Living with the Munpitch: the History of Mitchell River Mission, 1905 - 1967
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Living with the Munpitch: The history of Mitchell River Mission, 1905 - 1967 Thesis submitted by Philip L. FREIER, BAppSc, DipEd, BD, MEdSt in November 1999 For the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the School of Humanities at James Cook University Declaration I declare that this thesis is my own work and has not been submitted in any other form for another degree or diploma at any other university or other institution of tertiary education. Information derived from the published or unpublished work of others has been acknowledged in the text and a list of references given. Philip Freier 30 November 1999 2 Statement of Access I, the undersigned, the author of this thesis, understand that James Cook University will make it available for use within the Library and, by microfilm or other photographic means, allow access to users in other approved libraries. All users consulting this thesis will have to sign the following statement: “In consulting this thesis I agree not to copy or closely paraphrase it in whole or in part without the written consent of the author; and to make proper written acknowledgement for any assistance I have obtained from it.” Beyond this, I do not wish to place any restriction of access on this thesis. Philip Freier 30 November 1999 3 Abstract This thesis examines the interaction between missionaries and Aborigines in a remote North Queensland mission conducted by the Church of England (Anglican) denomination. In particular it explores the relationship of the pre-mission Aboriginal contact history of this area with Aboriginal perspectives of whites. It looks at the ambiguities implicit in missionary policy and how this influenced the development of relationships on the Mitchell River Mission. In Queensland, church missions were used by the state government as a cheap way of carrying out its policies for Aborigines. Even though missionaries acted with apparently complete authority on the Mission there was a complex interplay of politics involving Aborigines, missionaries, higher church officials, the national mission agency of the Church of England, and the state government. The outcome of this was a consistent trend towards pauperisation of Aborigines and their remaining in a situation of entrenched disadvantage. A dialectical analysis of the history of race relations, through discussion of the Munpitch concept of the Kokobera people, provides a theoretical basis to the study. 4 Acknowledgements The research and writing of this thesis has taken place in the midst of life on a remote community, full time pastoral ministry and, in the early days, the responsibility of a young family. There are then many people to thank for the encouragement that is needed to sustain a researcher over the scope of such a project. Without the support and encouragement of the people of Kowanyama this work would not have been possible. Especially, I want to recognise my adoptive fathers amongst the Kokobera, Daniel Barnabas and Samuel Zingle and their families, in whose joys and sorrows I have shared. May Smiler offered great wisdom, acute recollection and wonderfully caring interest in all aspects of my life at Kowanyama. The Reverend Nancy Dick was a colleague who shared many of her insights into this project along with Alma Wason, Ida Martin, Thomas and Fanny Bruce, Tim and Winifred Malachi and the other leaders of the Church of the Ascension, Kowanyama. Bishop Anthony Hall-Matthews was a great encourager in this research and generously permitted me free access to the diocesan registry records on Thursday Island as well as to the archives of the Diocese of Carpentaria which were, at that time, housed at the John Oxley Library, Brisbane. Likewise, Bishop Ken Mason granted me access to the records of the Australian Board of Missions at ABM House in Sydney as well as those ABM records that had been transferred to the Mitchell Library, Sydney. Les Malezer, at the time divisional head of Aboriginal and Islander Affairs in Queensland, generously permitted me to research the Chief Protector, Native Affairs, and Aboriginal and Islander Affairs records held within the department and at the Queensland State Archives. In all these places the librarians and archivists showed exceptional interest and great professionalism in assisting my research. Margery Webb, Wiffie and Lena Currington, Doug Sutherland, Sylvia Card and Beth Pidsley gave me access to their photograph albums and allowed me to reproduce what have proven to be valuable illustrations in the thesis. 5 Barry Alpher, Paul Black and Bruce Sommer kindly allowed me access to unpublished research and along with Viv Sinnamon and John Taylor were important partners in the dialogue that contributed to the shape of this research. At various times Henry Reynolds and Brian Dalton shared in the supervision of my research that in the end was completed under the guidance of Noel Loos and Russell McGregor. Noel Loos has, in addition to his duties as principal supervisor, been a warm friend and generous mentor. Noel and Betty Loos have been gracious hosts on many of my visits to Townsville and offered me the hospitality of their home. Brian Dalton, Kett Kennedy and Diane Menghetti were patient heads of the school of History and Politics prepared to understand my circumstances and give me the opportunity of bringing this research to its fruition. May Carlson and other members of the staff of the school made me especially welcome in my brief period of residence at the university in Townsville in 1988. Julie-Ann McLeod has been of invaluable assistance in the typing and preparation of the manuscript. Les and Nancy Freier, my parents, encouraged me to have an inquiring mind from as early as I can remember. Habits of mind developed early in life are often the most formative, I owe them a debt of great gratitude. My sister, Jane Freier, patiently transcribed some of the faded handwriting of mission diaries into a vastly more legible form. My family has been patient and supportive of the long hours of research and writing that have often meant that their claims on me as a father and husband have had to be renegotiated. My sons, Michael and David, have shown a maturity in this beyond their years. In its own way, the living of their childhood at Kowanyama opened fresh insights into the research and allowed me to share experiences that would otherwise have been impossible. Joy Freier, my wife, has been an ardent encourager throughout the whole period of this research and convinced me, when other priorities crowded in, of the importance of completing this project. This thesis is a small token of my admiration and affection for her. 6 Contents Declaration ii Statement of Access iii Abstract iv Acknowledgements v List of Illustrations ix List of Maps xii List of Tables and Diagrams xii Abbreviations xiii Chapter One: In search of Mitchell River Mission: an opening reflection 1 Chapter Two : The Life That Was 19 Chapter Three: Strange Encounters with the Munpitch 51 Chapter Four: The Search for a Mission 98 Chapter Five: The Promise of Protection, 1905 to 1924 154 Chapter Six: The Practice of Protection, 1924 to 1960: Building a Missionary Pastoral Empire 197 Chapter Seven: Living with the Munpitch: Aborigines and Missionary Control 230 Chapter Eight: “Making good Blackfellows”: living like the Munpitch 277 Chapter Nine: Pathangany made us all: religion and traditional belief 317 Chapter Ten: The Demise of Missionary Control: 1957-1977 358 Chapter Eleven: The Horizons of History 394 Appendix One 406 Appendix Two 407 Bibliography 408 7 List of Illustrations following page “Old Feeding Centre”, 1977 1 Domestic Science Training Centre, 1977 3 Administration Office, 1977 4 Laurie Witham, Wilson Horace and Bob Frank 5 Wet season, 1977 8 Coastal formation, Mitchell River mouth 26 Pre wet season storm clouds, 1987 27 Coastal reach Mitchell River 28 Swamp vegetation 30 Mourning rituals,1915 41 Bark coffin 41 Tombstone opening ( 5 photographs) 42 Percy Moses, 1977 44 Looking westward from coastal springs 59 South Mitchell cannon, Queensland Muesum, 1992 67 Aboriginal men, Trubanaman, 1905 97 Gilbert White, 1900 104 Gilbert White landing at Mapoon, 1905 120 Gribble returning from the 1904 expedition 137 James and Angelina Noble 141 Warrie and Joe Koolatah, 1905 142 Gribble’s carved cross, 1915 146 Missionaries on South Mitchell beach, 1905 150 Trubanaman dispensary, 1905 151 “Urdell the Giant” ( 2 photographs ) , 1905 152 Alphabet studies, 1905 153 Carrying stores, 1905 153 Ernest Gribble 154 Kokobera men, 1905 156 Kokobera camp, 1905 157 Missionary poineers, 1905 158 Splinter, Police Tracker at Warra, 1914 177 Frank Bowman’s grave, 1988 178 Mission square, Trubanaman, 1914 181 Daphne outstation 181 Mission buildings, c. 1920 181 School children 181 Mission Church, 1918 182 Church interior, 1918 182 Trubanaman between 1918 and 1920 184 Kowanyama, 1918 184 Dormitory children, early 1920s 185 Banana plantation c. 1919 185 Aboriginal camp, early 1920s 186 Kowanyama missionaries 186 Gardening at Trubanaman, 1916 187 8 Irrigation of crops, 1911 187 Oven-baked bricks, 1913 188 Remains of a brick floor, 1984 188 Kowanyama Church, 1919 189 School at Belburra, 1922 189 Mitchell River bullocks late 1950s 197 Ronnie Smiler with horses, late 1950s 199 Missionary depiction of aboriginal poverty, 1938 202 Bone fragments at coastal springs, 1988 211 Vera Dick returning from station work, late 1950s 215 Esra Michael and Lindsay Aiden, late 1950s 215 George Lawrence’s drawings, 1952 216 Peter Michael leaving for station work, c. 1950s 216 On the DC-3 aircraft to the station, c. 1950s 216 Bulk store, late 1950s 220 “Urdell the giant”, 1905 230 James Noble 238 South Sea Islander missionaries, 1914 246 Jack and Lena Geibo, 1918 247 Aboriginal “king” 249 Bush visitors to mission, 1934 250 Leah Minyalk and Florence Smith, 1929 255 Mission store, early 1960s 255 Chained Aborigines, 1942 268 Chained Aborigines, 1942 269 Robert and women missionaries, 1953 270 Cumjam, 1894 272 Missionaries in row boat, c.