16 March 1933

BLACKS OF THE SOUTH-EAST

Last of the Guichen Bay tribe

Civilisation has played havoc with the blacks of the South-East, who were thousands strong when the whites came to these shores. Now the dusky owners of the country are practically extinct. They were a fierce but courageous people, and gave a lot of trouble to the settlers before they were taught to leave the white man and his property alone.

At a house now owned and occupied by Mrs. T. Hayes, of Wangolina, South-East, a visitor would probably not appreciate the significance of a small, square window in one of the walls of the dining-room. This house was built by an early settler named Giffard. At the time the aboriginals were still uncivilised and, apart, from their depredations on stock, they were considerably feared by the settlers. Mr. Gilford had the rifle hole left in his wall as a precautionary measure. Although there is no record of the hole having been used for the purpose for which it was designed, it conjures up a picture of what Australian life was a few generations ago, when powerful tribes of uncivilised natives roamed the South East. Many of the older residents of Robe and Kingston can recall the days when corroborees were ordinary occurrences, but gradually the number of participants became less and less until finally corroborees were but memories. The last of the Guichen Bay tribe died out about twenty years ago. The last three survivors were an old couple named Betty and Johnie O'Keefe and an old gin known as Maggie. Old Maggie had but one hand, having lost the other through blood poisoning after being bitten by another black during a corroboree. Betty and Johnie laid claim to being king and queen of the blacks, but the genuineness is doubtful. Certain it is that they were past masters in the art of begging for food and tobacco. Nothing pleased the old gins better than a pipeful of strong, black, plug tobacco; handed a plug of tobacco, their black faces would fairly radiate goodwill.

Finally poor Maggie became very feeble and eventually wandered away alone. Some time later her body was discovered in the scrub a few miles distant. Her body had been mutilated by something feasting off her flesh, but it is possible that this did not occur until after death. When these last pitiful creatures, remnants of a once strong tribe, passed away, '' it occasioned considerable controversy in Robe as to whether their remains should be interred in the local cemetery or relegated to the blacks' burial ground, which was a patch devoid of fence or any other semblance of a cemetery, and by now is probably devoid of bones altogether owing to the activities of enthusiastic medical students with a mania for collecting skeletons. A number of people were bitterly opposed to the aboriginals being buried in the local cemetery. In the interests of Australian propriety it is gratifying to be able to record that in the peaceful little Robe cemetery, close by the picturesque white sandhills beyond which is the booming breakers, the last representatives of the Guichen Bay tribe sleep alongside of their white brethren, whose coming was such a tragic thing for their race.— A.H.B., Kensington Gardens.

Rainberd Murder.

— In the interesting article on Saddleworth, in a recent 'Chronicle,' reference was made to the Rainberd murders of 1861, and a paragraph on the subject reads: — 'A curious tradition survives locally regarding these executions. It is that the actual murderer escaped justice by turning Queen's evidence, thus hanging his companions.' I believe it is a fact that such a thing actually occurred, and the aborigine, who turned Queen's evidence, was about the district for years afterwards. Many years ago I spent holidays at a farm house not far from that particular spot, and the farmer's wife often told me of the old black (locally known as Jackie Pike) who used to visit them occasionally, when they would question him about the affair. — 'Carlsruhe,' Maylands.

Story Of The Tatiara

— It was in 1840 that Jumbuck, the last chief of the Tatiara tribe, was holding a celebration on the banks of the Cannawigara swamp. But the playful pastimes of his subjects were rudely shattered by the appearance of a frightful apparition. In less time than it takes to tell, there was not a black to be seen on the landscape. The cause of this disturbance was an ordinary waggon drawn by a team of horses and driven by white men. At the back of the waggon was a cow with a calf at foot. The blacks had never seen anything like this before. The occupant of the waggon watered his animals and moved on a further four miles to a place known to the blacks as the 'Three Waterholes.' It afterwards became the police camp of Inspector Tolmer, and is now the site of Bordertown. The cow broke her moorings during the night, and, with, her calf, retraced her tracks to the Cannawigara swamp. By this time the blacks had reassembled, but on sighting this new terror they made for the horizon. The cow took in a supply of water, and lay down to chew the cud and contemplate the arcadian beauty of her surroundings. The time had now arrived for Jumbuck to demonstrate his right to the chieftain ship. With right royal courage he did so, waiting patiently until the cow and calf moved off of their own free will, and then following their tracks until they were well past Mount Monster. It is claimed that Jumbuck saw a white man on horseback at a place now known as 'Lockhart.' But he thought man and horse was one frightful beast, and he did not stop to become closer acquainted. This was earlier than the incident related above.— S. D. Cattermole, Bordertown.

'Black Fanny.'

— On November 7, 1922. there died at Port Lincoln 'Black Fanny,' the last member of the tribe of Lincoln blacks. Born at Poonindie, Fanny was brought up by a Mrs. Stacey, and had all the advantages of a white girl as far as education and clothes were concerned. When the Staceys moved to the mission station at Poonindie, Fanny went too and here she was married in the Church of England. Her husband was a full blooded, well-educated Murray black, whose accomplishments included a splendid voice and a gift for dancing. The wedding was quite a smart affair, with bridal veil, wreath, bridesmaids, and a photo of the pair taken to finish up with. A daughter was bom to the couple, and then happiness seemed complete. Unfortunately the child was only a few years old when it died of summer cholera. The husband, thinking that Fanny had neglected the child, left her, and from then on Fanny began to deteriorate. The veneer which education and careful upbringing had put upon her rapidly disappeared. Finally she went back to the completely wild native state, and lived in a wurlie with the tribe. Her later years were spent wandering about the streets of Port Lincoln doing odd jobs and begging alternately. Most school children of that time have vivid recollections of the old black gin plodding along, dressed in an ill-fitting frock, no shoes or stockings on her feet, a red handkerchief tied over her head, and usually with a trail of 12 or 13 kangaroo dogs at her heels. When Admiral Jellicoe paid his visit to Port Lincoln someone covered Fanny's dress in tiny Union Jacks and took her down to meet him. The members of the local governing body were making their welcome speech when Fanny made her presence felt. 'Ullo Jellicoe,' she piped in her shrill high-pitched voice. 'Me know you. Gimme shillun.' She was hurriedly relegated to the background. At her death she was buried in the Port Lincoln cemetery.— 'D.K.P., Kensington Gardens.

Origin Of The Tod River Water Scheme.

— South Australia, with its 24 impounding reservoirs, claims to have the largest water distributing scheme of its land in the world. An area of 720,000 square miles is served.

For many years settlers in the northern districts of Eyre Peninsula were hampered by lack of water for their stock. Supplies had to be carted many miles over rough bush tracks, and much valuable time was lost that could have been used to better advantage.

When the railway lines went through to Thevenard and Darke's Peak, the settlers used to get water sent up by train several times a week. Often the train would be several hours later, and men and teams would have to wait wearily at the sidings until all hours of the night before the supply came through.

After getting it into the tanks on their waggons, they would commence the homeward journey. Sometimes it means an all night trip, it was obvious to those in power that the country could not be developed under those conditions.

The late Mr. C. A. Bayer gave a good deal of his time to the problem. He saw in the low ranges and high country in the southern part of the peninsula a solution. In 1916 he advised a Royal Commission of the possibilities of the Tod River. This river gets its name from the late Mr. Robert Tod, who discovered it in 1839.

The work of constructing the Tod reservoir was commenced 14 years ago, with the late Mr. E. J. Bradley as resident engineer. After years of work, the scheme, which is a triumph of hydraulic engineering, was completed. In June, 1928, the reservoir was officially opened at Thevenard, by the Commissioner of Public Works (Hon. M. Mclntosh). The reservoir cost £3,000,000 and is capable of holding 2,400,000,000 gallons. If overflowed for the first time during the winter of 1932.— 'R.V.H.,' Yeelanna.

Not So Bad As It Seemed.

— Some 20 years ago, in the district of Murray Bridge, a young country lad approached his intended father-in-law to ask for the hand of his daughter. The demure young lady, meanwhile, had retired to an adjoining room, and anxiously awaited for the reappearance of her beloved.

After an interminable period of waiting, she became nervous. Loud and excited voices came from the adjoining room. The two men appeared to be having an argument, and it seemed as though there would be no wedding.

Finally she requested her brother to investigate. He did so. "It's all right," he declared on his return. "They are only discussing politics."— 'Blue Bird,' Murray Bridge.

About Snakes.

— The following story is remarkable because it shows how a snake can live without food or water. Two men, who were working on a station, noticed a large tiger snake disappear through a hole into a log. The log was too large to split with the tools they had, so they made a wooden plug which fitted the hole exactly. This was driven in securely and the snake left to its fate.

About 12 months later the same two men were wood carting in the vicinity. Having the tools, they split open the log to see if they could find the remains of the snake. To their surprise, the snake feebly crawled out. Its head had remained normal, but the rest of the body resembled a skeleton.— 'Interested,' Allandale East.

Real Life Stories Of South Australia (1933, March 16). Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1954), p. 14. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article90895644