President s Message from Earl James

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1 Historical Society of the Northern Territory Patron: The Hon Austin Asche AC NEWSLETTER AUGUST 2016 PO Box 40544, Casuarina NT 0811 Mobile: Newsletter Editor: Bev Phelts HSNT Committee President: Earl James; Vice President: Bev Phelts; Secretary: Janie Mason & Heather Sjoberg; Treasurer: Rosemary Chalmers; others - Brian Reid; Alan Powell; Judy Boland; Clayton Frederickson; Matthew James President s Message from Earl James The third week-end in July each year marks the Darwin Show week-end. It is a three-day week-end and the Historical Society NT traditionally takes advantage of this to hold its annual field day. This year we decided to look at the history of an Aboriginal community so we went to Maningrida on the north coast about 500 kms east of Darwin. Aboriginal history is just as important to the Society as is European history. I must congratulate Vice President, Bev Phelts for the effort she put into organising the event. Maningrida is one of the few Top-End communities that were not mission settlements. It was established by the government in 1957 in an early attempt to create self-sufficiency for the locals with fishing and forestry. It was successful for a while. Our journey had its problems, not the least of which was fear of being washed away on the crossing of the East Alligator River (not to mention the fear of crocodiles). As it happened, all went well. Our fear was unjustified. A real problem arose when we arrived at the pre-arranged camping spot. It was an aboriginal-run guest facility on top of a hill which appeared to us to have no camping area even though we were charged $20 per person per night for the privilege of camping. There was nobody on site to discuss our dilemma so we went down the hill and camped on the verge of an old airstrip only to be accosted by a person claiming to own the airstrip. By then we were well established so he had to put up with us. Bev persuaded a lady who had spent 20 years living at Maningrida as a teacher to act as a guide for our expedition of 24 people. Helen Bond-Sharp did a great job introducing us to the arts centre, the museum, the women s centre that produces loads of craft and to all the sites of historic or cultural significance. Thank you Helen. Helen has written a very good book about Maningrida and its history. It is available at 1

2 Yesterday we witnessed the launch of Beth Graham s book about her experiences as a missionary s wife at Milingimbi and Yirrkala and next week we will see the launch of Deb Bisa s book about the Holtze family in early Territory History. Both were published by the Society. The results of the Chief Minister s History Book Awards were announced in June. I had a personal interest in the result as I had entered my memoir The Spinifex is Green in the competition as did a number of other authors whose books were published by the Society. None were successful but that does not matter. Professor Alan Powell has written another book World s End, which is the story of early British military outposts around Australia. It was not published by the Society but I attended the launch of the book as did many other members. The July lecture in our joint series with the National Trust NT featured the Batcho family of the Dangalaba Kulumbiringin tribe of Darwin with a talk by elder Tibby Quall. The night also featured a display of historic photographs that featured members of the family. One of those present was the wife of Ken Dupe, a former life member of our society who has recently died. Ken joined the Society in 1966 just two years after it formed. He was given his life membership for all the hard work he put into being the society s archivist for many years. I took the opportunity to express the sympathy of members to Mrs Dupe that evening. Wendy James, Mrs Dupe, Councillor Judy Boland, President Earl James Sometimes it seems to me that book publishing, lectures and field trips to places of historic interest is about all that the Society does and I wonder how this ties in to the stated objects and purposes of the Society as contained in the constitution. There are ten of them and on reflection, I am pleased to say we make an effort to achieve all of them. So I looked them up. Half of them refer to administrative matters but the rest include: study and research; preservation of historical records and materials; interchange of information; printing books and journals; cooperation with other like bodies. Doubtless we could do more with regard to some of them but I can assure members that those who currently work to achieve today s results have enough to do without increasing their load. What we need are more volunteers. 2

3 FORTHCOMING EVENTS Saturday 13 August Launch of Remember Me Kindly, Botanical Gardens (Eva s Café) at 5pm Deborah Bisa s book is a well researched book on the Holtze family who fled Russia in 1872 and arrived in Port Darwin the following year. Maurice Holtze, and son Nicholas were among the first to trial crops in Darwin, eventually developing the Botanical Gardens. The book covers the lives of this pioneering family including those of their children, Ludmilla, Nicholas & Waldemar Wallaby. The book has also expanded to include stories from some of the Holtzes descendents. The book will be on sale for $35 (cash only) RSVP by 9 August. Phone: debbisa99@bigpond.com Saturday 13 August - RAAF Open Day The RAAF will be holding an open day to mark the conclusion of the Pitch Black exercises. Saturday & Sunday 13 & 14 August Botanical Gardens Fair 10am-4pm Thursday 11 August Vincent Lingiari Memorial Lecture, Charles Darwin University Casuarina Campus Amphitheatre at 6pm Former NSW Australian of the Year and indigenous social justice advocate, Professor Larissa Behrendt will deliver this year s lecture. This year commemorates 50 years since the historic walk-off from Wave Hill Station by aboriginal station workers. It is a free event. For more information Wednesday 17 August The Territory Remembers Through our eyes 5.15pm at NT Archives, Kelsey Crescent, Millner The Territory Remembers Program and the Northern Territory Archives Service invites you to attend the second in a series of panel conversations with Senior Territorians who will share their stories and reflect on the impact of WWII on their own lives, their families, and our community. Guest Speakers: Mr Eric Lee Mrs Jane Christophersen (nee Ah Mat) Mrs Barbara Hostalek (nee Parker) Book your attendance online at Phone historynt.doam@nt.gov.au 3

4 Friday 26 August - National Trust & Historical Society Talk at Burnett House, Burnett Place, Myilly Point 5.30 for a 6pm start. Speaker, Fran Wickes a retired nurse However did I grow up to be Normal? With entertaining stories, Fran will talk about memories on a rather disjointed childhood in England during World War Two. We all think we are normal but how do your measure such a concept? Entry: $2 for members, $5 for non-members. Food and drinks will be available to purchase Telephone enquiries to Julie: BH, AH Members and guests are reminded that food and drink cannot be taken inside Burnett House Wednesday 31 August Launch of A Handful of Sand by Charlie Ward at NT Library, 5.15pm Join writer and historian Charlie Ward for the launch of his new book A Handful of Sand: The Gurindji Struggle, After the Walk-off. The author will be joined by Charlie King (ABC Radio), Rob Wesley Smith (unionist/activist) and Murray McLaughlin (Northern Land Council) for a discussion about the historic Wave Hill Walk-off by the Gurindji from Wave Hill Station in It will be launched in conjunction with NT Library's next exhibition Wave Hill: Before the Walk-of Saturday 17 September - Government House Open Day Parliament House and the Supreme Court will be open in the morning, with Government House following in the afternoon from 2pm to 6pm. 4

5 Wednesday 21 September - Patron s Dinner 6.00pm for a 6.30pm start The dinner will be held at the Atrium Novotel, on the corner of Peel Street and the Esplanade in the Brolga Room. Our speaker will be Jarrod Archibald, Museum and Art Gallery curator. The topic is yet to be decided. The three course dinner will be a drop dinner of - Entrée Soup of the day Mains Grilled barramundi fillet, warm potato, fennel, asparagus, parmesan salad, vanilla cream or Proscuitto wrapped crispy chicken breast, roasted beetroot, kumara mash, red wine jus Dessert Citrus tart, lime mascarpone, strawberry glaze or Caramel cheesecake, mixed berry coulis, vanilla cream Vegetarians and others with special dietary needs can be catered for. Request any dietary needs when you RSVP. Tea and coffee are included. Other drinks can be purchased at the function room bar. Cost is $50 per person. RSVP by Tuesday13 September if you wish to attend. Contact person is our treasurer, Rosemary Chalmers rosechal@iinet.net.au or ring Payment can be made via cheque/money order to the HSNT PO Box Casuarina. Alternatively, you can pay via bank transfer. Bank transfer details: Historical Society of the NT BSB: (Commonwealth Bank Darwin) Account No: Remember to include your SURNAME and DINNER against your deposit. Seeking Information on the Darwin Finnish Club I am looking for some information about the Finnish Club of Darwin that no longer exists. Do any members know information about it, such as when it closed, why, and any contacts for some old members. Contact Ewa Walczuk, Information Officer, Embassy of Finland, 12 Darwin Avenue, Yarralumla ACT 2600 Phone: Embassy: 5

6 6 Historical Society Balance Sheet for June 2016

7 HIGHLIGHTS FROM PAST EVENTS Chief Minister s History Book Award held at Parliament House 26 June The Northern Territory Library received 13 entries for the History Book Awards, which doubled last year s entries. The judging panel included a Northern Territory Library official and three Darwin-based historians and archivists. The Historical Society had three entries: Susan Sayers, The Not So Silent Night : Cyclone Tracy Stories from Doctors, nurses and Health Workers, Darwin, December Sue has provided first hand accounts from nursing and medical staff including herself who were on duty when Cyclone Tracy devastated Darwin. Matthew Stephen Colour Bar: Remembering and Forgetting Northern Territory Football, The book covers the beginnings of football and topics such as race, class and segregation. Matthew discusses the evolution of football and its clubs such as St Marys and Hermannsburg. What makes the book more interesting is the contributions from many well known Territorians. Earl James, The Spinifex is Green:Memoirs of the Bush Surveyor in the Northern Territory of Australia The book provides a wonderful insight into the early days of surveying in remote and sometimes dangerous areas. These were the days before airconditioned 4WD, car refrigerators and satellite phones. Surveyors would have to camp in the bush for weeks and needed to be very resourceful when faced with mechanical problems, wild animals or accidents. Earl tells it like it was - with no fluff that is what makes this book so interesting and very readable. The shortlisted entries for 2016 were: Silent Pearls : Old Japanese Graves in Darwin and the History of Pearling by John Lamb The Pearl Frontier: Indonesian Labor and Indigenous Encounters in Australia's Northern Trading Network by Julia Martinez and Adrian Vickers Different White People: Radical Activism For Aboriginal Rights by Deborah Wilson Gulf Country Songbook: Yanyuwa, Marra, Garrwa and Gudanji Songs by Yanyuwa, Marra, Garrwa and Gudanji Families with Karin Riederer. The winner of the 2016 Chief Minister s Northern Territory History Book Award was The Pearl Frontier: Indonesian Labor and Indigenous Encounters in Australia's Northern Trading Network. Gulf Country Songbook: Yanyuwa, Marra, Garrwa and Gudanji received an Honourable Mention. 7

8 Hugo Leschen, CEO Museum & Art Gallery, with Karin Riederer and the book award winners, Julia Martinez & Adrian Vickers Anna Priore & Katrina Fong Lim Janie Mason & Darlene Lion Sam Wells, Mickey Dewar & John Lamb Wendy Beresford-Maning, Francois Barr & David Bridgeman Alan Mitchell & Craig Bellamy 8

9 Day Trip to Bathurst Island 24 June The Tiwi Remembers: 75 th Anniversary of the Bombing of Darwin Event. What a fabulous event this was that the Tiwi people and Territory Remembers organisers hosted. The organisers planned a special open day with support from the Tiwi Land Council., Tiwi Enterprises and the Catholic Diocese of Darwin to commemorate the significant contribution of indigenous Australians to the war effort during World War 11. The open day included the launch of a bronze statue of Matthias Ulungura who capture the first Japanese prisoner of war on Australian soil, the launch of the World War 11 exhibition a the Patakijiyali Museum, and local cultural performances, art and craft and local entertainment. The day started with about 100 people taking the 2.5 hour ferry ride to Wurrumiyanga. On board, Dr Tom Lewis gave a talk on Matthias Ulungura and pointed to significant World War 11 wrecks that we passed. Sealink generously provided a morning tea on the way over. On arrival, we were welcomed by the locals who blessed us with a smoke dance. The main ceremony commenced at 11am with the master of ceremonies, former minister Mike Reed, and speeches were followed by Dr Tom Lewis and Gary Higgins, Minister for Arts & Museum & Francis Xavier Kurrupuwu, Member for Arafura. The plaque was unveiled by Adam Giles, Chief Minister and Minister for Arts and Museums, Gary Higgins. The rest of the day was spent visiting St Theresa Catholic Church, the museum, supermarket, shopping at the art and design shop, partaking of a much needed coffee and cake at the café and enjoying the delicious BBQ lunch the community put for us. Congratulations to the organisers for such a wonderful day. The welcome smoke dance Don Milford, President of the Darwin RSL & Dr Tom Lewis, military historian 9

10 The unveiling of the plaque. Minister Gary Higgins and Adam Giles, Chief Minster Statue of Matthias Ulungura Chief Minister with descendents of Matthias Ulungura, Matthias & Barry Ulungura Adam Giles, Chief Minister with HSNT members, Bev Phelts & Steve O Halloran 10

11 In the audience was our Patron, Austin Asche, Wendy James and HSNT President, Earl James Inside the Museum, Maude Ellis, Yvonne Forrest & HSNT member, Judy Beard Father McGrath s radio shed where he radioed Darwin to let the authorities know that Japanese planes were on their way Inside the St Therese Catholic church built in1941 decked out in Tiwi style Entrance to the Patakijiyali Museum The old presbytery 11

12 Historical Society s annual field trip Darwin to Oenpelli and Maningrida The lagoon behind the Oenpelli art shop, photograph courtesy Craig Bellamy Oenpelli Art shop Morning tea Eddie Weaver & Janet Leather Jane Farr & Judy Boland Jane & Ted Whiteaker & Penny Baird 12

13 Helen Bond-Sharp, our guide & traditional owner, Lena showing one of the many prints made by the local ladies at the womens cultural centre Lunch at the Maningrida Art Centre. From left: Fiona Scott, Julie Mastin, Ruth Kerr, Penny Baird, Steve O Halloran, Lyn & Brian Reid Eddie Webber at the old Maningrida sawmill Jane Munday & Alison Reedy Alan Mitchell & Janie Mason inside the Djomi Museum Oenpelli Art Centre 13