placed makers and administrators in homes for half-castes. was that removing children Between Two Worlds from circumstances that looks at two of the Northern offended white notions of Territory institutions - Bun family care gave children a galow in Alice Springs and chance of success in the Kahlin Home in Darwin. dominant society, especially It shows what happened if they lost their sense of to the children and traces Aboriginality.” their journey fi-om one place The exhibition is a to another, and one culture graphic look at the condi to another. tions of the institutions and Imedla Dover, the exhibi vulnerability of the Aborig tion curator at the Heritage inal children and their Centre, said the tone of the forced change of culture. exhibition was captured in The exhibition will con an accompanying anony tinue at the Parramatta Heri mous quote: “Made to think tage Centre until April 11. I THIS image of a nameless child Is reflective of the mood of ie photographic exhibition Between Two Worlds. AfeORlGlNieS Club requests disputed land GLENORIE Pony Club has tfirown another spark into the fire burning over Aboriginal claims to land In the district. It has called on Baulkham Hills Council to allow the club use Crown Land adjacent to Dilkera Reserve for trail rides and cross country courses. Councillors will decide at tonight’s meeting, Tuesday, whether to ask the State lands office to designate the area as a public reserve for use by the pony club. But the land in question is one of several plots currently under investigation by the Crown Lands Department, and could be given to the Mt Druitt Aboriginal Land Coun cil instead. The land council lodged claims last month to several plots of land under the land rights legislation passed by the Federal Government last H .'o .T year. But that was before it changed its name to the Dharug Land Council. PV The Dharug Land Council has since claimed it knows nothing about the appli cations but would be seeMng to work with the community and not against it. Affected land includes a portion in Halcrows Rd, Nelson; land in Neich Rd, Glenorie; one portion of land adjoining Crown Land off SchwebeLs Lane, Glenorie; land in Haffey and Raym Rds, Kenthurst, and land in Heath Rd, Kellyville. Council’s shire engineer, Mr John Barker, said council had spent a lot of money preparing the site now used by the pony club. “The club has also made use of adjoining bushland areas and organises trail rides for members,” he said. “It would be desirable for the area of Crown Land adjacent to the existing site to be retained in public oip-, fertlfip ahd be's^raMabla for use by the’pony chib.”' " ' * Land claims may not be justified Aborigines could be claiming land in the Hills which they cannot justify, soys Cr Les Shore who is concerned that Crown land might be given to minority groups. His fears follow last The Committee pro lodge any objections to it. year's claim by the Mt posed writing to Land Council was told that Druitt Local Aboriginal Council representative, Mr Saunders had failed to Land Council to 10 areas Mr Saunders, asking attend a Committee meet of land within the shire. when, he could attend a ing having agreed to do The matter was raised Cornmittee meeting; ad so and has not been in again at last week’s meet vising the Minister for touch with the Committee ing of Bauikham Hills Lands that the Committee since. Shire Council when three is trying to hold discus According to Cr Shore recommendations from sions with Mr Saunders; the Lands Council "has the Planning and Devel and asking the Lands De lost the art of black track opment Committee were partment for more time to ing to Council" even to considered. consider the claim and put its case. He believes the Aborig ines want the land only to sell it or lease it for possi ble mineral exploitation and that having got a foothold with their claims, will repeat their demands to gain bigger land hold ings. a G 5 They were on ‘walkabout’ “They were probably on walkabout” are the words a Baulkham Hills Shire Councillor used as the reason for Aborigines not turning up to talk land claims with the planning committee. Cr Les Shore made the comment after council’s planning committee in Aborigines vited a representative from Durak Aboriginal Lands Council to justify land claims it has lodged claim land for property at Kenthurst and Kellyville. council. He said it would 200 years... And our his have been better to have tory is taught by mouth. The representative did just accepted the plan “I feel its not only our n’t turn up for the meeting ner’s report that the infor history, its the Australian and councillors said the mation be noted. and European history lands council has given no The Mercury rang which we’re talking reason for this. Durak Lands Council re about.” “It’s discourteous... gional representative Mr The lands council chose They were probably on Gil Saunders who said he the particular parcels of walkabout,” Cr Shore couldn’t make it to meet land because of their his said. with council because he torical significance to both was attending another “They make a claim for the Aborigines and other community meeting. Australians. land yet the black tracker “I’m just as busy with would have to help them “We identified the land work as council is at the through tracing back leg find their way to Baulk moment,” Mr Saunders ham Hills,” he said. ends and going to de said. scendants of the local Cr John Griffiths told “The thing I’d like tribe,” Mr Saunders said. the shire president: “They council and the com “The future of the land said they didn’t want the munity to be aware of is will be decided by the land... They are willing to that the only reason the members of the lands lease it back to us for a land has been claimed is council and will be to the ‘nominal’ fee.” the fact of the oral history benefit of the community. Cr Larry Bolitho said pertaining to it. “We’re trying to prove the discussion was an ex “Most of the Aboriginal that we can work along ercise highlighting a case culture has been lost and side the Europeans,” Mr of racial prejudice in this destroyed over the last Saunders said. Rfe»o(M G,i H f Two cultures met in old Parramatta BEFORE the arrival of Europeans the Parramatta area offered its Aboriginal inhabitants the best of two worlds, ac ABORIGINAL cording to biological scientist, Mr Jim Kohen, of Macquarie University. HISTORYIN Mr Kohen has researched the history of Aboriginals on by GIL INGS the Cumberland Plain and NEW LIGHT brook and the escarpment, written several articles on the between Penrith and the corresponding difference plorers indicated the land was topic. Castlereagh, were laid down in dialects. only sparsely populated. He said pre-European in large lakes between 30,000 “Known by the inhabitants Mr Kohen said smallpox Parramatta was the meeting and 15,000 years ago. as Burramedigal, it was a caused the depopulation of place of the cultures of the “It was also much colder jumping off place, basically the area even before plains and the coast. then.” esturine, but with resources Europeans met the His book, Aborigines in the Mr Kohen said that early from both cultures,” he said. Aborigines. West: Prehistory to Present, Aborigines shared the Cum “It also marked a change in “The smallpox epidemic will soon be released by berland Plain with gjant mar vegetation. which swept through the Nepean College of Advanced supials like the Diprotodon, a “To the west was open for Aboriginal population killed Education. grazing animal the size of a JIM Kohen with Aborigin est with more small animals literally thousands of people The first Australian settle rhinoceros, and the Pro- al singing sticks. and tuberous plant foods such between 1789 and 1790,” he ment started more than 40,000 coptodon, a three-metre high, when their use decreased. as yams, plus some wallabies. said. years ago. kangaroo-like animal. “The Aborigines then “The animals were both “ One band, the Cadigal, “Aborigines were definitely He said that just as the cli started to use materials at hunted and trapped.” was reduced from 50 to 60 living in the Sydney area mate and animals suitable for hand without modification,” Mr Kohen said the open for people in 1788 to only three in 20,000 years ago and there is hunting changed over the Mr Kohen said. est discovered by the first 1791. one possible dating of stone years, so did Aboriginal “This indicates that at least European settlers was not “Although the proportion tools in the Nepean area of technology. on this side of the mountains, natural but the result of fire who died may not have been about 30,000 years ago,” Mr kangaroo hunting became management by the Aborigin so great in the plains lands, it Kohen said. less important.” als to bum out the low scrub. is probable that more than “There could be older dat □ “Stone tools appeared to Mr Kohen said Aborigines half died within the first three ings along the coastline. continue with very little modi between the coast and the years of European settle “The problem with proving □ □ fication until about 4000 years Nepean River had two very He said that the Aborigines ment.” that, however, is that the ago,” Mr Kohen said. distinct cultures. never introduced animal hus coastline then was about 16 Mr Kohen said early sett “Several major changes “On the coast the basis of bandry because there were km further east.” lers considered Aborigines to then occurred in the toolkits the economy was fishing and no animals suitable in Mr Kohen said that when be very primitive because and there was shift towards shellfish gathering,” he said. Australia. the first Aborigines arrived, they didn’t even use the bow. smaller tools.” “They even barbed their “Sheep and cows provide the Cumberland Plain was “They had the woomera, a Mr Kohen said thin flakes of spears with oyster shell. milk and are easily herded,” completely different to the spear thrower which in stone were probably used for “ Further inland the - Mr Kohen said. present. creased the distance and spearpoints and barbs. economy was based on pos “Kangaroos do not provide “Take the Nepean River accuracy of the spear,” he Because many were sums, eels, insects and plant milk and are not easily area for example,” he said. said. blunted along the back, they foods.” herded. “The noodplain was vir “At 100 metres range they are termed backed blades. Mr Kohen said that Parra “The early inhabitants tually under water. The could hit a 15cm wide target.” He said backed blades were matta was the dividing line didn’t bother to grow crops gravels found between Crane- used until 1000 years ago between the two cultures and either as they could get Mr Kohen said all Aus- enough from the land.” traUans were indebted to the Mr Kohen said early the Aboriginal inhabitants for the ories on the number of Abori words adopted by English. gines living in and around “Words like koala, dingo, Sydney were currently under wallaby, woomera, boome revision. rang and nulla nulla are all Reports from early ex Dharug in origin,” he said. p”(-o vw Fc flo. TJiji y 'g ir History uncovered at DKVELOPLKS have some- limes paid scant attention to the possible historical impor tance of sites being excavated Centre site It has also shown the old route and desicccated coconut factory lor new buildings. George St, leading to Parra took over the whole area. Biic ihe Federal Government matta Park. "Most older Parramatta resi ;ias commissioned an archaeoioa:- Mr Phil McHugh, of the dents would remember the Meg- :i:al iiivesugaciou oi the site at Department of Housing and Con gitts buildings." Parramatta of the new 20-storev struction. said the purpose of the The archaeologists began work Commonwealth Centre, due lor archaeological survey was to find ing on the site in mid-June and completion in 1937, to make sure evidence of previous buildings will finish their survey on Friday. •.!ie area’s historical remains are and to record the information for A spokesman said the Depart recorded before being re-buried, future historical study. ment of Housing and Construction A team or seven archaeologists ■'The .site has been occupied was keen to preserve our history. cngaeed by the Federal Housing since the earliest days of settle •'Where there is the possibility and Construction Department has ment at Parramatta,” he said. of finding important historical ZD been carefully scraping and sitting ‘•There were some rather poor evidence on one of our sites, it is 7> ;is way through a metre of soil, houses there up to the 1820s. our practice to conduct an O looking for the remains of old which were replaced later by archaeological survey before any X Jiouses and other buildings on th.e more substantial home.s, an'd a work starts," the spokesman said. site. brewery also stood on the site last Mr McHugh said information o- T he $26,000 study ha.^ '.inear ccntury. obtained on the digging will be thed the foundations of a sub- "The site also had a hotel called made available to the NSW Her 0 .;tr.:iUai liome which. , by JENNY SYDENHAM c h i l d r e n ' s MARKLLA Mission, at Kellyville, started as one man’s dream to new utopia help underprivileged and neglected Abo rigines. Mr Keith I.angford-Sinith was a missionary in Arnhem l .nnd in 1928. Wtu^ti hp left th(>re, he de t'ideri he \v;intcd to help Abnri ginal children and bought the land at Kellvville before World War II,' After .seeing more than .tOO rhildren pa.ss through its doors, the only full time worker left at the mission today is Mr.'; Norma War wick. Mrs Warwick has worked with the mission for 35 years. "I came here in I!)50 to help out for a month, and I'm .still here," ,\1rs Warwick said. Since then, the Aboriginal children have left the home at Kellyville and now live in col lages at Marrickville, Mr l.angford-Smith’s wid ow, C.wen, still lives at the Mi.s.sion, which carries oul all admini.st ration, Mr Langford-Smith flew MRS Norma Warwick . . . Aunty Norma to 300 children the first plane - the Sky Pilot from Marella Mission. - into Arnhem Land in 1931, The Sky Pilot is now the Mrs Warwick .said the main two months to send for their name of the magazine pub problem faced by the children upkeep, lished by Marella. was malutrition and ear and "It means we only have to “ Mr l.angford-Smith no.se problems, work 24 hours a day, not 26 bought 30 acres (12ha) out “ While some people hours,” Mrs W'arwick .said. here before World War II and claimed we were doing the "But the best a.spect of the the first children moved here wrong thing by not letting job is the children They used about 1953,'■ Mrs Warwick them integrate, we felt they to call Mr and Mrs l.angford- said, needed to be with people of Smith Dad and Mum and "Some children only .stayed their own kind," Mrs Warw (me) Aunty Norma, for a few weeks, but .some ick said “ I’ve now got about 300 stayed for years. One girl "We also employed .some nieces and nephews, came here aged six weeks Atjoriginal [X 'o p le to help out "They break your heart and left when .she was 20. here. sometime.s, but it s all worth “The children inainly came It’s six years since the chil it when they come back and from country areas, and dren have moved to the cot tell you how much they en originally thought the city tages at Marrickville, but the joyed living at Marella was tUopia,” mission still needs $3000 everv Mission " fH^OMGlNd^ ftU K C H E R H.C 34 Pioneers and their Better Halves P »onoftr3 Ojn<* t> 4 ;t+ a r o r In 1813, it is recorded that 700 tons of sandalwood was (of |r\ i brought into Port Jackson for export to England and China, where it was used in furniture making. It is a fine-grained Chapter 4 tropical wood, remarkable for its fragrance. Convinced that a trading ship was essential if the mission was to prosper and with plans to re-open the Tongan Mission, they sailed for London in the Albion in November, 1808, but William could not convince the directors that h e| was right, even though he had the help of the Reverend |; Samuel Marsden, who was then in England. | He returned to Sydney in 1810, and opened a business in! York Street. In August, 1812, he was granted 400 acres at| Native Institution — Death Cabramatta and a town lease at Cockle Bay, but early inf 1813, he closed his business and returned to the sea. He| of William — Crossingo the sailed from Sydney in May as master of the Queen) Charlotte, the ship chartered for King Pomare II (Tahiti). In* Blue Mountains the Tuamotus Islands the ship was seized by Raiatean pearl| divers, three men were murdered and William (for the second time) narrowly escaped with his life. He was only allowed to live so as to navigate the ship back to Tahiti. H e| recovered the ship at Tahiti and returned to Sydney in| "That brings us to two questions which I wonder if I can February 1814, with a large cargo of shells and "as large a| ask you” said Milly. "Why would William bring back a quantity of pearls as had ever yet been procured by a singleji large quantity of shells with him?" vessel" . "Well, you remember we talked about the early buildings One wonders, Milly, how a young man who had no in the colony, how the builders had been forced to use mud ..V - "J official training as a sailor could become master or navigatorl and clay for bonding as no limestone had been discovered? of a ship such as the Queen Charlotte and others; but whenj Fortunately, by 1793 the colonists had hit on the idea of it is remembered that William had worked for twelve years burning shells for lime. This could be used for mortar. It is or so with Polynesians and had admired their ancient skills, understood that the house which John Macarthur built and methods of navigating without instruments, it is easie^ about that time was one of the first to use lime mortar for to understand. He had lived close to them and understood cernenting. Thus it has withstood the test of time and with S i J their language, he had sailed with them on many occasions'] various alterations is the oldest structure still standing in learning to read the signs of the elements. Australia". "That's very interesting", commented Milly. "Now can you explain why rum was used for barter?" 'Yes. The chief reason was the shortage of money in the colony, and the fact that rum had been used as a reward •or good service for years. For instance, convicts who helped iii small ways with the sailing of a ship — such as heaving in the anchor, etc. — were given extra issues of rum. Under the Rum Corps the idea was exploited. In the early days money was always a problem. The first “eet landed with scarcely a penny to its name. Comprised a soldiers and convicts, no-one thought it would need The 'Powers that be' in England had grand ideas of 35 36 Pioneers and their Better Halves Native Institution 37 living off the land and bartering with the natives and person named, a sum in exchange for grain, meat and becoming self-supporting. other goods delivered to His Majesty's stores. These So at that time the only coins circulating were what the receipts passed freely as money from person to person and company had brought with them. This would have were supposed to be presented every quarter for payment. comprised English coinage, plus some Dutch ducats and The o±er official early note was issued by the Military Spanish dollars (known as pieces of eight, or eight reals), a authorities for the use of the Corps. These were called few Portuguese Johannes, some Bengal rupees and Indian Paymasters' Bills. Also, to overcome the difficulty of the mohurs. This variety could be explained by the fact that r shortage, merchants, publicans and others issued two the soldiers and marines had been stationed in various parts ■s of paper money, firstly Promissory Notes. These were of the world such as India. Some of this coinage was used tten on printed forms or on any old piece of paper to pay for shipments of imports and quickly left the country. handy. To qualify as a Promissory Note, the value had to Visiting traders of course, preferred coins to promissory be hand-written and of course signed personally. There notes (of a somewhat dubious validity) as the alternative, were also Currency Notes with printed or engraved values, but internal purchases were mostly settled on a barter basis, often in denominations as low as threepence or sixpence. usually with rum. Any of these old notes or coins which are found today are When King, the new Governor was appointed in 1800, very valuable, if in good condition. I wish I could unearth he knew all about the shortage of money, as he had sailed - :ne of them ". with the First Fleet, and also had been Lieutenant Governor Yes, Gran. I heard Dad say the other day that the 1799 at Norfolk Island. Consequently, he took the precaution of r iu y , for example, which came from the new ordering a shipment of British coins, and a vessel duly steampowered mint near Birmingham in England in the arrived w'ith several tonnes of new copper pennies and later same year that Elizabeth and her family arrived in supplies of half-pennies and farthings. Then King had the Australia, is today worth $300 in good condition, but only problem of ensuring that these coins stayed in the colony. $1 if worn. The much larger 2d coin, known then as a He tried various schemes but his efforts were largely in 'Cartwheel', is worth about $200 in good condition". vain. The outflow of coins and the shortages continued "Now, Milly, I have answered your questions at some while the rum trade flourished. Moreover, in spile of ler.'jth so w e had better return our thoughts to W illiam and Governor King's efforts, the power of the officers of the E .ibeth, who have resettled in Parramatta, in a home Rum Corps was not destroyed, and settlers and convicts vv ;ch William had built around 1800. It was constructed still demanded rum. of locally made bricks of an oyster shell mortar. He called King tried to encourage them to drink beer instead for he his home 'Hanleyville' after the village of Hanley Green felt it was less harmful. He set up a Government brewery where he was born, on May 29, 1774. Although a member at Parramatta, and sold beer at ls.4d. per gallon. At that of a family associated with the local potteries in time, rum was bought at 6s. to 15s. a gallon, according to Staffordshire, he had been apprenticed to a cabinet maker quality. The settlers however, preferred the officers' rum in Leek as soon as he was o d enough. Here, at the age of to the Governor’s beer, and they still used it as money. The 20 ‘^e joined the Congregational Church and as we have result was that huge profits could still be made by trading se volunteered as an artisan to the London Missionary in rum, and many of the officers were willing to run the So^.iety. risk. Like Hunter before him. Governor King had failed to The allotment on which the house stood is described in destroy the rum trade. Parramatta — The Cradle City of Australia' as William Before leaving the subject of money and its absence in ohelley's lease — on the south side and east end of Back the colony, Milly, I'm sure Elizabeth could have told us a Row. Bearing in front east 6>/4° south, 128ft. to the line of little about some of the earliest paper money. It was the Quaker's Row. It is interesting to note, Milly, that after first official currency, issued originally by the Commissariat governor Macquarie's time of office, Back Row became or Government stores as receipts. They were plain forms kncvn as Macquarie Street, and Quaker's Row became which instructed the Commissary General to pay the bearer Ch -ch Street". g g g g o a g g g g 38 Pioneers and their Better Halves Native Institution 39 Coming as he did after the Rum Rebellion, he found the whole colony fettered by a widespread despondency and cynicism. 'Everyman for himself and the devil take the hindmost' was the general feeling. Macquarie found that a lack of cohesion, a complete lack of civic pride, and an appalling absence of communal enterprise, was hampering any reform. To recognise the nucleus of a nation in the colony at that time called for a great deal of imagination and to enact the beginning of a change required genius. Fortunately, the new Governor had both, and a significant sense of responsibility to apply them. Everywhere the Governor found confusion, he w’as , ‘w m m ’ pleased to be able to exercise his talents for reorganisation. :oi It was his policy to have convicts assigned to the most suitable employment, so the transport ships on arrival were inspected and the prisoners mustered in the presence of the I lUIUiitlkUl"' captain and surgeon and interviewed about their previous William Shelley's House. Hanleyville lSOO-1. Parramattc. trades or professions. Thus it was that Mr T. Henshall, (Oyster Shell Mortar. I transported for coining, became the colony's first Master of the Mint and was charged by Macquarie with the job of converting a cargo of Spanish dollars into Australia's first "I presume that Quaker's Row was where most of the currency. Macquarie regularised the revenue and stopped missionaries had settled", suggested Miily. the private notes circulating, replacing them with the "Yes, William and Elizabeth would have had many 'Holey Dollar'." missionary friends in the area. Apart from the Rowlanc "Holey or Holy?” asked Milly. Hassall family, it is known that the Reverend W.P. Crooi "They were called Holey Dollars because they had a hole had a lease there and John-Eyres School House was on th in the middle. Let me explain — Governor Macquarie north-w'est corner of Church and Macquarie Streets. bought 40,000 Spanish dollars from India in 1812. He had Most of these men had belonged to the Church of England two coins made from each of these. The doughnut-shaped but preferred the chapel services of the Non-conformist groups. Very often they went to church in the morning and outer part (the Holey Dollar) w'as counter-stamped five snillings, and the piece stamped out of the middle, called to chapel in the evening, and as there w'ere no church the dump', was wforth fifteen pence. buildings available for these chapel services, they were often held in the homes of Rowland Hassall or William Lfnfortunately, Milly, like most others in the colony, Shelley. William and Elizabeth had no know'ledge of how' valuable As Elizabeth and William had spent a good many year these coins would become and consequently although in Tahiti and then carried on trading in the Pacific Oceai many became hoarded, most were withdrawn to Britain in until they left for England, they had periodically been away the 1820s and 1830s and were melted down. Some have from New South Wales until recent y, and fortunately had remained in Australia destined to become collectors' items. missed most of the trauma and squabbling going on Probably no other coin has appreciated from one pound to between the Rum Corp and the various Governors. They at least $200,000 in one generation, as just reported. You were fortunate to settle down again in Parramatta in 1810, can see several Holey Dollars displayed at the Mint in about the same time as the new Governor, Lachlan Canberra, Milly, whenever you get a chance to go there. Macquarie, took up his duties. Macquarie came a;'. All the time, the work and organisation of the Governor Commander-in-Chief of the 73rd Highlanders, the regimen was making life easier for the colonists. He overhauled the which replaced the Rum Corps. Police Force and tidied up the Civil Service with regular 40 Pioneers and their Better Halves Native Institiitior 41 hours. A new Superintendent of Convicts was appointee., VVith these instructions in mind he set about building the energetic Isaac Nicols, an ex-convict, who was also the churches and schools, and he insisted that all convicts go Post-Master of the colony. to church. He encouraged marriage by pardoning convict It was Macquarie who set up the first post office. Nicols women if they could find respectable husbands. He paid was assistant to the Naval Officer, and brought the letters special attention to the assigning of women, so that their ashore, but they were distributed in a neighbourly way. morals would be safe-guarded. The Rose Hill Packet carried them at 2d. each upstream to He believed that churches brought people together and Parramatta. Constables going into the bush woul \ encouraged communal enterprise and civic pride. He obligingly take them with them. Now Nicols opened a po t encouraged relaxation, and on the King's birthday, he office in George Street — he advertised letters in thi opened Government House to the public so that its festive 'Gazette'. decorations could be seen and enjoyed by all. He created The Sydney 'Gazette' had had a struggling existence since Hyde Park as an outdoor social centre for Sydney, and 1803. It was not at first an official new'spaper, but it was encouraged horse-racing and cricket matches. subject to Government censorship. Macquarie set it on its On Christmas Day, 1810, St Philip's Church was feet by giving the Editor, George Howe, a salary (another consecrated and the colony took grateful stock of what their ex-convict who proved his worth). new Governor had done for them in the short time he had As a point of interest, Milly, a young convict by the nam j been with them. In one year, he had restored the colony's of George Howe, who survived the trip on the Roy. I morale, and the populace reacted favourably to his Admiral in 1801 was given permission to print the fir. t enthusiasm. They recognised his goodwill, his fairness and newspaper in Australia 'The Sydney Gazette and New his honesty. They approved his effective combination of South Wales Advertiser’. Macquarie was also a road vice-regal pomp and the common touch. Former missionary builder, he widened the streets of Sydney and named them. Rowland Hassall, one of the most respected men in New (Governor Phillips' early plans for wide streets had been ignored by Grose). He repaired the Parramatta Road. It was an earth road, dressed with crushed stone, but like all the works he was organising, the road making was ver.’ expensive even though he had the use of free labou . Consequently, he set up a toll gate, pedestrians could ^ ) through free, a horseman paid 3d., and there were various charges for vehicles which were becoming popular. Macquarie and his entourage were the first to travel on it. ^ i 8 5 1 r ; Later vehicles going through were asked to pick up rubble from the brickworks and drop it in holes in the road. From an obelisk in Macquarie Place, roads radiated 20 miles to Windsor, then Liverpool, also a cross-road fron Liverpool to Parramatta, with its eight bridges, then know i as the 'Dog-trap' road. To the south, he ran a road to Appi.i and the Cowpastures, also a road replacing the track to Watson's Bay — the old South Head Road (buih by public subscription and the 73rd Regiment, which having few duties was glad of a httle extra money). His principal tasks, he had been told in England, were 'To improve the morals of the colonists, to encourage marriage, to provide for education, to prohibit the use of ^ Philip's Church, Sydney, about 18^6, painted by Sophia spirituous Uquors and to increase the agriculture and stock . Campbell 42 Pioneers and their Better Halves r Native Institution 43 South Wales, spoke for the great majority when he wrote: oi Its kind in the colony. Governor Macquarie was very 'I do not know whether the colony could have had a better interested. However, only a year after establishing the man for Governor'. school, William died suddenly, on July 6, 1815. He was only I am sure that William and Elizabeth would have agreed 41 years of age. with him — they were the caring type. As missionaries they As you can imagine, poor Elizabeth was devastated. Here had sympathy for the underdog, and were trained to try to she was, left a widow at the age of 33 years, with their six uplift the morale and general well-being of the children to bring up and educate. Apart from those born in underprivileged. ■::i, three more were born in Australia. Lucy in 1808, It was about that time that William and Elizabeth V in 1810 and George in 1812. George, who will play a commenced work amongst the Aborigines. William could !..! ,e part in our story, was only three years old when his not be idle for long and as he was not able to re-open the father died. Tongan Mission, he turned his thoughts towards helping Things were very different in those days, Milly— there the native children about the settlement. was no child allowance, no widow's pension, no One of their Duff friends, Samuel Clode, who was superannuation, no sickness benefit etc. In fact, if a family engaged as an assistant to Surgeon John Harris, was the first did not have a httle money saved in the kitty, they were in Australia to attempt, in his free time, to educate the ciMiipletely dependent on their family for support. aborigines, but unfortunately he was the victim of a ’'zabeth would get some comfort from the compliments sensational murder on July 2, 1799, just before William to her late husband by the respected citizens of the arrived from Tonga". c lOny when William was buried in the new cemetery of "Was he murdered by the aborigines he was trying to St. John's in Marsden Street, Parramatta. All paid tribute to help?” asked Milly. his high moral qualities and they respected his intelligent "No, strangely enough he was murdered by a man from and comprehensive mind. his home town in Ireland — they had actually been at school Elizabeth was fortunate that when William died she had together. Samuel had lent him money and tried to help him her aged mother and father living near Parramatta, and her and his wife, but when he called one evening at their two younger brothers and sisters were all happily married cottage on Brickfield Hill to collect the money, they a: ■ i'ving in the area. (Mrs Bean died in 1839). murdered him brutally — for the sake of thirty pounds. Mr :■ own eldest daughter, thirteen years old, was a help and Mrs Jones and another ex-convict by the name of Elbery the younger children. Also, as we have pointed out were tried and hanged. The wife's body was sent to be before, Elizabeth was strong and healthy and must have dissected (to the morgue, I hope, for student training). had great stamina. She not only managed the home and Apparently Jones was suspected of other murders. kept open house for chapel meetings and visiting preachers, Samuel Clode's body was interred in the old burial but she continued with the work her husband had started ground in George Street. at the Native Institution — with the help of two daughters Now William and Elizabeth were prepared to try again and a male teacher for the boys. The great test came in 1819 with the natives. They attempted to learn the language and -n 20 children from the Native Institution competed took some children into their own family. They found them 3t 100 European children at the school examinations teachable. William found that they had a peculiar aptness at i-'arramatta. It was a black girl of 14 years with between to learn the English language and they pronounced it with 3 and 4 years in the Native School who bore away the chief much propriety. He had been trying to learn the native prize; and other prizes were designated to children of merit. language, but found it very difficult, and very different from Commissioner Bigge, who was sent out to Australia to any he knew in the South Seas. William then addressed report on the administration of the colony in 1819, spoke Governor Macquarie on the practicability of civilizing encouragingly of the Native Institution in his report: them. He was invited to draw up plans and in December An account was submitted to me of the number, names and 1814 was appointed Superintendent and Principal ' ^nments of children that have been received into the L Instructor of the Native Institution of Parramatta, the first wtution since its establishment. It appears that 37 boys and i 44 Pioneers and their Better Halves Native Institution 45 27 girls have been received and of them six have absconded, ch ief of the Botany tribe, and the Order of Merit to Tendall two died, and one taken avvray by his father to reside upon some of the Cow' Pastures tribe and Pulpin of the Hawkesbury land given them. The rest of the children have been taught to tribe. read and write and given a knowledge of the scriptures. The At the annual gathering in 1819, nearly 300 aborigines boys have some knowledge of manual work, agriculture and were present, including some members of tribes who had mechanic arts, and the girls have been taught the common sorts travel ed from beyond the Blue Mountains. These people of needlework and domestic duties. Employment has been could be distinguished from the coastal natives by their found for some of these children." decorations of white feathers and wild animals' teeth. Some Few members of the European population took an tribes from the north and south had travelled as many as interest in the work being done by Elizabeth Shelley at thi. 100 m iles. Native Institution. However, her efforts were appreciated The governor conferred some badges of chieftainship and by some. To quote from a letter in the press of the day: merit on those he thought more deserving. The children of the Native Institution were introduced and gave displays of "Much praise is due to Mrs Shelley for the great attention she has paid to the female part of this little company. Nothing but their reading, writing and drawing. The children's drawings seeing can prove a proper source of believing how much has delighted the elder natives, who burst into loud laughter, been effective." leapt upwards and wildly gesticulated. The party w^as regaled with roast beef, plum pudding and a fair amount of His concluding appeal to ladies and gentlemen to visit th punch. It is said that the blacks gave three cheers for the Institution regularly, and so popularise it, fell on deaf ears Governor before they moved off to their ancient hunting Elizabeth, helped by one of her daughters, carried on foi grounds. eight years after William's death. After her retirement in Governors Darling and Bourke continued the practice 1823, the Institution was moved to Blacktown, where it established by Macquarie and as late as 1832 some 200 'lingered on for many years'. With the departure of natives sat down to boiled beef and plum pudding. Each Governor Macquarie the decline of the Native Institution female then received a blanket and each man a serge suit. began, and subsequent treatment of the aborigines wavered It is recorded that; the blacks were highly delighted w’ith between that of friendly hand-outs on the part of the well the entertainment and the affable manner in which the intentioned among the settlers, and quite violen Governor received them, and they pronounced him a maltreatment from others. The colonists missed a gooc 'Murry budgerie'. opportunity to try to create a peaceful and sensible At the feast in 1826, the natives staged a corroboree. An relationship with the aboriginal people. old resident of Parramatta, reminiscing many years later, Governors in turn showed some interest in the natives of said that they used to hold their corroborees on land at the Australia. Governor Phillip had taken Benelong to England north-western corner of Macquarie and Marsden Streets. with him w'ith the idea of earning to understand them, but It v.'as a sad fact that the aborigines w ere not able to stand none had shown a greater interest than Macquarie. As one up to the illnesses brought in from the Old World. The means of appreciation and greater understanding, he common cold, measles, mumps and chicken pox had all established the practice of holding an Annual Feast for then played havoc with their health, but the first visitation of in the market place in Parramatta. The first was held ir mfluenza was disastrous. Printed in the 'Old Sydney 1816, w'hen 179 men, women and children assembled and were entertained with dinner and punch at the expense of Gazette' in 1834 we read: 'The complaint was general, the government. The Governor graced the dinner with his many inhabitants were consigned to the grave in a few days, presence. from the violence and fury of the attack, and some have to In 1818, natives from far and wide, numbering 130 came this day the remains of the visitation. Great numbers of the to Parramatta for the annual dinner. The aborigines were poor aborigines fell victim to the novel and severe served with roast beef, potatoes and bread, washed down distemper'". with punch. After dinner the Governor presented gorgeti "How do you react. Gran, to that report I read in this to Cogie, chief of the George's River tribe, and Wowong week's paper, of a remark made by a city aborigine to the 46 Pioneers and their Better Halves Native Institution 47 effect that the missionaries were the worst offenders : \ faced with an awful precipice, almost perpendicular, breaking down the natives' culture?” asked Milly. dropping hundreds of feet. We were told that their horses "Yes, Milly, that is probably partly right, but they felt it were exhausted and the men almost starving. Their shoes was better to try and educate them to fit into our inevitable were cut to pieces and their clothing in rags; but they led society than allow them to be shot or poisoned, as so often their horses down the steep cliffs hoping to find water and happened when they became a nuisance. At least the were over-joyed to find both water and grass in plenty!” missionaries tried to protect them from all evils, even their "Yes, Milly, you are quite right, and on their return the ow n kind. explorers reported to Governor Macquarie who later that It seems to me that the modern aboriginal people have ' d year sent out surveyor George Evans to mark the route. His learn the lessons of history, as we all do. There are few pui 3 jubilant reports confirmed stories which had been races in the world. Most have been conquered at various circulating in the colony for some time — stories which times by invaders from other more adventurous and more William and Elizabeth had heard, but no one could verify. capable nations. Even in our own time, Germany, Italy and Like myths they seemed to come from aborigines and Russia, etc., have over-run less powerful nations and would escaped convicts. Now it was proved true! According to Mr have gone further had they not been stopped in great world Evans — here was paradise indeed; a great w^aterway w ars". snaking across a verdant plain as far as the eye could see! "Gran, why do you say 'inevitable'?" So, shortly after the news reached Macquarie, he "Well it is very hard to stop the march of time and unle: 3 commissioned William Cox, a 49-year-old ex-Army officer, the aborigines lock themselves up in a corner of Austrah i whom Elizabeth knew as the Principal Magistrate at where they can't intermarry, they are sure to mate witn Windsor, to build a road over the mountains. Cox was white or other coloured people. It is an historically known making a name for himself as a builder of local roads and fact that the aboriginal race does not 'throw back' and the public buildings. The Courthouse and St. Matthew's people get whiter in each generation in which thev marry Rectory in Windsor designed by Greenway and built by people less coloured. Cox still stand. When Elizabeth retired from the Native Institution in It is recorded, Milly, that Cox's expedition set out on July 1823, she was forty-five years old and was then able to sit 17, 1814, with thirty members. In the party, made up back a little and watch her family grow up and take the ' chiefly of convicts, were included a doctor, a constable, a place in the development of the colony. guide and eight soldiers of the Royal Veteran Company. Great changes were occurring, but she had been too busy Their instructions were to build a road over the mountains to follow them closely. She and William were very excited two carriage widths wide (approximately 4 metres) within to hear, before his death, that an exploring party had at last a cleared strip of land hoed out to some six metres. found a way to cross the Blue Mountains which, for over Cox, who was a master of logistics, must have also had a twenty years, had created a barrier and confined the lot of common sense. He brought green vegetables into the settlement to a narrow coastal strip about forty miles deep. mountains by cart to guard against scurvy, and he checked Although others had tried before, the first to succeed wer-^ the sick list every day. He provided the best tools he could a party of adventurers led by Lieutenant Lawson, an office buy and had a blacksmith along to keep them in good order. with surveying experience. With him were Gregor There was a shoemaker in the party and where possible Blaxland, one of the rebel farmers who had helped to broken shoes were repaired regularly, otherwise replaced. overthrow Bligh, and Wilham Charles Wentworth, farmer Cox had learned from the experience of the previous and son of surgeon D'Arcy Wentworth". expedition and because of his considerate treatment, the "Yes, I know that story", said Milly. "We learned about men responded with outstanding achievement. By it at school — it was a great feat. That little party with four November 7 about 75 kilometres of the road had been servants, four pack horses and four fierce dogs for game hacked from the rocks. hunting, took three weeks to travel only about 50 miles ove" Governor Macquarie, in April 1815, was the first to travel rugged hills to the far edge of the tableland. Here they wer over the road by coach and his tiiumphant procession 48 Pioneers and their Better Halves Native Instituiion 49 finally arrived at the last campsite. It was to become a tow n G r e e n w a y and m a n y others then pardoned, who were which he named Bathurst. He was full of praise for Cox's doing a good job in the c o lo n y . Members of the military and construction, saying that it had been executed with such wealthy free settlers, before the abolition of transportation, skill and stability, reflecting much credit on him. o b jected to full civic and legal rights to emancipists, Cox's workers were all granted their freedom. They had refusing to fraternise with them. They were to become done a tremendous job — many were little nuggetty men known as 'Exclusives'. A special commissioner was sent from the slums and jails of Britain, their average height out in 1819 to report to the Home Government on the state probably not much more than 5 ft. A contrast, Milly, to ti e of affairs in the c o lo n y and to make suggestions for its giant physique of present-day Australians. History tells • s future. that there were no deaths or even serious injuries — i.o Mr Thomas Bigge's report, of 300 pages, although filled deserters on the long haul across the everlasting ridges. with rumour, prejudice and inaccuracies, caused the Home Cox's handling of them naturally helped, but one can't help Government to make several changes which were to alter being full of admiration for their toughness, resilience and the history of the colony and lead to its becoming self- courage. supporting. The country w'as to be treated more as an Elizabeth could not help feeling sorry that William had investment, rather than a scrap heap. not lived to travel the road, but his sons had already ridden Britain, who had been preoccupied with the wars, over the mountains and had promised to take her with the’ i suddenly after Waterloo became w^orried about the amount soon. of money being spent on the colony, especially as it was Thinking back, Elizabeth would always remember thc.t suspected for some time from the wealth of public buildings year, for 1815 was a milestone — it was the opening of the going up and the increasing prosperity, that untold revenue Institution (Native), the death of William, the crossing of must be available. It w'as felt the colony, instead of needing the mountains, the Battle of Waterloo and the end of the subsidies, should be contributing to its own costs and to Wars. Britain's needs. This road over the Blue Mountains had opened the gate So, Governor Macquarie, Elizabeth's idol, w^ent home to to a new world of adventure. People were flocking over the Scotland under a cloud — his retirement caused by the vocal ranges, mainly to find new pasture for their sheep. group of Exclusives who had never ceased to quarrel with Elizabeth could see the whole outlook changing; tl ; him. They formed a close association w'ith Commissioner colony which had been an enclosed settlement all under Bigge, w'ho listened to their hearsay and information not the care of a Governor, was now spreading in every given under oath. Nevertheless, the change marked the direction and as restrictions on the entry into the country beginning of a more independent spirit in which the settlers were relaxed in 1819, a different breed of settler was demanded a right to be heard in the making of policy and arriving — not so many convicts or assisted settlers, but in eventual self-government. men of some standing and wealth. Macquarie's regiment, the 73rd Highlanders, had been The end of the Napoleonic Wars had released thousands recalled earlier. They w^ere replaced by the 46th Regiment, of men and many of these demobilised army and nav ■ which, in turn, was relieved by the 48th Northamptonshire personnel were flocking to the colonies. In Australia, the (Foots) Regiment in 1817. soon began to resent being expected to submit to the same The 48th! — ah yes, Elizabeth remembered their arrival rules as those needed to run a penal settlement. The sheep so well, for fate was to play a hand in her future happiness. farmer was the man who could make use of the new Through her church activities she was to meet a young pastures and he wanted to take the convicts out of the care ''■.C.O. by the nam e of G eorge W addy and b ecom e a life of the Governor and into the far west. long friend of his wife, Jane. Elizabeth heard all this argument going on by men who Almost in a reverie, Elizabeth was thinking back over the objected to the protection and encouragement and even years since her husband died, of her struggle to bring up friendship being given by the Governor to the emancipist." their children and keep the Native Institution functioning — emancipists, like Dr Redfern and the architect Franci s as long as she could, how she tried to take her place in . % 50 Pioneers and their Better Halves public affairs with her old friends who had all made a contribution to the growth of the settlement. She could relax now, in the knowledge that the members of her family vvere Chapter 5 growing into responsible citizens, and thinking of marriage and moving about the country. She kept open house for all members of her family, who were in the habit of paying her regular visits". Jane and George Waddy 48th Northamptonshire Regiment Sydney — Van Diemen's Land 'Quite honestly, Milly, I did not know very much about my maternal forebears until recently, but I've always been curious. I did know that Jane Cuthbert was born in Ireland in 1789 — the grand-daughter of Mrs Ramsay, whose nv -bar's name was Hamilton. Their English and Scottish .oears settled in Ireland at the time of James the Second. hi 1816, Jane married Corporal George Waddy, a 'British Tommy' of the 48th Northamptonshire Regiment, during its period of duty in Ireland. In December of that year the regiment was ordered to Sydney in New South Wales, but fortunately for the newly-weds, it didn't sail from Cork until March 22, 1817, three companies under Lieutenant- Colonel J. Erskine C.B. on board the Matilda arriving at P' lackson — Sydney on August 3, and the remainder one ni. uh later. When George Waddy embarked at Cork with his detachment, his young wife was there to wave him farewell, but she had to wait some time for a passage. Let us visualise Jane standing on the wharf at Cork, giving her last wave as the ship bearing her husband and his shipmates sailed away — along the inlet of Cork Harbour on the River Lee and out into St George's Channel. She turned to go home, knowing she had to wait her turn to sai.. Naturally, she felt lonely and depressed but not i L 51 / r Author seeks to reunite koorie ‘lost generation’ ABORIGINAL author Marjorie Woodrow is planning a family reunion of her Wanburra tribe, which occupies most of the western half of NSW. Centres like Wellington, ______Dubbo, Narromine, by CHRIS FLYNN Griffith, Condobolin, Wagga and Menindi will She said there might be soon be spreading the word some initial concern in to their families scattered Condobolin at all these around the State — from the Aborigines suddenly arriv missions on country town ing. outskirts to inner Sydney “Condobolin won’t know suburbs. what hit it,” she said. “But Mrs Woodrow wrote One my family must be one of the of the Lost Generation — quietest mobs around.” about her being taken from Mrs Woodrow said the her people as a child and “family” would number spending her early life in about 800 adults plus their institutions including Parra children. matta Training School. She said she would ap She said the idea of a proach Western District family reunion was Foundation for Aboriginal pron^pted by the success last Affairs boss Sydney (Doc) year of the Darug (western Cunningham and the people Sydney’s tribe) reunion at who organised the Darug the Nurragingy Recreational reunion to advise on gen Area in Doonside. ealogy tables. “It’s more complicated “My children have never than white family trees be met my family,” she said. cause so many of my family “Condobolin is nice and were taken from their central. We could have it parents and given other there and there’d be no names, but we have strong ! Woodrow . . working to bring her people accommodation worries, we family ties, we’ll soon find together could just camp.” out who’s who,” she said. PARRAMATTA CITY COUNCIL LIBRARY SERVICES DIVISION LOCAL HISTORY SERVICE - Vertical File Collection SUBJECT: f^ /K j . SOURCE; Panamatta Advertiser-CITY NORTH PAGE NO: i f DATE; 1 9 MAR 1997 Have your say in our reconciliation W OULD you like to help there is now an enormous define Aboriginal rec amount of goodwill and onciliation? Meeting to gauge effort being pul into mak Head on down to Parra ing it a reality." matta's Riverside Iheatres The Council hopes the next Tuesday for a public community views convention's theme re meeting as a prelude to the newal of a nation will due to be held in M e l Australian Reconciliation “ We decided to hold eventually be achieved Convention. bourne in May. these public meetings be through improving the re The meeting is one of Aboriginal Reconcili cause we recognised that lationships between Aust many being held through ation Council chairman most Australians wouldn't ralia’s indigenous people out Australia in each Patrick Dodson said rec be able to attend the and the wider community. capital city and 23 re onciliation could not be convention itself." he The public meeting is gional centres in the defined or achieved by the said. “ [Reconciliation is] from 9am to 4pm. More leadup to the convention Council alone. a people's movement and details on I 800 060 266. PARRAMATTA CITY COUNCIL LIBRARY SERVICES DIVISION LOCAL HISTORY SERVICE - Vertical File Collection SUBJECT: SOURCE: Fairfax Sun-PARRAM/UTA 2 7 MAY 1997 Kooris lodge a massive claim PARRAMATTA Park and register. However, Mr Neu hoped to promote Darug u.sed as a test case for other Lake Parramatta have been mann said the claim had Aboriginal culture if the centres throughout Sydney. included in an “ambit” only to pass routine checks claim was successful, for “Sydney has had its Native Title Claim cover before being accepted on both native and non-native tribal land desecrated for ing three quarters of metro the register. people. far too long. politan Sydney. “We anticipate the claim “Our intention is to The claim has been will be accepted at some promote our culture by “It is the gateway to lodged with the Native stage this week after which establishing cultural cen Australia and I want to see Title Tribunal by Colin there will be public notifi tres that would educate and native and and non-native Gale and Ian Watson on cation where all interested inform people about past people visiting and living behalf of 2000 Darug wil be consulted,” Mr Neu and present Darug way of here to see the forests and Aboriginal people claiming mann said. life,” Mr Watson said. rivers. a continued connection “Mediation at the Native “We are in the process of ‘Thousands of Darug with the land. Title Tribunal will follow,” establishing a centre at Ted Aboriginal sites have been The land being claimed he said. Horwood Reserve at destroyed over the past 200 extends from Botany Bay The mediation process Baulkham Hills and we years throughout the Syd and Port Jackson to the would include discussions would hope this could be ney metropolitan area.” east, along the Lane Cove with Parramatta Council, River and up to Wisemans the National Parks and Ferry to the north, out to Wildlife Service and other Mount Victoria and Glen- interested parties. brook to the west and as far Parramatta Lord Mayor, south as Appin. Councillor John Books said It includes all Crown the veracity of the claim land. Crown freehold and would have to be tested. Crown leases as well as “Any ambit claim looses waters, creeks, reserves. some credibility because of National Parks, State For its broad nature,” Cr Books ests and land held by local said. Aboriginal land councils “But we would approach under NSW Land Rights the mediation process with legislation. an open mind. Land held as freehold “We have an ATSIC grants is not included in the committee that meets at claim. council and Cr Russo is If successful, the ambit presently at the National claim would see public Conciliation Conference in held land within the Parra Melbourne. matta City Council such as “So we take these mat Parramatta Park, Lake Par ters seriously. ramatta and the Third Set “But I would be particu tlement area on the banks larly interested in discuss of Toongabbee Creek, ing any management pro- come under at least partial josal for parts of Crown control of the Darug and near Toongabbee people. Creek where there is docu The solicitor acting for mented Aboriginal history the claimants, Eddie Neu present," he said. mann. said the claim was Mr Watson said by lodg lodged on Monday, May 12 ing the claim he was but it had not yet been asserting his Native Title accepted by the Native rights on behalf of the Tribunal’s administration Darug people. He said he PARRAMATTA CITY COUNCIL LIBRARY SERVICES DIVISION LOCAL HISTORY SERVICE - Vertical File Collection SUBJECT: SOURCE: PAGE NO; DATE:. 7 ■ -7 Wanyaarri - MIGRANTS and indigenous Australians came together for the launch last week of an English-language teaching kit in Parramatta. The Wanyaarri kit explores the richness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island culture through videos and storytelling. “ Wanyaarri” comes from the Yindjibamdi language of north-western Australia and means “ hear, listen, understand” . Launched by the Immigration and Multicultural Affairs Department it will be used in classes run by the Adult Migrant English Service. Immigration and Multicultural Affairs Minister Philip Ruddock said it was the first time indigenous history would be told through a migrant teaching kit. It was the department’s contribution to the reconcili A Naroo Dance Company performer and an AMES student at the Wanyaarri ation process and would foster a positive relationship iauiKh between migrants and indigenous Australians, he said. ^ o c u i c t / ^aj'/'om aiia £/5(? gSff^SSS S S f /S^6> Ike. CouTLcjJ. of- the. CLty. of. fajuw m atta /ie.queAiA the. pleaALUie o f the. Conipany. o f a t th e OFFJCML LAUNCH of "TOO DAM FOR THE LJgW HORSE" An. exhLbLtJ-on of dociment/i and ptwtog/iaphA depi.cJung. AboJvLgjjxaJ. .involvem ent Jjx th e AuAtA.aH.an. A/uny, at the City. Lib/iaA.y„ fajin.am.atta on Tuesday, 6 Novembeji 1990 a t 5.30 p.m.. b y th e 'Rt.WoA^hLpfjuA. th e Lo/id Mayo/i Aldeyman Atan Hyam LA.^ht 'kefjieyitwnentA tvLLL be ^en.ved a t th e C-onctuAton o f th e Cejiemowy Ti.Q. huddte. Town Ctenk n s w 5/11/90 A. 'JoneA 689 9333 ext. 207 ■d g s f m o I ke. Council of. the. Clly, of. fcuvtamatta /iQ.qu.QAtA the. plea/iLL/ie of. th e Compajuy. o f at the OFFOCOAL LAUNCH of "TOO DAM FOR THE LOgHf HORSS" An. exhibition of docnmentA and ptwtogA.aphA depicting, Abonljglnal Involvement in the AuyitA.allan A/uny. a t th e City. Lil>n.cuiy, foAA.cmatta on TueAday, 6 Novembe/i 1990 at 5.30 p.m. b y . the Tit.WoyiAhLpful the Lond l^ayo/i AldeAman Alan Hyam Lcgjvt l\efjieAhmentyi w i l l be AeA.ved a t th e concluAlon o f th e Ce/iemony ’k.Q. Muddle, Town Clojik n s v f 5/11/90 a . QonoA 689 9333 207 wiuvr riiBt i ^ x j n t k The Darug Link was first formed In 1908 by Aboriginal people descended from the Darug tribe,the braditionai owners of Lhe Sydney area: X J-.XJNjK l / \ X i y i 3 > ** to trace the family history of Darug people: ** to collect information and objects relating to Darug culture: ** to inform the wider community about the Darug and their history: ** to work in conjunction with other Aboriginal organisations: ** to hold an annual reunion for all Darug descendants,their family and friends: in order to Increase public awareness and to show tiow the Darug have contributed to the history of Western Sydney before European settlement to the present,The Darug Link coordinates displays of photographs,genealogical, treeg,and cultuial traditions: Most Darug Link members .can trace their ancestry back to Yarramundl a tribal Elder from the Boorooberongal clan at Richmond. His descendants lived,and still live,in the area now known as Plumpton,and whicti was tlie gite of'the Native institution, the original Black Town. oi^ F ux^ ri XJN jEPORiyaA r X o n ^ g p is r/v o r ^ " ..MM i ? > 0 > 3 0 X B x>/voK*r o WIN X 4 a G V X 3 X Tlfie Turret m e Turret Its description is similar to a currawong, with the eyes a different colour. The Legend of the Death Bird It is a common resident in woodland, dry sclerophyll forest and scrubland Jack Brook in southern and eastern Australia. Stories of the Death Bird are to be found throughout Darug, Dharawal and During the early 1900s, a Blacktown resident, Mr W E Francis, met “a Gundungurra tribal areas, all within 100km of Sydney. There remains an grand old man, then nearly eighty years of age" on the Eastern Creek bridge, on the Great Western Road, some two miles from Doonside oral history of a bird or bird spirit, known by various names such as railway station. The elderly man, an Aboriginal, was walking to Bathurst duwan, dthuwangong, or twan.'' from Parramatta. He claimed to be a descendant of the Bungarribee Tribe [clan]. His story was as follows; When Jim Kohen and I were gathering material for our book. The Parramatta Native Institution and the Black Town: A History, we were told by two ladies of Darug descent (Mrs J Workman and Mrs H’Tangye), In the early days of his grandparents, his grandmother's sister, Wandah, about the duwan. Both women trace their lineage back to Yarramundi, a belle of the tribe about fifteen years old, was claimed as his wife by an "Chief of the Richmond Tribes”, his daughter Maria and his son, Colebee. old man, the brother of the “chief, or elder. Marriages were settled The ladies knew of the duwan being an evil-omen bird, which appeared without any sanction of the bride-to-be in those days, and refusal to before the death of a near relative. Both described in vivid detail how this become the wife of the man who had received the chiefs consent to his large, black bird with red eyes and a piercing scream visited them to claim on the part of the woman meant undergoing a severe tribal ordeal which usually resulted in the death of the transgressor. foretell of an imminent death. Wandah was also sought as a wife by a young warrior of the tribe, noted Not only Aboriginal people believe the legend. Many descendants of for his great feats of strength and endurance while on hunting early Hawkesbury pioneers believe in the association of this particular expeditions, and his secret wooing was acceptable to the girl, who bird and a warning of death. The residents of the Hawkesbury knew that detested the thought of becoming the wife of the older aspirant, whom the legend came from the Aborigines. Rex Stubbs wrote in 1982 of a she loathed. number of incidents along the river concerning the bird and various deaths. “During the First World War'' [1914-1918], he wrote “time after Bomeree, the young lover, tried to persuade Wandah to run away with time, the death bird foretold the death of local boys serving at the front. One woman who lost two sons and three nephews heard the call three him to the distant mountain ranges beyond the Nepean River, but days before she received the news of each death. Her nerves were so Wandah knew they would never be free from the fear of death at the hands of the avengers - men of the tribe who would be detailed to track shattered that she moved from the district." them down for breaking tribal law. The only alternative for Wandah was to refuse the old man as a husband and trust in her ability to survive the Another incident happened in 1931 at Mangrove Creek. A new settler tribal ordeal instead. heard the call every night for a week. He asked the local residents what it was and they told him. Two days later a letter arrived, informing him of This meant that Wandah must stand in front of a tree only twelve paces the unexpected death of his brother.^ One must decide, is it coincidence, from the old man, who was allowed five spears to throw at her to take a legend, or one of the mysteries of the universe? away her life. Wandah would only have a small wooden shield on one arm with which to defend herself. Much to the distress of her young lover, This legendary messenger of death, the duwan, is reputed to be a white winged chough, which according to the Slater Field Guide to Australian she decided to risk this ordeal, for if she survived it would leave her free Birds, is a “sociable black mud nest builder with a white patch in the wing, to marry the young warrior. The tribe assembled near the water-hole on the right hand side of the old hunting track [now the Great Western obvious in flight. Usually in small flocks numbering 6-10... with red eyes", 13 ■ 12 The Turret TTie ‘Turret Highway, close to the Eastern Creek bridge, facing east] This water-hole then contained plenty of fish. The tribe had prepared for the wedding Reverend William Hawkins: feast for several days, hunting and fishing, and although many knew Wandah did not desire to marry the old man, they were all astounded A Postscript when, on the day of the ceremony, she refused to take part. Following the story by Neta MacKinnon in the last issue of The Turret on her The old man was enraged. He had contemplated the fulfilment of his ancestor, Reverend William Hawkins and his connection to Rosenallis on Richmond desires for the beautiful young Wandah, and to thus be thwarted at the Road, Neta has found further Information, published in the Port Macquarie News last minute roused the devils of his late ancestors in him, and he following his death in Blacktown in 1917. appealed to the chief for the tribal ordeal. The old chief tried to persuade Wandah to accept her destiny of marriage with the old man, but she “As a neighbour and personal friend of his [Reverend Hawkins] for the refused and prepared for the ordeal. Five spears were given to the old past 12 years at Blacktown, in the County of Cumberland. I thought his man, who was placed in a ring twelve paces from his intended victim, now old friends and parishioners might be glad to hear how their worthy old standing alertly poised in front of a tree with a small shield on her arm. pastor spent the evening of his days. Fearless, she faced him, her eyes noting his every movement. The first “He owned a comfortable brick cottage adjacent to the town [Rosenallis. spear just grazed her shoulder, the next three she deftly side-stepped, on the corner of Richmond Road and Kent Street, Blacktown] surrounded glancing them off with her shield. The old man's aim was evidently by a small orchard and vegetable garden, in which he was to be seen suffering from his excitement and anger. He took more time with the last early and late, and although he was over 80 years of age, so well did he spear, which failing to ward off, entered the upper part of her left arm. keep it with his own hands that visitors remarked it, and he was always pleased to show them over it. Flowers and shrubs were not forgotten in According to tribal law, Wandah was now free. But as her young lover the general scheme and, characteristic of the man, he was always looking went to her aid, the old man took up two more spears, plunging the first out for something new. into the back of her lover and the other straight through the heart of Wandah. Both fell dead as the enraged men of the tribe fell upon the old “His wife predeceased him some seven or eight years ago, but since then man, whom they clubbed to death. a devoted daughter [Florence] has ministered to his wants. In his later years his sight and hearing became defective, but the intellect seemed as Wandah and her lover were buried near the banks of the creek, almost in keen as ever; he seemed to have The Bible at his finger-ends and his line with where the old Bungarribee homestead once stood. From time to memory for quotations was wonderful. It was the writer’s privilege to go time, so runs the legend, the spirit of Wandah flies round the scene of her in of an evening, and listen to his reminiscences over a pipe of tobacco, former life in the form of the death bird, which always heralds the which he enjoyed to the last. He would also expound his doctrines, in approach of death of the descendants of her race, once the proud which he really believed. In his later years he took up the unravelling of possessors of the hunting grounds of Bungarribee and Doonside. ’ the inscriptions in the inner passages of the Pyramids of Egypt... "In conclusion, for the benefit of his many old parishioners, some of whom 1. The White-winged Chough in the Dreaming of the Aboriginal People near Sydney. he married, more of whom he christened, that the worthy old man passed Australian Birds. Vol26, N o1. September 1992. pp17. J L Kohen away peacefully and quietly to his "rest from his labours". 2. Ghosts and Myths o f the Hawkesbury. Rex Stubbs, 1982. pp17 3. The Legend of the Doonside Death Bird. W E Francis. Cumberland Argus, 20 January 1936. George R Jones April 25, 1917 14 15 T ’fie T h irre t JaumaCoftHe (Blac^pmm and (District ^HistoricafSociety, Inc BLACKTOWN AND DISTRICT HISTORICAL SOCIETY Meets on the first Monday of each month, except January (no meeting) and October (on the second Monday) in the Meeting Room of Biacktown West Public School. Enter by the gate in Lancaster Street Meetings commence at 7.30pm. Visitors are always very welcome Postal address: PO Box 500, Biacktown NSW 2148 Telephone enquiries; 02 9622 8309 www.blacktownhistorv.ora.au SEPTEMBER 2008 ISSN 1447 0241 PRESERVING YESTERDAY, CAPTURING TODAY, FOR TOMORROW n U e T u r r e t QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF THE BLACKTOWN AND DISTRICT HISTORICAL SOCIETY, INC Vol. 28 No.3 September 2008 Contents The State: Theatre Magnificent 3 The Death Bird of Doonside 12 Reverend Hawkins: A Postscript 15 St Saviour’s Cathedral, Goulbum 16 The Bombing of Darwin 20 From the Cumberland Mercury 24 Tom McNamara’s Reminiscences 26 The Coast Hospital 28 BDHS Tour: The Nursing Museum 32 BDHS Tour: The Powerhouse Store 34 Odd Spots 36 COVER: Bemie's Cake Shop, a Rooty Hill Icon, shortly before It was demolished in 2006/7. The shop was located on the western side of Rooty Hill Road North. Photo: Rita Sleders I BDHS Image Archive 2916 Articles and Illustrations appearing in The Turret remain the copyright o f the author/s. Opinions expressed in published articles are not necessarily those o f the Society. ‘iH e T u rre t Tlie Turret Bibliography: The Legend of the Death Bird - Part 2 Curtis, Elizabeth, M.A. and Gillian Doyle. Where Honour Guides the Prow: a story of early settlers of Sydney Cove, Jack Brook Norfolk Island and the Muirumbidgee, Pub. 1988 After the death of Wandah and her lover Bomeree, and the clubbing to death of their murderer by the young men of the French, Jeanette M. Clydesdale: a small history, pub. 1988 tribe, there was much trouble in the camp between their near relations. It eventually came to a head and resulted in a general Tompson, Charles Jnr. Wild Notes, from the lyre of a native melee wherein several were killed and many wounded. When minstrel. Facsimile edition, pub. 1973 at last the chief managed to separate the warring factions he found himself left with only half his tribe, the relatives of the dead lovers having separated and moved off to the vicinity of the Hawkesbury River, never again to return to their former tribal companions. Bungaroo, the old chief of the Bungarribee tribe was greatly upset at the division of his people. It had left him with greatly diminished forces to meet the raids of neighboring tribes continually trespassing on his tribe’s hunting grounds. Many severe tribal fights resulted from these depredations. The chief was a mighty warrior, of great renown amongst the surrounding tribes and noted for his great feats of strength and bravery in the frequent clashes with his neighbours. His tall muscular figure wielding his great club as he charged at the head of his fighting men struck terror into the hearts of his enem ies. For many years he had been a terror to the would-be raiders of his hunting grounds, the major prize of which was Prospect Dam, then the home of many water fowl including wild ducks. This lagoon had for ages been a bone of contention between the Bungarribee tribe and the tribe across the creek whose hunting grounds extended out west to the river, now known as the Nepean. The two tribes had for many years been deadly The ‘Turret ‘The ‘T u rre t enemies and the river tribe was always on the alert to In this story of the death of the great chief Bungaroo and the accomplish the downfall of Bungaroo and his people. Only the massacre of the Bungarribee tribe we see fulfillment of the great fighting abilities of Bungaroo had kept them inside their prevailing belief in the superstition regarding the appearance of own boundaries. the Death Bird. Since the death of Wandah this belief has foretold death and disaster to descendants of the famed Bungarribee tribe members had noticed that after the death of Bungarribee tribe who roamed the district before the coming of Wandah a strange bird had been seen flying around the district the white man. and at night when it was seen it was heard to emit pathetic mournful wailings as of a child in distress. Following the visits The major text from “The Death of Bungaroo, Chief of the Bungan ibcc Tribe - Legends of Doonside continued" Copyright by W E Francis and appearing in the Cumberland Argus of this bird there was sickness and death amongst them and it February 15 1936. Researclied by Lconie Gendlc. became a belief amongst the tribe that if any of their number was sick and they heard the bird’s wailings that the sick would eventually die. The tribe accepted the bird’s presence as a One of our early Local Churches: Saint Albans curse upon them for the murder of Wandah and it struck terror into their hearts whenever they heard it. George Nicolaidis One of the early churches built in the Rooty Hill locality was Several years after the division of the Bungarribee tribe the Saint Albans, situated on Rooty Hill Road North. The present River tribe again raided and this time defeated them for control church building was built in 1961 and officially opened by His of the waterway and made off with the Bungarribee women Grace The rev. Hugh Gough, Archbishop of Sydney on 30"' and children. All but two of the Bungarribee warriors, July 1961. It was consecrated on Sunday 29"’ August 1971. including the old men and Bungaroo, were killed and the The new church was to replace the original, which was built surviving wan'iors made their way to the Hawkesbury where from weatherboard and erected in 1885. they rejoined their former tribesmen. It’s worth mentioning the Death Bird had been seen and heard many times during the Mr. Walter Lamb, owner of the Plumpton Cannery made the previous days and the Bungarribee tribe were expecting big generous gift of land upon which the church stands. Walter trouble from somewhere. Some things are probably inevitable. Lamb attended land auctions conducted by the Lands Department between 1865 - 1870 and was successful in The River tribe took the Bungarribee women and children and obtaining control of several portions of land and becoming the incoiporated them into their own numbers. They also took principal owner of that area of Rooty Hill North and Plumpton. ownership of the Prospect Lagoon and it remained among their hunting grounds until the advance of the white man gradually Lamb subdivided his vast estate into semi-urban allotments drove them from the district. suitable for orchards and vineyards and as houses began being built his cannery provided employment to the new residents. The ‘T u rre t QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF THE BLACKTOWN AND DISTRICT HISTORICAL SOCIETY, INC Vol. 28 No. 4 December 2008 Contents Charles Tompson Junior and the Origins of CLYDESDALE...... 3 The Legend o f the Death Bird - Part 2 ...... 7 One of our early Local Churches: Saint Albans...... 9 Fatal Excursion...... 11 Santa Victorious - God Save the Q ueen...... 13 Doctors from the Past - Dr Edwin Carr...... 16 Mrs. Bidwell’s Lending Library...... 16 Blacktown - Changes to the natural and built environments over the last 50 years...... 18 Certified winner receives $1000 - (see our cover photo)...... 23 Blacktown’s Heritage Houses - What’s Happening?...... 24 OBITUARY. The Late Mr. David Pye...... 26 Larrikinism Rampant. Girls assailed on the way Home...... 27 Cover: Jack Brook (left) receives the 2008 Mayoral History Prize from Blacktown Mayor Leo Kelly. Photo: Bianca Clark of Blacktown City Council. See our Page 23 article. Articles and llliislialions appearing in The Turret remain the copyright o f the aiithor/s. Opinions expressed in published articles are not necessarily those o f the Society. JoumaC o f the (BCac^ BLACKTOWN AND DISTRICT HISTORICAL SOCIETY Meets on the first Monday of each month, except January (no meeting) and October (on the second Monday) in the Meeting Room of Blacktown West Public School. Enter by the gate inn Lancaster Street. Meetings commence at 7.30pm. Visitors are always very welcome Postal address; PO Box 500, Blacktown NSW 2148 Telephone enquiries: 02 9622 8309 www.blacktownhistory.orq.au DECEMBER 200. PRESERVING Ken’s hooked on the history WHILE Parramatta people celebrated Australia Day this year in many ways, Ken Webb and his family celebrated another anniversary. It was the wedding of their ancestors Maria and Robert Lock, in St Johns Church, Parramatta, on January 26,1824. Like many Australians, Ken has become hooked on genealogy and has found some of his folks go back to New Haven, Connecticut in America, where John Randall, a black, was bom in 1764. He somehow found himself on the First Fleet ship Alexander as a convict and in Australia he married Mary Butler of Rose Hill. Francis Randall, bom in 1792, married John Aiken, a Jamaican, in 1810 and William Aiken was bom in 1816. Ken Webb wHh some of his research He married Mary Ann Doyle in 1853 and Suzannah Aiken was bom in 1858. Maria, daughter of Yarramundi, chief of the Richmond She married Charles Webb at Parramatta in 1873 and tribes, had stunned white Parramatta by topping the class Darcy Webb, bom in 1875, married Eve Agness Lock in (20 Aborigines and 100 whites) in her first school exam. 1904. Things became even more bizarre when authorities Darcy Jnr, Ken’s Dad, was bom in 1906. decided Lock be officially turned over to her, to serve out “So my grandmother, Eva Agnes Lock, was the grand the rest of his sentence. daughter of Maria Lock and to me, Maria’s wedding Eve Agnes Lock’s two remaining daughters, Aleathea and symbolises the coming together of the Aborigines and the Ellen Jean, now live in Lithgow and it is one of Ken Webb’s whites,” he said. many quests to get them to speak to oral historians. Little wonder Ken Webb has fallen victim to the dreaded Another of Eve Lock’s grandchildren, June Workman, genealogy bug — fmding himself a direct descendent of also has the genealo^ bug and she is helping local historians Maria Lock, the famed Aboriginal princess from Governor Jack Brooks and Jim Kohen, authors of The Parramatta Macquarie’s days — who as a 13-year-old, was the very first Native Institution and the Black Town, a History on their person to be admitted to the newly-formed Parramatta next book — a history of the Lock family and their Native Institution, then in an area bounded by Macquarie, descendents. Marsden and Hunter Sts. “We’ve found 1500 direct descendants already and we’re Her marriage to convict Robert Lock was also a first — still looking,” he said. the first officially-sanctioned marriage between a white and “I go looking for history books and ship’s 1(^ now and an Aborigine. there is family popping up everywhere,” he said. ABORIGINAL SERVICEMEN In January, 1942, when Australia appeared to be under threat o f Japanese invasion, the army needed to rapidly expand its forces in the North. The sinking o f the HMS Prince o f Wales and the Repulse and the fall o f Hong Kong meant that the situation demanded a re examination o f tiie Army’s attitude to Aboriginal service. At the time, government poUcy barred Non European (including Aborigines) from joining the services. The urgency of the crises caused the Army to rapidly expand its forces o f Torres Strait Islanders, at Thursday Island, and to raise an Aboriginal unit for the surveillance o f Arnhem Land, permitting the enlistment o f Aboriginals in unprecedented numbers. They manned observation posts, manned heavy artillery posts in the islands o f the Torres Strait, were coast watchers, providing vital information o f shipping between the islands and New Guinea. By the end of WW l 1 it was estimated that somewhere in the vicinity o f three thousand Aborigines and Torres Strait Islan d s had enhste4 and also many “de facto” servicemen had served, patrolling and performing other mihtaiy duties without formal recognition, along the North Australian coast. Another group o f up to three thousand supported the Services Defence efifort as civilian laboiu'ers. Despite the scale o f this contribution, Commonwealth and State Governments consistently underestimated the Aboriginal and Torres Sti-ait Islanders contribution to the War effort, but by 1944 at least one in twenty o f these men had aided their country’s defence efforts as servicemen or labourers. One of the best known Aboriginal servicemen was Reg Saunders. Typical of many who joined the 2““* A.I.F., he came from an impoverished family. He left school at fourteen and worked as a mill hand in a timber yard. His mother had died in 1924 and he and his brother Harry were raised by his father. He enlisted in the army in 1940, and his outstanding leadership qualities, personable nature and sporting skills were quickly recognised, resulting in rapid promotion. Within six weeks he was promoted to Lance Corporal and three months later to Sergeant. By September 1940 his brother Harry had also joined up. Both brothers served with their battalions in North Africa, and Reg in the illfated campaigns in Greece and Crete. Later both men served in New Guinea, where Harry was kUied in action on the Kokoda Trail. As a platoon Sergeant in New Guinea, Reg at one time had taken charge when his platoon commander was injured. Recognizing his leadership qualities his Commanding Officer nominated him for promotion to commission rank. After graduating from the officer Cadet Training Unit, Sanders rose to officer status and was hailed by newspapers all round the country as the first Aboriginal commissioned officer to serve in the Australian Forces. Although Reg Saunders served Ihe remainder of the war as Lieutenant in command o f a platoon of up to thirty white Australians, on discharge from the army at the end o f the war he drifted through a succession o f poorly paid jobs - foundry worker, tram conductor, tally clerk - none remotely comparable with the responsibility o f commanding men in battie. Like many others, his obvious competence, personal endeavour and new found skills counted little to the civiUan work force. Another exceptional Aborigine was Leonard Waters, from NiadiguUy, near St George, Queensland. An intelligent man. Waters had been forced to abandon his schooling to assist his father during the Depression. Father and son worked in the pastoral and agricultural sector, and Leonard later as ringbarker seven days a week for 10/- until 1939, when he became a shearer at a sUghtiy better pay. He joined the R.A.A.F. in 1942 and trained as a flight mechanic. In December 1943 he OFFICE BEARERS FOR 2008 At our Annual General Meeting in November 2007 the following office bearers were elected. PRESIDENT Jack Elliott VICE PRESIDENT Monica KeUy SECRETARY Marion McGuirk TREASURER Marion McGuirk ARCHIVIST Marion McGuirk SOCIAL SECRETARY Joyce Metealfe PUBLIC OFFICER BiU McGuirk PATRONS Lord Mayor Paul Barber Jack Elliott COMMITTEE Nell Gawthome (Newsletter Editor) Pauline Clarke Bill McGuirk (Publications Chair) Thelma Skinner Warren Lawson AUDITOR Ian Elliott We welcome Warren Lawson to our 2008 Committee and hope you will enjoy working in the Society’s “engine room.” AUSTRALIA DAY STALL Every year we hold a stall at the Rotary’s Club’s celebration at the Third Settlement Park Winston HiUs. Helpers are needed to assist on the stall. If you are available please ring Marion on 96361905. Donations o f saleable handcrafis are required. This event starts at 7am and finishes by 10.30 to 11.00. A hearty breakfast o f cereal, eggs and bacon, orange juice, tea and coffee and damper with “cocky’s joy”. This is free to all workers who wear their Society name badge, if not a donation of $5.00 is to be paid to the Rotary Club. A flag raising ceremony by the Winston Hill Scout troop is held, also entertainment for the children. We would like to see our Society well represented this year. A good morning is had by all. TOONGABBEE TIMES Newsletter for Toongabbie & District Historical Society Inc. Est. 1988 Toongabbie NSW; Australia’s oldest mainland settlement founded April 1791 Mwwes FEBRUARY 2008 volunteered for air crew. He was selected and underwent training in Victoria. He studied at night to improve his chances, and as a result he excelled in most courses. Out o f three hundred and seventy five students only forty-eight succeeded as pilots. When he received his wings there were only three ahead of him. With such excellent results he was appointed a fighter pilot, the elite of the R. A. A.F. After a year of operational service with ninety-five sorties completed. Waters, by then an experienced combat pilot, was occasionally given command o f flights, which included commissioned officers. By the wars end Waters had been promoted to Warrant Officer. After his discharge fi-om the R.A.A.F. he planned to start an aerial taxi service in south-west Queensland to capitalize on his flying training, but, lacking financial support, his plan feU through, and he went back to shearing. Many Aborigines endured lengthy periods as Japanese P.O.W’s, some dying in captivity as a result o f brutal treatment by their Japanese captors. Some were wounded in action and many returned with psychological scars. Some Aboriginal soldiers like Tim Hughes and Clive Upright won the Military Medal for displaying outstanding courage in battle. Aboriginal and Islander service men who worked with white soldiers foimd that httle racism existed within the services. Many lasting fiiendships were forged with their white comrades diiring the war years. Information fi'om The Black Diggers by Robert A. Hall. and the two-storey, eighty bed Drummond Far West Children’s Home was built. The site was further devdoped and acconiniodation for up to two hundred children provided. In 1931, with the support o f the Department o f Railways the Scheme established the first mobile baby clinic in rural Australia. Special railway cars were fitted out, and visited remote locations such as Bourke, Brewarrina and Byrock where the clinic sisters weighed and checked the babies and advised their mothers on the care o f their children. Sid Coleman, a resident o f Bourke had a plane which he hired out to the Scheme so a clinic sister could be flown to the more remote centres. In 1933 Nancy Bird, Australia’s first female commercial pilot was recruited to fly nurses to outback locations. Later that year a dental clinic was established and the Drummond Far West Home was officially opened. Earlier, in 1928 Drummond, after deciding that he could “work better than he could preach,” resigned his ministry so that he and his wife Lucy could be fiilly committed to the work o f the Scheme. The Scheme continued to expand, and, following a visit by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and Princess Anne in 1970, it was officially given the title o f Royal in recognition of its services to country children. The Royal Far West Children’s Health Scheme continues its work today, after its beginning eighty rtrtn/->oifo at XAanli; iirtiara Eastwood, New South Wales - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Page 1 of 5 Eastwood, New South Wales Coordinates: 33.790362°S 151.081731°E From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Eastwood is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Eastwood Australia. Eastwood is located 17 kilometres north-west of the Sydney, New South Wales Sydney central business district in the local government areas of the City of Ryde and the City of Parramatta. Eastwood is in the Northern Suburbs region. Originally thought to have been inhabited by the Wallumedegal Aboriginal tribe, who lived in the area between the Lane Cove and Parramatta Rivers, the area was first settled by Europeans shortly after the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788, from land grants to marines and NSW Corps, and was named "Eastwood" by an early Irish free settler, William Rutledge. Today it is a large urban centre in the north of Sydney of over 14,000 people, with a large shopping area. Over the past few decades Eastwood has become increasingly multicultural and has a large Chinese and Korean community. Eastwood is best known as the place of where the Granny Smith Apple was first grown. Fountain in Rowe Street mall Contents Population: 14,428 Postcode: 2122 1 Geography 2 H istory Coordinates: 33.790362°S 151.081731° 3 D evelopm ent E 4 Commercial area Property 5 Transport Value: AUD $770,000 (2010) 6 Landmarks 7 Forest Reserves Location: 17 km (11 mi) north-west 8 H ousing of Sydney CBD 9 Churches 10 Schools LGA: City o f Parramatta, City of 11 Culture and Events Ryde 12 Population State District: Epping, Ryde 13 References 14 External links Federal Bennelong Division: Geography Suburbs around Eastwood: Eastwood is located at the edge of the Hornsby Plateau with the Carlingford Epping Marsfield suburbs of Dundas Valley and Denistone on its southern and western sides as the land falls away down to the Cumberland Plain. To the Denistone north, Eastwood is bounded by the transport hub of Epping and to its Dundas Valley Eastwood East east Marsfield which shares the same postcode of 2122. The suburb is Ryde predominantly residential with the main shopping area of Eastwood centred between Rowe Street and Rutledge Street around the railway Ermington Denistone Denistone line. West Ryde West History The Wallumedegal Aboriginal tribe lived in the area between the Lane Cove River and Parramatta River, which was known as Walumetta. The area was originally heavily timbered. http;//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastwood,_New_South_Wales 2 8/09 /2 0 1 0 Ab<:?C D ace 0 1 bels: Abori2ina. Parramatta in Australian hi>tor\ Michael Flynn ' ' HE Australian Bicentenary of manism. By using new perspectives many more trivialised a complex story 1988 was in many ways an which recognise the diversity of the with a few lines about hapless or treach L orgy of self-congratulation past in ways which the writers of other erous blacks and depicted rock art as a puffed up by the false confidence of eras did not, it is possible to continue kitsch curiosity. Local history in Par that decade’s economic boom. Two of the process of discovery in the same ramatta and the western suburbs of the most enduring and contrasting im humanist tradition. This process began Sydney has not been free of these ten ages of Australia Day 1988 are the sails in the Australian context well over a dencies; in addition, the area has suf of the ships o f the First Fleet re-enact century ago with James Bonwick and, fered from being ignored as a backwa ment wafting into Sydney Harbour despite a few stops and starts, is still ter, far from the centres o f power in bearing gigantic Coca-Cola logos and going on. Historians are reinterpreting Macquarie Street and the city. the exuberant Aboriginal march through the documents Bonwick used and lo The rise of the Parramatta Central the streets of the city. The day finished cating others that he overiooked. As Business District, a more heritage-ori- off the one dimensional stereotypes of Thucydides would tell you, a century is ented municipal council, the formation the sturdy Afrikaner-like pioneer and not a long time; at the beginning o f the of an Aboriginal Darug Land Council the bakky-chewing ‘Native’, but found age of information technology Aus and the westward shift of Sydney’s Australia in a ferment o f new ideas as tralian history presents a field as rich population centre have contributed to a the Cold War approached its tumultu and diverse as the natural world must new view of the history o f Parramatta ous climax. Since 1988 a new sense of have seemed to the botanists of the and its hinteriand which, in the half confidence in the emerging Australian eighteenth century. century after 1788, rivalled Sydney in identity has encouraged a more complex One of the most significantelements importance and hosted the second vice and critical view of the past. of this re-examination of identity has regal residence. The spotlight was The political modishness and post been the question of the place of Abo turned on Parramatta’s remarkable modernism of recent years have un riginal people and their heritage in the Aboriginal heritage by two recent doubtedly been carried to excess in broaderculture. The Mabo decision has books; The Parramatta Native Institu some quarters, including parts of the drawn attention to a painful realisation tion and the Black Town by Jack Brook field of Australian history. But, as three that indigenous Australia was subju and James Kohen (1991) and The Darug American academics Joyce Appleby, gated by an expanding European empire and their Neighbours by James Kohen Lynn Hunt and Margaret Jacob argue in using military force. A collective am (1993) which have drawn attention to a recent book Telling the Truth about nesia which resembles the silly attempts the presence in Sydney of descendants History, W.W. Norton and Co., 1994, a of pre-war Australia to disown its of its Aboriginal clans. M ovingon from new consensus is emerging which rec convict beginnings is breaking down in the more limited scope of these books it ognises that the old certainties of con a similar way. is possible to probe further into the ventional history were flawed, but Condescension and outright racism Aboriginal man from Botany Bay whose challenges the extreme view that de aside, one of the main problems of pre- lengthy evidence to a select committee rides attempts to find objective mean 1988 history has been Aboriginal invis of the New South Wales Legislative ing in the historical record as futile and ibility. Time after time local histories Council in 1845 has survived. looks back to the past with a hostile, produced in the twentieth century Any history of the Aboriginal expe judgemental eye and with little sym completely ignored the Aboriginal di rience of eariy colonial New South pathy for the traditions of Western hu mension through ignorancc or distaste; Wales is necessarily dominated by HISTORY December 1995 jcnnelong. Only lasl year previously the harbour and Botany Bay called the banks of Duck River, at a place they unknown Treasury documents came to themselves Eora (which meant ‘people called ‘Watergoro’ which may be a light (PRO Tl/731-3) which gave a of this place’ or ‘people here’). The corruption o f the Sydney language tenns detailed view of the first Australian westernmost Eora clan was the Wadi-ora'wood place’or‘wooden club Aborigines to visit England. Benne- Burramattagal, of Parramatta - ‘ the place place' - possibly the campsite at Ca long and Yemmerrawannie, who were where the eels sit down’ which marked mellia described in Thomas Fowlie’s presented to King George III in May the border between the cultures of the ‘History of Granville’ (Mitchell Li 1793. Expense accounts lodged by harbour and the inland. West of Parram brary), a remarkable unpublished gem Governors Phillip and Hunter reveal atta were the Cannemegal clan of Pros of 1918 which describes the shell mid that the two Aboriginal men stayed at a pect and the Warrawarry of Eastern dens o f Parramatta River. Duck River fashionable West End address in Mount Creek; to the south were the warlike and Clay Cliff Creek left from meals Street. Grosvenor Square, played shut Bidjigal, who inhabited thick bushland over thousands of years. Numerous tlecock, swam, went boating, attended around Prospect Creek, Salt Pan Creek descendants of the Sydney clans live the trial of Warren Hastings in West and north of the Georges River. on. many of them descended from Damg minster Hall and the theatres of Drury Lane and Covent Garden. Also chronicled is Yemmerrawannie’s declining health in the Surrey village of Eltham, where he died in 1794. A close look at early Abo- riginal-European contact his tory brings new evidence of the locations of a series o f contacts and conflicts, includ ing the first fatal spearing of convicts in the vicinity of Rushcutters Bay and Iron Cove in May 1788. In the same month GovemorPhillip stum bled on a large Aboriginal gathering which can be identi An Attack by S'atives, Port Jackson Painter cl 7SS. Natural History Museum London fied as taking place at Long Bay. A close examination o f the docu The Burramattagal and neighbour of the Hawkesbury district and the mentation of Phillip’s first exploration ing clans survived the occupation and western suburbs. of Parramatta’s western hinterland in settlement of their territories, the fron Parramatta’s beautiful, park-like April 1788 reveals that the orthodox tier wars which followed, and main landscape had been created by Abo view that he went only as far as Pn)s- tained their cohesion into the 1830s riginal firing practices over thousands pect Hill or a little beyond is deeply when documentation of the issue of of years. To the Europeans it seemed Hawed. His party is much more likely blankets at the annual ‘Native Feast' at like a garden of Eden whose fertile soil to have traversed Toongabbie. Seven Parramatta allows a partial reconstruc saved the colony from starvation after Hills and Blacktown to climb tion of the old clan structure and the the establishment of a farming settle Bungarribcc Hill. Doonside and reach identification of such key figures as ment there in November 1788 within ing Eastern Creek and Rooty Hill. Burung, Bidgee Bidgee and Baluderri what is now Parramatta Park. It was One of the most distinctive features as members of the Wallumattagal clan. also the focus of a savage frontier con of pre-1788 Aboriginal Sydney was the Three previously unknown Parramatta flict which began with an Aboriginal cultural divide between the inland retums for the years 1836, 1839 and attack on the first emancipist farmers of paiendra ‘tomahawk people' who 18-iO have recently been found. They Prospect in 1791 and spread to Toong hunted game and used their stone accs to indicate that the pre-1788 Wangal and abbie soon afterwards. The streets of cut climbing marks on trees and the Wallumattagal clans remained in the Parramatta were the setting forthe ‘high katungiil ‘sea people' who were ori 1830s as the Concord and Kissing Point noon’ confrontation between Pemul- ented towards the seafood produce of ‘tribes’ and remnants of the wuy’s rebel Bidjigal clan and the New the saltwater harbour, estuaries and Burramattagal clan survived as an South Wales Corps in 1797. The strug ocean beaches. The katungal people of Aboriginal group who camped along gle in the Sydney region set a pattern HISTORY December 1995 A'hich was followed across ihc coiui- by A'tx)riginal ceremonies and cor- joking with curious Londoners. On re nent; initial friendly contact, mistrcai- roborees which helped maintain tradi luming to Australia he was tom be ment and atrocities committed by tion and a .sense of continuity with a tween a desire to return to Aboriginal whiles, sporadic Aboriginal guerrilla past which had been shaken by inva life and a position as a wage earning attacks, gubernatorial efforts to achieve sion. disease and hardship. In tJie case '.tockman. He raped a white giri near reconciliation and failed legal investi of Parramatta such meetings may have Parramatta and was hanged the day gations. Watkin Tench’s literary ap actually predated European .settlement. Macquarie declared an end to his Abo- proach to his story of the First Fleet was The pro-Aboriginal attitudes of a .riginal frontier war of 1816. imbued with the humanist perspective small educated minority which included The popular image of the Aborigi of an enlightened ‘Man of Feeling’ of George Caley, George Shelley, Roger nal warriors who challenged the first the eighteenth century. His quotations Oldfield, William Walker and Arch arrival of the white men in Sydney from Milton’s /’aradwe Lost reflect his bishop John Bede Folding reflect the Harbour is one of wild, gesticulating view of the colony as a ‘nether Eden' existence of a body of egalitarian, anlj- savages. A more realistic image in the from which the Aboriginal Adam and racist feeling in the colony which, at its context of what is still empirical history Eve had been expelled. would use the more detailed Henry Reynolds has descriptions of the men demonstrated how conven Phillip saw; their/zaA'a-like tional history often down song and dance on the cliffs played the extent of Abo and headlands around riginal resistance and the Bondi, Maroubra and Coo process of negotiation with gee, the powerful symbol the European conqueror ism and artistry of theirbody which produced such an paint, the appearance of the unfair settlement for the ghost-like painted face of Aboriginal side, even in the woman who stood comparison with othersettler watching Phillip from a rock societies like America, New in Sydney Harbour. An Zealand and Canada. Again enhanced sense of place the pattern begins in the which draws on Aboriginal Sydney region. In 1805 Par concepts can only benefit ramatta was the site of two the new sense of Australian Aboriginal-European con- Foundmsofthe settlement of Port Jackson j / Botany Bay in New South Wales. 1799. identity, culture and lore: a ferences ‘with a view of ^'>>omasCosse Re.xSan Kivell collection, National Library of Australia. Canberra recognition of the ancient opening the way to reconciliation’ with fringes, approached a recognition of human associations which sometimes the Reverend Samuel Marsden and the modem concept o f‘native title’. On appear in the names of places which Governor King for which a group of the grimmer side of the story appears have long been covered by successive Aboriginal women acted as intemiedi- the death of Arabonoo in the 1789 layers of farmland or suburbia, like aries. Under Macquarie an attempt was smallpox epidemic and Baluderri's Dawes's names of localities traversed made to assimilate Aboriginal children dramatic confrontation with Phillip at on the walk from Parramatta to Pros at the Parramatta Native Institution Parramatta in 1791. .At the end of their pect in 1790... Parramatta, W au-maille, which eventually failed as it became short lives both men were buried in Malgray-matta, Era-worong, Carra- drawn into the Governor’s political Phillip's garden at Government House, matta, Boolbane-matta, Carro-Wotong. struggle with the flogging parson. The the site of today’s Museum of Sydney. Mar-rong. school's establishment in 1814 was ac The grimness also appears in atrocities Sources companied by an annual conference committed by brutalised frontier set Michael Flynn. ‘Place of eels; Parramatta and feast at Parramatta which estab tlers whose attitudes verged on support and '.he .Aboriginal clans of the Sydney region, lished a tradition that survived into the for genocide. The sometimes tragic 1-88-1845', research report for Parramatta twentieth century of annual distribution consequences of a.ssimilation are re City Council. 1995. William Dawes, Abo- of blankets. Although somewhat flected in the little-known story of r^t't'.al Grammar and Word Lists. School and tokenistic, the government-sponsored Moowattin, a Darug youth who went to i)r!cntal and African Studies, London feasts implied a recognition of clan England with Caley in IS 10. met Sir :MS-iI645a-b. microfilm copy in Mitchell Librarv i; .Aboriginal Blanket Returns, Par structure and were viewed openly by Joseph Banks and frequented a Chelsea ramatta 1834-43. AONSW Col. Sec. 4/ Macquarie as a kind of compen.saiion coffee house as 'a black beau', smok 4/2,’^02.1. 4/1133.3, 4/2433.1, 4/ for land loss. They were accompanied ing a pipe, speaking g(X)d English and 1. 10 HISTORY December 1995 5 K ± n g Bxax'X'SLgSL etnci L o cs et 1 H i t C3 X ' y : w r- L t i ri A 'fc> ox'is±nes lo S L C lr S i i 11 1_ CJ ll 63 S t O OT y 11 e; EBL t Ix e; i ' G c 5 0 c3Ls l 1 1 H u m s t n d . t _ i ^ L / n z J T ' s jL o sf~ T G G j n o JL CJ M ' .V Joe Anderson was an Aboriginal man who lived at Salt Pan Creek in south western Sydney in the 1930s. He was an active political spokesperson, although he was often acknowledged by whites only as a stereotypical figure. Joe Anderson would sell gum tips and wildflowers at the Markets at the same time as he ’spruiked’ about land rights. He was interviewed by Cinesound News in 1933 and introduced himself at King Burraga.i Why? Was it merely a coincidence that he chose the name of valley near Sydney? No: his choice leads us to the complex history of Aboriginal interaction with whites in the Burragorang Valley from the beginning of the British invasion. Joe Anderson left us, among other things, some valuable clues about how to work as local historians. There is now a great deal of interest among local history groups about Aboriginal history and this has raised questions about how to research and present this information. Often, local and regional histories have a first chapter or section on Aborigines, where traditional lifestyles and perhaps initial Aboriginal resistance to the invasion are outlines. Then - nothing. Even where the authors do not intend it, this absence of Aborigines from the main body of the work reinforces one of two ideas: that Aborigines disappeared altogether from that area, or if they survived. Aborigines were unwilling, or incapable, or prevented from playing any role in the Europeans’ society or economy. Usually, neither Cinesound News Review, No.100, 19 33. 40 are correct but researching and telling the continuing Aboriginal history of an area can be a daunting task. My interest in Aboriginal history is in that period after the invasion began in 1788, and I have found much that is enriching fr local histories. I have, however, found the sources for Aboriginal history in any one place often to be scattered, fragmented and difficult to interpret. This paper is about a strategy to make sense out of the documentary, photographic and material evidence that does exist for local areas. It is basically a comparative method: you compare what you can learn from your own locality with what has been pieced together on a larger, state-wide level. The parallels and, just as importantly, the divergences between the local events and wider patterns will help to clarify at least some themes and will undoubtedly enlarge the field of questions which can be explored. I will use as an example a locality where a great deal of work has already been done - the Burragorang Valley, Joe Anderson’s home - to trace through the post-invasion history of interaction between Aborigines and non-Aborigines. It is very important to point out that the reason there is so much known about the Valley is because of the work of family and local history groups. The La Perouse Family History Group has been particularly active in tracing their Gandanggara families in the Valley with oral history, photographs and documents.2 Work undertaken by The Oaks History Group has also been important in tracing non-Aboriginal oral history, photographs, objects and documents.^ Local historians have an invaluable role in expanding our information and interpretations of Aboriginal and white local history. I will suggest that, in the Valley as elsewhere, Aboriginal history is not only a rich field in itself, but illuminates all of the local history of the area. The Burragorang Valley is the country of the Gandanggara. These people have close relations with the Dharawal people whose land lies to the south of Sydney and includes Thirroul, the town which bears their name. The Gandanggara faced the invasion of their country from around 1800. After periods of conflict with settlers and troops, they actually reached an accommodation with Governor King in which King agreed that the Gandanggara could retain the upper reaches of the Nepean River. King’s promise was not kept and by 1816 there had been intrusions into Gandanggara lands, more Gandanggara resistance and then, in 1816 the government sent a punitive expedition which admitted killing at least fifteen Aboriginal people at Appin.* We would expect then that there would be See their collection of writings, La Perouse: The Place, The People, The Sea, Aboriginal Studies Press, AIAS, 1987. Particularly the research of Ron Mills and Sonja den Hertog and the displays in the recently completed Wollondilly Heritage Centre at The Oakes. Historical Records of Australia, 1804, Vol.l, p.166 4 1 few Gandanggara remaining in this fertile little valley and so there would be little Aboriginal history after the 1820s. But this is not the case. The first fragment of later information we have is that in 1876 the Catholic priest in the Burragorang Valley, Father Dillon, raise funds from among his parishioners to buy a portion of a farm, called St Joseph’s, on the junction of the Cox’s and Wollondilly rivers.= This seventy acre property was handed over to the Aboriginal community of the Valley. Was this charity? Was it an isolated case of an eccentric priest or an unusually generous parish? To judge, we need to look at the wide view. There was, from the 1860s, a movement among Aborigines to try to regain and secure some of their own land.® From Victoria, through the south west of New South Wales at places like Cumeragunja, at Braidwood and around the goldfields, on the south coast and then along up to the north coast, Aboriginal people began to resettle, to squat on pieces of their own traditional country. They began farming, they built dwellings and they called on local and State government authorities to recognise their right to the land. They often recruited local whites to support them in this process. On some occasions, these were missionaries from outside the area, but many times they were local officials, sometimes policemen and sometimes, as on this occasion, local churchmen. There are accounts of large groups of Aboriginal people forming delegations in the 1860s to discuss with these local officials ways to meet their needs for secure tenure of the land they had re-occupied.'^ So, we find that rather than an unusual or aberrant case, the Burragorang situation reflected a wider process which Aboriginal people had initiated to win back their land using the support and assistance they gained from at least some local whites. When we next find records concerning developments on this farming land at St Joseph’s, we read of an Aboriginal community of around fifty people ’making a very fair living growing maize and vegetables and raising stock’ through the 1890s and indeed into the 1910s.® Now was this unusual? This is certainly different from the image many of us hold of Aboriginal people and their relationship to European farming methods. Yet in referring to wider patterns, we find again that the Burragorang experience was not uncommon. The Aboriginal push for land from the 1860s had seen Aboriginal people begin farming on the land they had regained wherever that land had been fertile enough to enable them to do so. Aborigines Protection Board Register of Reserves (APBRR), Folios 30 and 56, NSW State Archives (NSWSA). H.Goodall, 'Land In Our Own Country’, Aboriginal History, Volume 13 (forthcoming). See for example: M.Brennan, Australian Reminiscences of the Goldfields, Sydney 1907, APBRR, Folio 30; Aborigines Protection Board Minutes (APBM), 4 December 1918, NSWSA. 42 Some of that land was freehold which Aboriginal people had purchased themselves; some, like that at Burragorang, was a mixture of freehold and permissive occupancy; other patches of land became Aboriginal reserve after Aborigines had appealed to the government for secure tenure. On all of these different types of holdings, however. Aborigines began farming independently of government and in parallel with the local agricultural economy. Where the land was fertile enough to allow low capital farming to support an extended family, Aboriginal peoples’ farming was successful, just as it was in the Burragorang.® This was not the only occupation for Aborigines in the Burragorang. A number of people were employed in dairy farming the Valley, including William Russell who later published a short volume of his people’s oral traditions.^° Many women were employed in domestic work and in ’outside’ work such as whitewashing fences and houses, as an alternative or supplement to independent farming.As might be expected, the experience of Aborigines in pastoral areas in the north-west and western areas of the state is very different from that of Aborigines in the east where agriculture predominated: not only were actual jobs different, but the organisation of work was very different.12 Comparing the local Burragorang situation then with the wider picture we find that there are both important differences and important similarities, and we can use these to assist us in interpreting what was going on. The third cluster of pieces of local information about the Burragorang Valley is about women. We find that one of the earliest Aboriginal farmers was a woman called Mary Tollman, a Gandanggara woman married to an Aborigine named Tollman. Mary was the midwife for the whole of the Burragorang Valley: for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal alike.13 We learn from family histories and memoirs that Mary was relied upon heavily by both communities. We can consider the question of the sources of her expertise and speculate that it developed jointly from her Gandanggara knowledge base, from experience she gained assisting at births and from information gained from local whites, themselves drawing on accumulated women’s knowledge and on professional medical sources. Mary Tollman’s story raises important questions which allow us to expand the ® H.Goodall, 'Land In Our Own Country’. 10 W.Russell, My Recollections, Sydney 1913 Ron Mills, The Oakes Historical Society; Gloria Ardler, La Perouse Family History group: personal communication. H.Goodall, A History of Aboriginal Communities in NSW, 1909-1939, unpublished PhD, 1982, Ch 1, 2. 13 Gloria Ardler, (Mary Tollman Longbottom’s great grand-daughter) La Perouse Family History Group; Ron Mills, Shirley Clark, The Oakes Historical Society; Wollondilly Heritage Centre. 43 areas we consider to be part of local history. How was she seen by each group, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal? Labour and childbirth around the turn of the century continued to be such arduous, dangerous and emotional experiences that the woman and her family were dependent on and must have respected the expertise and skill of the midwife. How did this close and very intimate contact between Mary Tollman and white families in the Valley modify or affect relationships between the racial groups? In a related issue, we know that there was a range of sexual interaction between Aborigines and whites in the Valley. We have an account, for example, from the 1880s of the post office being relocated onto St Joseph’s farm, a move which raised a number of objections.i^ These expressed white residents’ anxieties that sexual relationships might develop between the young Aboriginal women of the farm and young white men going there to collect mail, anxieties which were possibly present because such inter-racial sexual contact, exploitative or not, already existed. Whatever the validity of such fear, they indicate clearly a level of sexual tension and ambivalence in the relationships between the two groups. How then did Mary Tollman’s work affect or intervene in these social dynamics? Searching for the answers to such questions in oral reminiscences or letters and diaries from the period give us information not only about the Aboriginal community, about the sort of work Aboriginal men and women might undertake but information, too, about the life cycle history of the whole Valley. In looking to wider state patterns, we find very little in the way of evidence of such personal interaction. Yet we know that close personal relationships were not infrequent: in just one example, many white children in rural areas had Aboriginal nannies or babysitters. There are a number of oral accounts among Aborigines about such personal and sexual inter relations.But non-Aboriginal records of such interactions are very rare, while sympathetic accounts of inter-racial sexual relationships are virtually non-existent. So the questions which the local history study raises re about why such accounts are so rare on a state-wide level? Why have non-Aborigines been so reluctant to record and acknowledge their relationships with Aborigines? The fourth set of local evidence we have is about the tenure of the farm in the first years of the new century. Part of St. Joseph’s farm became Aboriginal reserve around 1900. The reflected a restructuring in rural land use, caused by the impoverishment of the area which created the need for local whites to expand the limited landholdings they had. They attempted to do this at the expense of their Aboriginal neighbours, threatening to take over that portion of St. 1-1 C . Dunn, JP, to Postmaster General, 23 December 1881, Australia Post Archives; St Joseph’s School records, Department of Education files, NSWSA. 15 H.Goodall, A History of Aboriginal Communities, Ch 3; P. Read, .4 Hundred Years War, Canberra 19 88. 44 Joseph’s that was permissive occupancy.The Aborigines Protection Board at that time defended the independence of Aboriginal tenure and arranged the conversion of the permissive occupancy section into Aboriginal Reserve, assuring the Aborigines that the independence of their farm would not be tampered with. As the Burragorang area had become impoverished, however, so the local Church had fallen on hard times. It now tried to gain financial benefit by taking back the freehold section of St Joseph’s which had legally remained church property, as well as claiming the original permissive occupancy which was by then Aboriginal reserve. That was the piece of land which had become associated with Mary Tollman, now widowed and remarried to a Dharawal man from the south coast named Longbottom. This section of the farm was shared with Mary’s daughter, Selina, who had married an Aboriginal man named Archie Shepherd. They were adamant that the church had handed over the land as a gift and had no further claim to it. The churchmen were appalled by this but the tone of their correspondence suggests they were even more concerned because the men in the family, Longbottom and Shepherd, refused to give the church their allegiance. Speaking of Archie Shepherd, Father Considine wrote to Cardinal Moran in 1908: He is a very indifferent Catholic and does not attend to his religious duties. I informed him that unless his conduct changed, I should have to consider some fresh arrangements with regard to his tenure of St Joseph’s farm... He said most emphatically that he refused to recognise the Church’s authority over the farm... So defiant was he, that I consider some action must be taken to assert your Eminence’s title to the property... And if the 40 acres could also be recovered from the Crown it would be very advantageous, as it would complete the farm.^ ’’ The local priest believed a neighbouring Protestant had put them up to this very public rejection of the church. These events give us insights into not only the situation of an extended family of Aborigines in one little valley, but into the finances of the local Roman Catholic church, into the relationship between the local church and the Catholic hierarchy, into the state of race relations in the valley and into the relations between Protestants and Catholics in this economically declining area. When we look again at the wider picture, we find that it was not usually the church which took on the task of taking away Aboriginal land at this time, but that threats to APBRR, Folios 30 and 56. Fr Considine to Cardinal Moran, 9 November 1908; Fr O ’Reilly to Archbishop, 17 August 1916; J. Smith to Archbishop, 9 July 1918; Burragorang Parish file, St Mary’s Archives. 45 Aboriginal land were indeed increasing.i® In the Burragorang, the cause lay in economic recession, but in most areas the pressure arose from the renewal of economic activity after the depression and droughts of the 1890s. Closer Settlement legislation in 1905 had legitimised the building pressures from local whites to take over independently-farmed Aboriginal land. Even where the title was legal, such as freehold or Aboriginal reserve land, this title was not seen by whites as legitimate where it was held by Aboriginal people. Instead, local whites saw this Aboriginal land as land still to be conquered. So in this sense the Burragorang situation is an example of wider patterns, although it is by no means identical to the way that pattern worked out in other areas. How then did the Aborigines in the Burragorang Valley handle this building pressure? We find that Mary Tollman and Selena Shepherd took on the role of negotiating with the Catholic church from 1908 through to 1916.19 They were the ones who conciliated. Mary and Selena argued that they had had a long association with the land but they stressed also that they would go to church and continue to be loyal to Catholicism. While Longbottom and Shepherd held out a hard line throughout these eight years, Mary and Selena consistently agreed to negotiate. Both positions may have been elements of the one strategy to keep the land. These events raise important questions. What was the difference between the relationships Aboriginal women had with the church and those of men? Indeed, were there differences in women’s relationships generally with the church compared with those of men? What were the roles of Aboriginal women in political strategy? Were this group of Aboriginal people making decisions themselves about playing of one denomination against the other, in order to retain the land which they had worked for over forty years? The particular situation in this local history throws up questions which may be different in detail from those in other parts of the state, but which can certainly help us to think more deeply and broadly about Aboriginal people’s relationships to non-Aborigines at this time. The final piece of information we have is that all the land of St Joseph’s was lost completely between 1916 and 1924, when the reserve was finally revoked. This revocation did not occur because Aboriginal people did not want the land or because they were no longer using it. Instead, the loss occurred because whites wanted Aboriginal land.20 This was a second disposition. In similar losses of land across the eastern half of the state, thirteen thousand acres of IS H.Goodall, A History of Aboriginal Communities, Ch 2 and 5. 19 St Mary’s Cathedral, Internal notes on Mrs Longbottom and Mrs Shepherd’s visit, 5 June 1909. Burragorang Parish file, St Mary’s Archives. 20 APBM, 4 December 1918; 19 June 1924; APB Annual Reports, 1917, 1918. 46 Aboriginal reserve was revoked between 1913 and 1927.2 1 This resulted in a major political movement, from 1924 to 1929, organised by the Aboriginal farmers of the north coast and around Sydney and those on the south coast who were involved in similar conflicts.22 it is not clear whether the Burragorang families participated in this movement directly, but after they were forced off St Joseph’s, they moved to Salt Pan Creek, near what is now Riverwood in Sydney, and then to La Perouse.^s The Salt Pan Creek camp was highly politicised. Aboriginal people who had been pushed off their land in other parts of the state gathered there in an independent camp. Many of them spoke at the Domain or at the City Markets on Friday nights.24 By the early 1930’s, at least one family who had had connections with St Joseph’s, the Anderson family, were speaking at the markets regularly. Joe Anderson was one member of this family. When he was filmed by Cinesound in 1933, choosing the name Burraga, he talked about Aboriginal people’s desire for political representation and for land to farm. In this case the local history of one area, the Burragorang, had a very direct link into the public political organisation of Aborigines. The Andersons, the Sheperds and the Tollmans were not the only Aboriginal people in the Burragorang Valley. We know of the Sherritts and the Reily’s, among others, who also farmed small pieces of land although none of them were as fertile as the rich land at St Joseph’s. We know as well that Valley Aboriginal men worked as general labourers and in dairy work while women worked as domestics, doing the heavy work such as laundering and whitewashing, to bring extra money at time when the farming was not able to support the extended families camped on St Joseph’s. So the history of St Joseph’s, interesting as it is, is the only one part of the Burragorang’s local history of interaction between Aborigines and whites. We know also that this agricultural and labouring work was not the only type of work Aborigines undertook in the state, and it is important to reiterate that pastoral workers’ experiences in western New South Wales was different from that of Aborigines in the east. The structures then in which they interacted with whites in their own areas were also very different from the ones which developed in the Burragorang. Nevertheless, this area’s local history gives us a valuable key into methods to interpret the scattered pieces of information which we are able to find in any other area. Aboriginal history cannot be seen in isolation; it cannot be seen as a separate history to that of local whites. There H.Goodall, A History of Aboriginal Communities, Ch 5. -2 ibid; NSW, Premier’s Department Files, 1927, NSWSA. 2 3 Gloria Ardler, La Perouse Family History Group. 2 Jacko Campbell, in H.Goodall, Cryin’ Out For Land Rights, in V.Burgmann and J.Lee (eds), Staining The Wattle, Melbourne 1988. 47 has been continuous interaction between Aborigines and non- Aborigines throughout the State and at all levels. Whether Aborigines and whites were in conflict or were cooperating- and they did both in most areas - their lives were always entangled. This is not to suggest that Aboriginal people’s lives were not very different in many ways to those of whites. Nevertheless, we cannot see the lives of either separate from the other. It is as much of a distortion to see non-Aboriginal lives without this interaction with Aborigines as it is to see Aboriginal lives without recognising their interaction with non-Aborigines. Aboriginal communities have undoubtedly been influenced and changed by their interactions with non-Aborigines and their economy and society. It is just as true that white Australians have been changed and influenced by their interactions with Aborigines. Local history gives us the opportunity to trace out such personal and yet important interaction. 48 wjd 0 0 j: 0 ^ H‘ H* P rtd) H tTft '- Od ''<1 [(] fD H(l) ^<1 DtJ PARRAMATTA CITY COUNCIL LIBRARY SERVICES DIVISION LOCAL HISTORY SERVICE - Vertical File Collection SUBJECT: PAGE NO; SOURCE:pgjrtax Sun - PARRAMATTA 2 6 NOV 1397 ■ PARRAMATTA residents will be treated to an exhibition of some of Australia’s most talented indigenous artists at the Parramatta Regional Park Visitors Centre this weekend. Starting this Friday, the exhibition will showcase the work of indigenous artists from central Australia, including Michael Nelson Jagamara, Paddy Tjungarrayi Can'oll and local urt)an Koori artist Danny Eastwood. The exhibition was organised by World Vision Australia, with money raised going towards the organisation’s Australian indigenous programs. R b o M G i I i WITHIN the Baulkham and persuaded to guide the Hills Shire and surround settlers to the north rocks, ing countryside are to be where property, stolen found many well-pre- from two stockmen who served rock carvings and had been killed at Pros cave paintings as evi pect, was found. dence of the Aboriginal During the search the culture which prevailed in settlers came across a this district before the small number of Abori coming of European gines, one of whom, ad settlement. dressing them in good Implements such as W ith Hills historian, W . D. NEIL English, defiantly de stone axe heads and at Sydney Cove in 1788, arose. Parties of Abori The neighbouring sett clared that he would con grinding stones have contact between the gines frequently raided lers armed themselves tinue to raid the farms. occasionally been found. Aboiigines and the new the settlers’ farms and and pursued the natives, But there was no way in These also serve to re comers was friendly and homes, forcibly taking whom they overtook. which the Aborigines’ way mind us that the Aborigin efforts were made to en food and clothing. Realising that the sett of life could survive. al people once roamed courage this relationship. At times settlers and lers were armed the Their primitive weapons these parts. In November, 1788 a sec members of their families Aborigines fled, leaving were no match for those Some of the rock car\'- ond settlement was were killed. behind a quantity of corn possessed by the white ings are very old. Others formed at Rose Hill (later There can be no doubt and articles which they Another great problem depicting such objects as Parramatta). that the occupation of had taken from settlers’ was the lack of sailing vessels which were Witliin a few years sett their former hunting properties. meaningful communi common on the Hawkes- lers were being placed on grounds motivated the Eventually confront cation. bury River during the farms within the neigh Aborigines in their actions ation occured with the re While some Aborigines early days of settlement bourhood of Parramatta, against those they re sult that five Aborigines learned to speak English indicate that Aborigines a circumstance wliich garded as intruders. were lulled by musket fire there is no evidence that were still living in this raised in a more acute Moreover, their cu.stom and several wounded. any European settlers be district, under organised form the problem of the of communal sharing One of their most promi came familiar with the Aboriginal language. tribal conditions, less than co-existence of th? Abori probably suggested to nent leaders, Pemulwy, 200 years ago. gines and the settlers. them the logical solution whom the settlers re In time, the settlers Today, apparently, none The native people lived that they should have their garded as a “riotous and spread over the of the Aboriginal people by hmiting and had always share of the settlers’ troublesome savage” was countryside, occupying whose ancestors travelled been free to roam about produce. severely wounded. more and more of the age- and hunted through the the land at will whereas it In one incident in The then Governor was old Aboriginal hunting area for many centuries, was essentail to the white March, 1797, a party of disturbed that the lives of grounds. remain. man’s survival that he about 100 Aborij^ines plun so many of the Aborigines In 1814 the Colonial Sec Much of the knowledge should settle on and culti dered the northern farms had been taken, but hoped retary wrote that: “His of their way of life has vate an established area of outside Parramatta, that the incident would act ExceUency, the Governor, been lost. land. killijig a man and woman as a deterrent against having long viewed with At the time of the A stage of hoiitility be and making off with cloth more raids. sentiments of original white settlement tween the two races soon ing and supplies. Unfortunately, the commiseration the hostility between the two wretched state of the races continued, although aborigines of lliis country in some areas a degree of and having revolved in his acceptable co-existence mind the most promising was established. and probable means of Tlie sincerity of the au ameliorating their con thorities m their desire for dition has now resolved to a peaceful solution to the adopt such measures as problem became evident appear to him best cal in February, 1805, when a culated to effect that white man was sentenced object and to improve the to the goal gang for energies of this innocent, “wantonly striking a destitute and unoffending native”. race”. In May of the same An invitation is extend year, as reported in the ed to all local residents Sydney Gazette, settlers who may have any from Northern Farms and knowledge of Aborigines Baulkham Hills combined or Aboriginal culture in to search for Aborigines in the Hills District to com the neighborhood of Pen municate with the writer cx nant Hills. (W. D. Neil, telephone One man was captured 634 1892). BC jo R. 'Qs / N £ 3 A ABORIGINES AID Service expands education access THE Aboriginal Education Office in Hunter Street, Parramatta, provides easy access to information and advice on education programs to Aborigines. The information and sup can now benefit from con port service extends to stu tinued education.” dents and families in areas as Recently the education offi far reaching as Katoomba cers at the centre held a sem and Liverpool. inar for 84 Year 10 Aboriginal The centre aims to give students. Aborigines, disadvantaged in Further education, career the past, the opportunity for choice and Aboriginal culture long term education. were a few of the topics discussed. Education officer, Sally An Aboriginal student of Browne, said it was most im visual arts at Nepean College portant for Aborigines to be of Advanced Education, Mar aware of their educational ion Coghlan, is exhibiting options. stained glass windows at the “ So many of them were centre on September 19, 20 forced to leave school in the and 21. past and were no less in The centre is staffed by telligent than their white four educational officers, an counterparts,” she said. Aboriginal Uaison officer, two “Through education as clerical assistants and a sistance schemes for secon supervising officer. dary and post secondary For further information schooling many Aborigines telephone 689 1666. STUDENT, Marion Coghlan: education officer, Sally Browne and Aboriginal liaison officer, Coral Dessaix study plans for a new education program at the Aboriginal Edu cation Office in Parramatta. \2 . '*) National week change ABORIGINAL workers at the Parra matta Aboriginal Education Office have called the decision to change the date of this year’s National Aborigines’ Week a a blow to “slap in the face”. Liaison officer at the offices, Mrs Coral Dessaix, said the date of the official week was changed for bureaucratic reasons. Aborigines’ Week has been Aborigines celebrated in July for nearly 30 years and the official date Education officer at the this year is from Monday, Parramatta office, Mr Jim September 10. Mottees, said staff would co The date was changed by operate and help those wish Minister for Aboriginal ing to celebrate the week, Affairs, Mr Clyde Holding. despite the change. The Parramatta office He said the date change celebrated the week during was a “slap in the face” and the month that has been ac that Aboriginal communities cepted since 1955. had not been consulted. “I feel annoyed that the “It would have been nice change was sprung upon us had the Minister consulted us and local groups were not and sent out a questionnaire. ” consulted,” Mr Dessaix said. The Aboriginal Education She said she felt the change Consultative Group, AECG, had reduced the significance held a meeting of its 22 re of Aborigines’ Week. gional representatives and MRS CORAL DESSAIR agreed that Aboriginal opinion had not been sought gines’ Day. It is not a big for the change. commercial deal.” Political State chairman of the National Aborigines’ Day Ob Acting Executive Officer servance Committee, .Mrs for the AECG, Mrs Pam Evelyn Bashford, said she McFadden, said the date was now regretted going along changed for political reasons. with the change without Mrs McFadden said the consultation. Minister for Aboriginal “We were advised from Affairs, Mr Clyde Holding, higher up to go along with it,” was “very rude” to AECG she said. President, Mr Robert Mor “I did not realise what was gan, in a meeting at Can going on and now there are berra. problems with the date.” “Mr Holding told him to The theme for the official ‘celebrate it when you want week is The Land My Mother. to, but don’t look to me for funding’,” she said. “One of his reasons for the change was that it clashed with the Labor Party Con ference and that we would not get the warranted publicity. “We were frozen out of our celebrations after nearly 30 years. “Only a handful of Abori ginals and politicians are telling us when to celebrate our own day.” Mrs McFadden said the AECG supported all the groups who wanted to cele brate in July and did not look for funding. “Publicity and massive ipedia coverage is not nec essary in our week to cele brate,” she said. "That is not the meaning of the week and National Abori- R6GRIQ,IW£5> GREAT FEAST WAS HELD A PREVIOUS historical feature in “Farm and Garden” described how the Aboriginal people and theii; culture suffered from the Shelley's scheme to ' impact of European society. This occurred despite the desire of the authorities for the peaceful co-existence of help the Aboriginal the Aboriginal people and the settlers who were taking over the traditional hunting Nevertheless, he persevered in his efforts grounds and living areas. By historian W . D. Neil. to improve the conditions under which they When Governor Macquarie assumed lived. control of the colony of New South Wales in Macquarie made detailed preparations. What Macquarie called the Annual Con- 1810 he expresed deep concern over the Among other things he an'anged for stocks gi ess of the Adult Natives became known as way in which the Aboriginals and their cul of food, mainly beef and ale, to be available. the Native Feast and was held in the Market ture had been suppressed and took action to Place at Parramatta until the 1830s. help hem. Having no good reason to trust the white Supplies ordered for the Feast in 1826 indi Living in Parramatta at the time was an men, many of the Aboriginals were fearful of attending the meeting. cate its extent. other humane man, William Shelley, who In that year the Superintendent of Rooty was also disturbed about the neglect of the At first, only a small luimber assembled Hill Stock Farm was instructed to supply a Aboriginals. to hear Macquarie but, as he movd among “good, young fat steer” feast. them, engaging them in conversation, more Shelley was one of the missionaries who joined their fellows, sitting in a friendly he following goods were also supplied; had fled from Tahiti in 1798 and who even circle enjoying beef and ale. twenty lb each of plums, sugar and suet, tually settled in Parramatta. gallons of rum, two cwt of potatoes, 300 This meeting was to become an annual lie devised a scheme to help the Aborigin iloaves of bread and 30 lb of flour. als. His proposals represeiited a twofold event. attack on the problem and won Macquarie’s Several of the Aborigines were persuaded Fringe dwellers approyal. to participate in the plan to help them Adult natives who wishes to become become farmers and duly received their The “Sydney Monitor” of January 7,1826 settlers were each to be given ten acres (4 i^rants of ten-acre blocks of land. reported that the Governor of the day was ha) of land with a hut and farming present and that he gave “a hat to each The area set aside for these small farms implements. cMef and a handkerchief to his chieftaines”. became known as Black Town, a name Called meeting which has persevered to this day. ^ [ I'hese well-meant measures were of little ' avail. Despite the”efforts of Macquarie, of They were also to be given instruction in They were not receptive to the idea ol those who preceded him and of his succes farming methods and supplied from the giving up their children to Itie school. sors the problem has not yet been resolved. Government Stores until they could fend for themselves. On the day of opening, January 18, 1815, In most of the closely settled areas, in The other main provision was that their only three cWldren were available for enrol cluding the Hills District, Aborigines as children should be taught in a special school ment. It took more than two y(Mirs for the members of a race with their own well- in Parramatta. number to increse to sixteen - five boys and defined culture have disappeared. eleven girls. Pupils were to be between the ages of four In other parts of the State they have and seven and were to remain at the Native Unfortunately, the author of t lie scheme, become fringe dwellers, living in Institution, as it was called, until they William SheUey, died in July, 1815, when the underprivileged conditions on the outskirts reached the ages of sixteen for boys and Native Instituiion had barely b(!gun. of country towns. fourteen for girls. With a desire to increase local knowledge His position was taken over by his wife of the former Aboriginal inhabitants of the It was intended that ttiis plan should lead Elizabeth, a daughter of Hills District Hills District, the writer would like to hear to peace between the two races and also pioneer, James Bean. Mrs Bean and her from anyone who has information or stories help the Aborigijies adjust to life within “a daughters continued to conduct the Native passed down through families. civilised community”. Institution in a manner which won general Knowledge of the location of rock caiA<- Macquarie purchased a house in Parra approval. ings and cave paintings would also be matta for the school and enclosed the large After Mrs Shelley’s retirement in 1823 the appreciated. grounds which surrounded it. school was transferred, first to Blacktown Such information would be recorded in and later to Liverpool where it lingered on He appointed William SheUey as the first the Archives of the Hills District Historical for several years. Superintendent and Principal Inspector. Society under conditions imposed by the Despite these sincere overtures of informants. To ensure that the Aboriginals were friendship by Governor Macquarie the feud The Society would also be grateful for aware of the details of the plan and to between the two races continued. gifts of Aboriginal relics with information secure their co-operation Macquarie as to where, when and by whom they were invited the tribes to meet him in the Market In 1816, M acquarie reluctantly felt found. Place at Parramatta on December 28,1814, compelled to send a punitive expedition (The writer may be contacted by to discuss the proposals. against some of the Aborigines. telephone at 634 1892.) FQrrr\ Qo.rAe.'q 264 CUSTOMS 0 "nr: N. T -S. stupidly intoxicated. One v ,nan 1 ad nn ii- int n< licr back, swung in a bag of kargi.rc.o-s’/ii*. T'ley v’cre ail of low stature, with mea rc. ihiv!)s ; thi'^ir Ir ‘ blade, bsil not curly ; in their coniplr v,i‘. > vs dark di.^os Guine:! K.i- groes, and their ])crsons loatl 'inen'^ h lilJi. Drtl r;o iiuui care for their souKs? “ !/an, tVijy soal;3 it r.ay he srpor- ciliously asked. Wo iiswer, i. \. .is oitoi us(‘d wiih im pious levity, ‘’■The I j. rl l-fiotns ihr haor/' Se[)t. 1(). W e went -o ” -’.rrai ;t(: . IMj-. via' 'en );aving invited several of the prii -fii.'Ons of uu; colonv (o meet Uh, at iiis house, lo d' lnr;,. T here woio prnsonl th(‘ governor, sir Thom as I ris!)ane, udgo Forbes, .Mr. Harness, the sheritr, Mr. Steplien, the solicitor-general, Air. P \ '=^\S \^Vj^ Historical Feature: Aborigines of the Hills District I am often asked about the early Aborigines who lived in the Hills District but I must admit the information is very scanty. The Hills District His drawings. torical Society in its in "The second tribe was teresting little publica the Dharug and their tri tion “Historical Tour of bal land extended from The Hills District” states Little Cattai Creek north that: “two major tribes across the Hawkesbury had the whole or part of (or Deerubbin as it was I their tribal lands within known to them). They ‘ the Hills District. There were mainly fishermen. is evidence to support Their art remains in the statement that about many areas andn often six sub-groups of these takes the form of large tribes roamed the dis carvings.” trict. Unfortunately it is not possible to publish de "The larger tribe was tails of the location of the Gimdunggura whose samples of the art work tribal lands extended remaining because of the across the Cumberland fear of vandalism. Plains to just north of Mr. Bruce McKemde Little Cattai Creek. These (Castle Hill. 634-3811) people left behind many would be the person to examples of their fine contact should any cave paintings. Many reader wish to obtain caves in the district still more details on this very retain fine examples of interesting subject. their brilliant red ochre S. J. McCoullough. A Northmead family believe it has an Abori ginal pigment mine in its Holes dug iI backrgarden. I Mr. and Mrs. Ron t Shipp, of Caprera Road. I believe a dozen holes by colour ♦ dug into' a sandstone J floater on their property j may have been the woric J of Aborigina'i artists. The holes, mostly round in shape, vary in suspected the holes had Mr. and Mrs. .Shipp’s depth from two inches to been dug by Aboriginals theory could be correct. 2 feet. when she saw a television Mr. Moore confirmed The rock exposed by the programme. Aboriginals obtained ochre digging is orange in colour. The programme showed from sandstone in the A,series of linc); a group of similar holes Sydney and Hawkesbury scratched into the surface dug into rock in the Austra district. » alongside the holes form an lian outback. They used tlte-cnlouring J indflerminate pattern. Anthropologists h&d con mainly for make-up foH*or- I Mrs. Shipp said this wevlv firmed the pigment theorv roborees. and for ,ca> ' * she believed Aboriginals in the programme. paintings and decoration-s ; had scraped the holes to of .shields and spears. The Advertiser yesterday obtain colours for their Mr. Moore said the ochre > bark and rock paintings. sent a photograph of the used by Aboriginals was The family had dis Northmead ■•pigment iron oxide, bfteii found in covered them soon after mijie" to Curator of Anth sandstone, and it was usual they moved to the property ropology at the Australian ly coloured a dull red. seven,; years ago. Museum. Mr. D. R. Moore, He promised to look into ' Mrs. Shipp has since for an opinion. the Northmead find more planted miniature .gaWens Mr. Moore said it was closely. in some holes and their pet impossible to nuake a defi PICTURE shows Lvnelle cat used one or tw-o as nite comment on the holes Shipp, 11. with the series of water' bowls. without seeing them. holes thought to have been Mrs; Shipp said she first However, he believed formed by Abi>riginals. PARRAMATTA CITY COUNCIL LIBRARY SERVICES DIVISION LOCAL HISTORY SERVICE - Vertical File Collection SUBJECT: “ The place was just covered with water and ( \ ( L o t Z ) people only lived where SOURCE: ParrairallaAdvertlser-CITYNORTH PAGE NO; there was a bit of high ground,” Colin said. The Aboriginal popu DATE: 13 IIP lation declined greatly after Europeans landed in the western region. Colin said hangings and shootings were common because the settlers re sented the natives. Also, waves of smallpox swept through the community, killing both Europeans and Aborigines. “ Within the first five years of European occu pation the Darug people lost between 60 to 80 per cent of the population,” Confusion Colin said. turns Burra into Parra FACES of PARRAMATTA Sf by CHRIS NEWIAN A MISUNDERSTAND ING of the local Aboriginal dialect by European settlers meant Parramatta was given the wrong name. After endless debate and varied interpretations by different tribes as to what the Aboriginal term Parra matta really meant it turns out one important detail has been left out of the dis cussion. The name is actually Burramaltagal. . . Colin Gale is a descendant of Parramatta's original people PHOTO Darren Edwards Burramatta but its meaning — a place where the eels Parramatta was adopted as which, Colin said, aimed to months. It was a different sent to Australia for com meet — remains the same. the city’s name. “ Europeanise” Aboriginal way to try and get the mitting a minor crime. children. Aborigines on side.” According to Colin Gale, The natives called them Colin said Aborigines have been in Parramatta for a descendant of the Darug selves Burramattagals. The school taught chil Years later the same only 8000 years. tribe which inhabited the Colin’s association with dren basic life skills such as woman was the first area, a group of colonists the area dates back to when reading and writing but the Aborigine to be married in The city was underwater and it was not until the stopped some natives to ask settlers first rowed up the idea turned out to be a an Australian church. ocean subsided humans de them the name of the newly Parramatta River in 1790. disaster. The ceremony took place cided to move into the area. settled area. “ A lot of kids actually A distant grandmother on January 26, 1824, in St But only a stone’s throw died here,” Colin said. The difficulties in under was the first child to be Johns Cathedral at Parra across the river, there is standing each other in the enrolled in the Parramatta “ Parents were only al matta. Her husband was a evidence of human occu ensuing conversation meant Native Institution in 1815 lowed to visit once every 12 British convict who was pation dating back 45,000 1years. still to be seen throughout Australia. There are Bills troughs in the UK, A CONFLICT OF INTEREST. mid-west USA, France, Italy, Syria, India, Japan and many other lands. ABORIGINAL PRESENCE IN THE PARRAMATTA DISTRICT, 1788- 1810. SOURCES: Mitchell Library NEIL SM ITH Phillip Geeves Aboriginals of the Sydney Region, according to radio-carbon dating Bill Baverstock of middens, appear to have occupied the area about 20,000 years ago. T\vo Tom O’Mara tribes apparently existed, the Dharug and the Eora; the latter, being the Mr. McGaskill, RSPCA smaller may have been part of the Dharug. It is not quite clear as to the Sydney Morning Herald tribal structure because of the depletion of the tribes during the early days North Sydney Council of the colony before a study could be made of their social structure . The Local Government Bulletins Dharug was broken into small clans of 20-60 people and there were some W.L. Crock 40-50 clans. Each clan had its own name, derived from the area which it occupied ^ Geraldine Palmer is a member of the Society. She and Margaret McWUliam, a The Parramatta area was inhabited by two clans - the Wangal, and the member oftbeMosman Historical Society, Barramatagal. The territory of the Wangal was along the southern shore prepared for PDHS the ‘Plaques and of the Parramatta River from Port Jackson to Rose Hill whilst the Memorials’ project. This project, with Barramatagal, although not exactly defined, appeared to be in the vicinity measured drawings o f the Parramatta Bills of Parramatta itself. ‘Barra’ meant ‘eel’ or ‘local food’, ‘matta’ meant Horse trough, sketches, shdes and photos, ‘creek’ or ‘river’,‘gal’ referred to the males of the clan. Similiar name is held in the Society Library. structures were the Toogagal and the Bidijigal*^. The Dharug had a dreamtime as did other tribes of Australia which they called Gunyunglung. In the dreaming, all animals were men or had human attributes. These were called Burringilling, living in the clouds, in mountains, throughout the dense scrub or down the waterholes. Some could change the shape of their bodies, disappear under the ground, make watercourses, mountains or make springs appear. Bennelong was a Wangal and was recorded as saying that at birth, people came from the clouds and on death, returned to the clouds. When they ascended to the clouds, the dead changed to the shape of little children. Firstly they would hover over the treetops, eating their favourite foods.^ T)reaming’ meant to an aboriginal the place from where the persons O I 1 ^3 *2 r e = , spirit came from and to which it must return. Dreaming was continuous £ ■' . c- and present, a cycle of life without beginning or end, a parallel and all inclusive reality. It was something mystic - a feeling o f harmony with the universe in turn with the rhythm of the land. Dreaming bound aboriginal people to the land that ovraed them^. t With the coming of the Europeans in the late eighteenth century, a conflict was inevitable between the two cultures. Under English law of ______'"Tgg - T-Srto Jo.Jr yf -VC-*. £ D, 46 Journal of the Parramatta and District Historical Society Journal of the Parramatta and District Historical Sodefy 47 that time, land that was not occupied by habitation and cultivation was on an exploration trip out of Rose Hill met two natives who said that they ‘Terra Nullas’, and could be occupied by settlement without a treaty®. were inhabitants of that area. They expressed great dissatisfaction at the Although the British were still dealing in the slave trade in 1787, Phillip number of white men who had settled in their territory. The next day, the stated at that time that the moment His Majesty’s forces took possession detachment at Rose Hill was reinforced^. In addition to this action, arms of the country, that there could be no slavery in a free land®. and ammunition were entrusted to convicts on the outer farms for protection but were later recalled because of misuse^*^. The first presence of aboriginals in the Parramatta district was recorded on Governor Arthur Phillip’s initial journey to the district in In March 1791, William Bryant escaped from the colony. He was a April 1788. Although no aboriginals were sighted by the party, there was convict employed as head fisherman and this made further fishing evidence of their presence from camp-sites and remains of fires^. On 3 difficult. By June, a trade had been established whereby the natives were November 1788, Phillip opened a small farming settlement at taking fish which they had caught to Rose Hill and bartering them for Parramatta, which he named Rose Hill. A small redoubt or fort was bread, beef and rice. Phillip had hoped that it would become an constructed underneath Rose Hill manned by a small detachment of established fish market^. However, this failed unfortunately because of marines under the command of Captain Campbell. The purpose of the an incident over a convict destroying a native canoe^ redoubt was to protect the settlement from the unabated animosity which had grown between the colonists and the natives at Sydney Cove^. In February 1790 Phillip mentioned in his despatches that the natives Although Phillip had seen evidence of aboriginals, he had not met any called Rose Hill, Parramatta. As part of the King’s Birthday celebrations ‘face to face’, on his April journey through the area and he was uncertain on 4 June 1791, Phillip changed the name of the settlement from Rose Hill of the reception that his settlers would receives. to Parramatta. From the Eora language the name was ‘parra’ meaning ‘empty’ and‘matta’ meaning‘river’ ; Mrs. Macarthur, in a letter to an Within a year, smallpox had taken the majority of the natives^ En^ish friend stated that the word meant ‘head of the river’ and in the Captain John Hunter wrote By the winter of 1789, hundreds of natives 1860’s a story was spread that the meaning was ‘where the eels lie down’ . died of smallpox as a distemper natural to this country^. Tench vvrote: By the time of the name change, Phillip had granted 30 acres to James ...the natives on inspection died of a natural death of pustules Ruse, 140 acres to Phillip Schaffer and to Robert Webb and William Reed, similiar to smallpox. It is indigenous to the country - ships under 60 acres each. Settlement had spread around the town which had now Monsieur de la Perouse departed for one year, no word of being become more regular^ ^ By September, convicts had cleared land for 1 1/2 on a French ship. It possibly travelled across country from miles around Parramatta. In December 1791, some natives were crossing Dampier, voyages of Cook or other European voyages^. the Prospect Hill farms when a settler fired on them thinking that they By 1791, almost 90% of the aboriginals around Sydney had succumbed would cause trouble. They retahated by setting fire to his hut. Phillip to the disease and of the remainder, many were infected by venereal despatched a guard comprising a corporal and two marines to prevent diseases^. further trouble but their presence caused further incidents**^. Fearing more unrest, Phillip strengthened the guard at Parramatta in March 1792. The first known incident of conflict at Rosehill was in February 1790. By late 1792, some 3500 acres had been cleared for settlement and farming, A convict was wounded by a native spear, beaten and robbed of his further driving the local aborigines from their traditional lands . clothing. This occurred because of a quarrel between the convict and some natives and his life was saved by the intervention of a native woman on When Phillip departed. Major Grose became Acting Governor. He behalf of the convict^. received orders from England to grant 100 acres to officers of the Corps and relative parcels of land to NCO’s. By 1794 he had allocated 10,674 By August 1790, Rose Hill had become a settled town. Government acres, much of which was located around Parramatta and Prospect . House had been built and George Street was almost lined with huts^. In Little resistance had been encountered by the natives during 1792-3, only November, two soldiers of the New South Wales Corps strayed and one incident having been recorded where a convict was robbed between became lost for four days in the surrounding bush but the natives caused Parramatta and Prospect^. There was a change of mood in 1794. In themnoharm^. In September of the year, Lieut. Dawes and the Chaplain February, natives twice robbed the wives of settlers as they travelled from 48 Journal of the Parramatta and District Historical Society Journal of the Parramatta and District Historical Sodety 49 their farms to the town. Farms were robbed of com and it is assumed that being destroyed and the Corps was much in need of small arms and the gradual loss of land for settlement resulted in a corresponding loss of equipment to form patrols to pursue the marauding natives*®. In the same the natives natural food supply sources. In aboriginal society there was month, William Garland, a convict, was speared at Parramatta. Peace no concept of personal ownership of food supplies which added to the reigned until February 1798, when with the ripening of the wheat and causes of rising conflict^. maize in the district, the natives returned to raid the crops. Several settlers were killed at Parramatta and nearby Toongabbie*^. In reprisal, Hunter A native named Pemulway was a leader of the Bidijgal clan whose ordered out numerous well-armed parties with orders to attack native territory was near Parramatta. He first came to notice when he speared groups, fearing that they would rob and fire crops unless deterred*^. a gamekeeper called McIntyre. When Phillip left the Colony he stated that Pemulway had killed or wounded up to seventeen people*^. Pemulway These tactics were successful for the crops of 1798 were reported to be was accused of hostile activity in the Hawkesbury ^strict in May 1795. fully accounted for at Parramatta but there was trouble at the Northern Colonel Paterson, who had become Acting Governor, directed a party of Boundaries when in June 1798, a large group of natives attacked and the New South Wales Corps from Parramatta to the Hawkesbury. His burned several houses*®. The following two years seemed to be trouble orders were to destroy as many Bidijgals as possible. He ordered that free. There were no reports of reprisals in the General Orders and full 10 gibbets be erected in different places and that their bodies were to be hung harvests were recorded at Parramatta from them. Paterson hoped that this would strike terror in them and act The armed patrols may have been discontinued because of the lack of as a deterrent. Several natives were killed but the bodies were removed by native resistance but in May 1801 trouble broke out again with the murder the Bidijgals. This seems to have been Paterson’s only attempt to control of Daniel Conray and the wounding of a man named Smith. Crops were the natives^. being burned again and Governor Hunter sent guards to the farms with By February 1796, trouble between the natives and the settlers had orders to fire on marauding natives*®. Governor King offered a reward escalated for on 22 February, Governor Hunter ordered that settlers for the capture of Pemulway, claiming that he was the cause of the current residing in different districts were to assist each other if trouble broke out trouble. 1\vo escaped convicts, William Knight and Thomas Thrush had with the natives. The main area of coriflict seemed to be at the joined the native outlaws. The Governor was sure that the convicts were Hawkesbury district*'*. There was no recorded trouble in Parramatta acquainting Pemulway of the methods of the settlers and the military and during 1796 although in January a wheat stack of 800 bushels and some offered a reward for them also in the form of a free pardon for a convict 10 wheat fields were set alight at Toongabbie, possibly by Pemulway. Natives or the assignement of a convict for twelve months for a settler had used fire as a traditional method to ‘harvest’ their hunting grounds After the harvest, the natives moved away from the district until for centuries, now they were employing the method to clear away the November 1801 when the late crops were being harvested. Pemulway had settlers'*. a strong feeling of revenge for the loss of his peoples life style. He took the A settled area about one mile north of Parramatta, known as the lives of four settlers in October, f ired crops and cruelly beat several convict ‘Northern Boundaries’ had been repeatedly plundered of provisions in women.*®. The Reverend Samuel Marsden may have by now been losing March 1796 by natives who had also killed a man and a woman. The a large quantity of crops for in November 1801, he raised a contingent of settlers armed themselves and on the next night on which they were soldiers and convicts to apprehend by force all natives living near attacked, pursued the natives all night. They came across about 100 Parramatta. Planned as a night time exercise, it failed with Marsden 16 natives in the morning who fled on seeing their pursuers. The settlers saying ‘that there would never be any good done by the natives’ returned to Parramatta and about an hour afterwards, Pemulway entered The garrison at Parramatta and Toongabbie had a total o f a Captain, the town with a large body of aborigines. A skirmish resulted in which a Lieutenant,three sergeants and 74 privates in 1799. By December 1801 Pemulway was severely wounded in the head and five of his group were the detachment was increased by 8 privates*^. With this military strength, killed. The rebel was captured and chained but managed to escap^. Pemulway led his group away from the area. In October 1802, King was Hunter wrote the Duke of Portland in June 1797 concerning the again reporting on the troubles with the natives and their leader. Again trouble the Colony was having with the natives. Crops and buildings were he posted orders to allow settlers to fire on natives to keep them away 50 Jotjmal of the Parramatta and District Historical Socfety Journal of the Parramatta and District Historical Soctety 51 from their farms. King even suggested to the natives that if they The years 1803-4 were trouble free with the natives. By August 1804, surrendered Pemulway for justice, he would ensure friendship between the Parramatta had a population of 1,709. So much land had now been colonists and the natives**^ cleared that it was impossible for the local aboriginals to support themselves in their old life style. Trouble again flared up in 1805 between Early in November of 1802, when settlers were preparing for raids on natives and settlers in the South Creek and Hawkesbury areas. It is their crops, two of them came across Pemulway and shot him and another thought that Tferbury, Pemulway’s son was the instigator. Although he native. Pemulway was decapitated and his head offered to the Governor used small raiding party tactics probably learned from his father, he did who declined the gift . However, the head was preserved in spirits and not develop the ‘resistance fighting’ strategies used by Pemulway . sent to England on board the ‘Speedy’. The fate of it has not been recorded What was left of the Western Sydney Dharugs gathered together in Parramatta in May 1805 and so u ^ t protection from the magistrates, After Pemulway’s death, troubles with the natives ceased around the probably because of Terbury’s activities and the resultant growing Parramatta district and King posted an order proclaiming that natives hostilities ofthe settlers and the inevitable lack of food. In July 1805,three were not to be molested or ill-treated*®. George Barrington, Chief settlers were killed by natives. The ‘protected’ group turned in the culprits Constable at Parramatta wrote that Pemulway and his group were clearly to be gaoled. The group was settled on land between Prospect and the at war with the British. His 12 year campaign was beyond the acts of an Georges River*®. outlaw. They were, he claimed, acts of war carried out by a people who were determined not to surrender their land or sovereignty to an invader*®. Shortly after this incident, Judge Advocate Atkins wrote the Governor on various legal matters; one section concerned the law and aboriginals. There were only a few natives living in Parramatta during the troubles. He felt that aboriginals were incapable of giving evidence in court as In 1796 there was a population of 1020 and one known native. By 1799 accused criminals. He suggested that a fair verdict was one made the number had grown to 1364 and two natives. By 1800, there were 1444 according to moral and religious ties. Currently, he claimed, the mode of residents and no natives^. law was to inflict such punishment as may be merited*®. Atkins’s The Reverend Samuel Marsden took a four year old aboriginal boy, suggestions were eventually incorporated in colonial law whom he called Tristan, into his house in 1794. After a time, Tristan was In 1809 Tferbury was very active with attacks along the Parramatta regarded as an example of how well an aboriginal could be assimilated Road, robbing settlers retxxming to their farms with their stores. His raids into white society. On 2 December 1804, Marsden baptised him making were as far as the Georges River; spears were thrown on the raids but there this the first probable baptism of an aboriginal in Australia**^. Tristan were no deaths. In October, three settlers were pursued for a considerable accompanied Marsden on his journey to England in 1807 but after being distance along the Parramatta road. The settlers escaped harm but on the disciplined in Rio de Janeiro, he absconded only to be bought back to same day, Edward Powell had a flock of 43 sheep stolen. The Sydney Australia later in a diseased and miserable state . Gazette reported the raid which seems to have been Tferburys largest His Another Parramatta aboriginal, Moowaltin, also known as Dan, lived raiding parties only consisted o f three to four followers and it seems that with George Caley the botanist from 1807 until Caley returned to England he could not command the following of his father^. in 1810. He was possibly the first Parramatta native to travel to England. On 24 June 1810, F. Luttrill jnr. was committed to gaol for the death He remained only a short tune and on returning left Parramatta and went of Tferbury but vras released on bail. Luttrill apparently killed Tferbury back to the bush. Caley stated that he could single out several aboriginals because of a raid and he was committed because there was no Government whose mental faculties were better than many of the lower order of Order on Tferbury. Luttrill, whilst still on bail, left the Colony, returning England. Caley was on good terms with the aboriginals, a situation made to England^. The Government hoped that settlers would not take easier after the death of Pemulway. He used many aboriginal words in revenge on other natives thus provoking the peaceful for a few the naming of new plant and bird species, many of which are still currently 20 miscreants used. These words were probably learned from natives in the Parramatta region The death of Tferbury seemed to have brought aboriginal resistance 52 Jcxjmal of the Parramatta and District Historical Society Journal of ttie PanBniatta and District Historical Society 53 around the Parramatta district to an end. There seems to be no evidence 1966. of the fate of the remaining clans and certainly no written story by the 17. Historical Records of Australia. aboriginals of the time. Probably sympathetic settlers allowed natives to 18. WILMONT, Eric. Pemulwav. 1987. live on their land whilst others became integrated into the community or 19. YARWOOD. Alexander T. Marsden of Parramatta 1986. became fringe dwellers. Some may have moved out into otber tribal territories. 20. The Svdnev Gazette. 21. CROWLEY. Frank. Colonial Australia. Vol 1. 1980. Maintaining peace between settlers and aboriginals was made difficult 22. WHITE, John. Journal. 1792. because of the low esteem held towards natives. Even Phillip, with his enlightened outlook and relatively trouble free contact compared to later Governors*^, left the Colony beieving that the aboriginal natives were Neil Smitb is a member o f the Society. He incapable of being civilised^ . The commissions of the early Governors wishes to ackno wledge the assistance given always included instructions to maintain friendly relationships with the to him by Lyndall Wright and Megan natives. As the clearing and settlement of land for agriculture was a prime La vander in researching this article. priority, a conflict of interests was inevitable. SOURCES AND REFERENCES. 1. TURBET, Peter. The Aboriginals of the Svdnev District before 1788. 1989. 2. BLAINEY, Geoffery. The Triumph of the Nomads. 1975. 3. TENCH, Watkins. A Complete Account of the Settlement of Port JacksQP ip New South Wales. 1793. 4. KOHEN. J.L. Aboripines in the West- Prehistory to Present. 1985. 5. COLLINS, David. An Account of the English Colony in Nfi.VY^Q.utli Wales. 1802. 6. KOHEN, J.L. and JERRQW. J. PARRAMATTA ADVERTISER. 1988. 7. PARBURY, Nigel. Survival History of Aboriginal Life in MSW. 1988. 8. PHILLIP, Arthur. JOURNAL. 1787. 9. HUNTER. John. An Historical Journal 1787-93. 1793. 10. Historical Records of NSW. 11. JERVIS, James. Cradle Citv of Australia: Parramatta. 1961. 12. BARNARD. Mariorie. A History of Australia. 1962. 13. BARNARD. Mariorie. Six Australian Battlefields. 1962. 14. WOOLMINGTON, Jean. Aboriginals in Colonial Society 15. COBLEY,John. Svdnev Cove: 1795-1800. 1986. 16. CALEY, George. Reflections on the Colony of NSW. 54 Journal of the Parramatta and District Historical Society Journal of the Parramatta arid DIstrtet Historical Society 55 Aborigjjftal People and Place Page 1 of 6 Afcorigiral People arj Place an«I print version First Contact . If you would like more information about any of the organisations _ mentioned below, search Barani or have a look at Organisations in ^icterntr.ent PoljfjjV"* S e a r fll Itragini^g f f t People « a 3 S i » Cr5a|)isatic.ns in The traditional owners of the Sydney City region are the Cadigal band. Their land south of Port Significant B-ent^ in Jackson stretches from South Head to Petersham. The "Eora people" was the name given to the coastal Aborigines around Sydney. The word Eora simply means "here" or "from this place". Local StgnifiAnf people in Syjne^ Aboriginal people used the word to describe to the British where they came from and so the word was then used to define the Aboriginal people themselves. The name Eora is proudly used today by Intolvewent with t^\e, the descendants of those very same people. Central Sydney is therefore often referred to as "Eora Country". Western Science anif'Pe^ Arts anj Ctifture A^t>ri5irai Ar«*3 Labour in tW m y With the invasion of the Sydney region, the Cadigal people were decimated but there are descendants of the Eora people still living in Sydney today. Suburbs close to the city such as Glebe are also the home of the Cadigal and Wangal Wangal ancestors and the surrounding bushland contains remnants of traditional plant, bird and animal life with fish and rock oysters available from Blackwattle Bay. Oistributfoh of finjiiisttc tribes tr Sydney area in 1 7 6 6 Click on this interactive map to view the location of the tribes in the Sydney area. Map: Locations of Aboriginal groups in the Sydney Area. Based upon a map by J. Goodrum in Australians to 1788. p. 345. (Fairfax, Syme and Weldon Associates, Sydney. 1987) Clans or bands (called "tribes" by the Europeans) within Sydney belonged to several major language groups, often with coastal and inland dialects, including Dharug, Dharawal/Tharawal, Gundungurra and Kurringgai. Aboriginal group names in the Sydney area Band Language Location Band I Language Location Group Group Cadigal Dharug Sydney Kurrajong Dharug Kurrajong http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/barani/themes/theme 1 .htm 2 8/09/2010 Aboi^nal People and Place Page 2 of 6 / ^ i(Eora) 1 Wangal Dharug I 1 Concord Boo-bain-ora Dharug Wentworthville l(Eora) 1 ------Burramattagal Dharug Parramatta Mulgoa Dharug Penrith (Eora) Wallumattagal Dharug Ryde Terramerragal Kurringgai IiTurramurra (Eora) Muru-ora-dial Dharug Maroubra Cammeraigal Kurringgai Cammeray (Eora) Click here to listen Kameygal Dharug Botany Bay Carigal Kurringgai West Head to a tribute to the (Eora) Cammeraigal clan. The song "The Birrabirragal Dharug Sydney Cannalgal Kurringgai Manly (coast) waterways of (Eora) Harbour Cammeraigal" was Borogegal- Dharug I1 Bradleys Gorualgal Kurringgai Fig Tree Point written by Chris Yuruey Head Robinson and sung by Pamela Bediagal Dharug North of Kayimai Kurringgai Manly Young. The George's (harbour) Sydney suburb of River Cammeray BIdjigal Dharug Castle Hill Gweagal Dharawal Kurnell commemorates these people. Toogagal Dharug Toongabbie Norongerragal Dharawai South of George's River Cabrogal Dharug Cabramatta lllawarra Dharawal Wollongong Boorooberongal Dharug Richmond Threawal Dharawal Bong Bong Cannemegal Dharug Prospect Tagary Dharawal Royal National Park? Gomerigal- Dharug South Wandeandegal Dharawal tongara Creek? Muringong Dharug Camden Ory-ang-ora Dharawal Cattai Dharug Windsor Goorungurragal Dharawal Source; J L Kohen and Ronald Lampert 'Hunters and Fishers in the Sydney Region' ,in D J Mulvaney and J Peter White: Australians to 1788. Sydney, Fairfax, Syme & Weldon, 1987, p.351 There is some disagreement as to the degree of cultural separateness of the people who traditionally lived in the adjoining lands which comprise Greater Sydney, encompassing most of the westem suburbs and stretching up to the Blue Mountains. The claim that the language groups listed above were of one tribe is based on an understanding that they spoke the same language, but in two distinct dialects. However, there is much evidence to suggest that the major language groups of greater Sydney were different groups using different languages and different initiation rites. There is evidence of Aboriginal people migrating in a north-south direction but none from east to west. The appearance of men from the inland group was different from that of coastal men who were missing their right incisor tooth, removed during their initiation. Similarly, when Bennelong of the Wangal people went into Parramatta in 1789, he did not understood the language spoken there so that’s another practical example of tribes being distinct entities.The twenty-nine or so clan groups of the wider Sydney region were associated with specific areas of land by family boundaries, and distinguished by body decorations, hairstyles, songs and dances, tools and weapons. Sydney has always been a city with a high proportion of immigrants. Aboriginal people moved into Sydney from all parts of NSW and Australia in the 20th and 21st to become part of the City’s people. Governor Phillip estimated there were about 1500 Aboriginal people within a 10 mile radius of Port Jackson in 1788. But there is much scepticism about population figures offered by historians and even those in official govemment parties. It must be remembered that there were bounties on the heads of Aboriginal people at one stage, and some whites went as far as digging bodies up to http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/barani/themes/themel.htm 28/09/2010 ION ABORIGINAL CLANS OF THE SYDNEY REGION turns. Derived from ethnographic accounts, 1828 census, blanket returns. INLAND CLANS DARUG Parramatta BURRAMATTAGAL Richmond BOOROOBERONGAL Liverpool - Cabramatta CABROGAL Airds 7 Mulgoa MULGOWI Cowpastures MURINGONG Castlereagh-Emu Plains NEPEAN "TRIBE" (WANDEANDEGAL?) Springwood ORYANG-ORA (AURANG) Kurrajong-North Richmond BELMONT "TRIBE" Cattai Creek - Pitt Town CATTAI Portland Head ? Windsor WINDSOR "TRIBE" Camden COBBITI BARTA Mt Tomah TOMAH "TRIBE" South Creek GOMERIGAL SOUTH CREEK "TRIBE" Eastern Creek WAWARAWARRY (WARRAWARRY) Prospect WARMULI (WEYMALI) Toongabbie TOONGAGAL (TUGAGAL) Castle Hill BIDJIGAL Botany Bay - Salt Pan Creek BEDIAGAL d RA) DARKINTIJNC Mangrove Creek MANGROVE CREEK "TRIBE" Dangar Island MULLET ISLAND "TRIBE" MacDonald River HRST BRANCH "TRIBE" Colo River SECOND BRANCH "TRIBE" l^uttvPutt\ PUTTY "TRIBE" Mellong ILWARRY Wollombi WOLLOMBI GUNDUNGURRA ^^agorang Valley BURRAGORANG COX'S RIVER "TRIBE" Nattai River NATTAI "TRIBE" Kpers Flat WYWANDY Wallerawang THURRABULAT Goulbum BURRA BURRA Bungonia PARAMARGO 21 TABLE 1. ABORIGINAL CLANS OF THE SYDNEY REGION Derived from ethnographic accounts, 1828 census, blanket returns. Derived fr COASTAL CLANS LOCATION NAMF. g A B U fi parram atte KURINGGAI TRIBE Richmond Liverpool - Broken Bay-West Head CARIGAL Airds Brisbane Water NORTHEAST ARM "TRIBE" Mulgoa Tuggerah Beach TUGGERA Cowpastu Wyong WYONG Castlereag Narara NARARA Springwo< Erina ERINA Kurrajong Manly KAYIMAI Cattai Cre Fig Tree Point GORUALGAL Portland I Sydney Harbour BURRABURRAGAL Windsor Turramurra-Lane Cove River TURRAMURRAGAL Camden Cammeray CAMMERAIGAL Mt Tomal Manly - Dee Why CANNALGAL South Cre Eastern C Prospect DARUG (EORA) Toongabl Castle Hi'. Duck River WATEGORA (WATTAGURRA) Botany B. Kissing Point - Ryde WALLUMATTAGAL Botany Bay KAMEYGAL Maroubra MURU-ORA-DIAL (MURUBORA) ^ d n e y CADIGAL PARKIN Concord WANGAL Sow and Pigs (Harbour) BIRRABIRRAGAL Mangro\ Bradley's Head BOROGEGAL.YURUEY Dangar I MacDon Colo Riv DHARAWAL Putty Mellong THAMPA YARRAMAH Wollom: Wollongong FIVE ISLANDS Bulli BULLI Lake Illawarra ILLAWARRA G U N D l Crooked River CROOKED RIVER "TRIBE" Kangaroo Valley KANGAROO GROUND "TRIBE" Burragc' Bong Bong- Thirroul THREAWAL (THURRAWAL?) Hartley Royal National Park TAGARY Nattai I- Wollongong? WODI WODI Pipers 1 Minto-Holsworthy NORONGERRAGAL Wallers NUNNUNGURRUNGAL Goulbu Kurnell GWEAGAL Bungor Berrima - Bundanoon BUNDA 20 AThe At availabl Aborigi and wht did not be avail tree.' FIGURE 1. Distribution of linguistic tribes in the Sydney area in 1788. There were several dialects of each language spoken. The two dialects of the Darug language were the Eora dialect along the coast and the inland dialect, which was spoken by the "woods tribes", the bediagal-tugagal-tugara. A distinct dialect of Dharawal was spoken by the Gweagal clan on the south side of Botany Bay near Kumell, while the Wodi Wodi dialect was spoken further south near Wollongong. The Kuringgai language probably consisted of several dialects, one of which was spoken at Broken Bay. This was recorded as Kari (the language of the Carigal clan). 22 Clan names chart - Australian Museum Page 1 o f 2 Australian Museum narure culture discover Clan names chart A chart of the main clan names for the Aboriginal People of Coastal Sydney section, including historical spellings and a description of country. Clan names chart Clan name Historical spelling/s Name or description of country Bediagal Bediagal, Bidjigals, Probably to the north-west of Parramatta, Bid-ee-gal, Bejigal, between Parramatta and Hawkesbury River, Be-dia-gal possibly around present day Castle Hill. Birrabirragal Birra birragal-leon Possibly associated with Birra Birra, a rocky reef in the lower harbour now known as Sow and Pigs, Borogegal Borogegal, Possibly associated with Borogegy, now know Borogegal-yurrey as Bradleys Head. Boromedegal Boorammedegal, Assumed to be associated with Parramatta area, Boromedegal, on similarity of pronunciation, Parramatta (Tench Boora me di-gal, 1793), Par-ra-mata (King in Hunter 1793). Booramedigai-leon Buruberonga! Burubirangal, To the north-west of Parramatta, about two Bu-ru-be-ron-gal, hours walking distance from the Hawkesbury Buruberongal, River (Phillip in Hunter 1793). Boo-roo-bir-rong-gal, Boo-roo-ber-on-gal, Boorooberongal Darramurragal Darra murra gal, Said to be 'in the district of Wanne', but on Tarra-merragal similarity of name associated with the suburb Turramurra, at the headwaters of the Lane Cove River. Gadigal Cadigal, Cadigai, Cadi was on the south side of Port Jackson, Cad-i-gal, Cadi-gal extending from South Head to Long Cove (Darling Harbour) (King in Hunter 1793). Cadi, the bay of Cadi, is probably 'Kutti' which is the Aboriginal place name for Watsons Bay. Gahbrogal Cah-bro-ga! The Cahbrogal lived inland and ate estuarine teredo worms called cah-bro (Collins 1798). In 1845 Mahroot said the 'Liverpool blacks' were called 'Cobrakalls'(ln: Select Committee on the Condition of the Aborigines Report 1845). Associated with the suburb Cabramatta. Gamaragal Cammerragal, Cam-mer-ray (Collins 1798), Cammerra (Phillip Cam-mer-ray-gal, 1790), Camerra (King in Hunter 1793) was on Cameeragal, the north shore or north side of Port Jackson. Camera-gal, http://australianmuseum.net.au/Clan-Names-Chart 28/09/2010 Clan names chart - Australian Museum Page 2 of 2 Kamarigal Gameygal Kamey-gal Around Kamay, the name for Botany Bay, possibly to the north-west of Gwea (Anon ca 1790-1792). Gannemegal Cannemegal Wau-maille [War-mul] which the Cannemegal was said to inhabit was one of eight place names in the district of Rose Hill which was 10 minutes walk westward from Rose Hill (Anon ca 1790 1792). Garigal Caregal, possibly Caregal initially given as name of 'a man, or a Corrugal tribe, who resided to the northward'. Later, 'Nanbarre said Caregal was the man's name, and he lived at, or near Broken Bay' (Phillip in Hunter 1793). Gayamaygal 'the tribe of Kay-yee-my, the place where the Governor was Kay-yee-my' wounded - Manly Cove (Phillip in Hunter 1793); Kay-ye-my, Manly Bay (Anon ca 1790-1792). Gweagal Gweagal, Gwea-gai Gwea. Gweea was on the southern shore of Botany Bay (Tench 1793). Wallumedegal Wallumedegai, Wallumede. Waiiumede was on the north shore, Walumetta, opposite Warrane (Sydney Cove) (King in Wallume-de-gal Hunter 1793). Wangal Wangal, Wanngal, Wann (Phillip 1790). Wanne (King in Hunter Won-gal 1793) extended along the south side of the harbour from Long Cove (Darling Harbour) to Rose Hill, which the local inhabitants called Parramatta. Dr VaJ Attenbrow, Principal Research Scientist Last Updated: 24 December 2009 Tags Author tags living harbour aboriginal peppJe coaMaj australia clan names Related items • References; Aboriginal People of Coastal Sydney Copyright ©Australian Museum Address 6 College Street Sydney, NSW 2010 Australia Phone (612) 9320 6000 Contact Australian Mjjseum_ contact forms Opening hours 9.30am to 5pm daily (except Christmas day) http://australianmuseum.net.au/Clan-Names-Chart 28/09/2010