Narional Archives of Australia
Canberra Office
A6456 R088/019
Native Welfare Reports & Correspondence Talgarno Area
Patrol Report W MacDougall 3.11.1964
North West
Port Hedland
3rd November 1964
Supt of Native Welfare
North West Division
P O Box 33
Port Hedland, WA
Blue Streak Project - F2
In accordance with previously received orders and the
telephonic instructions of the Commissioner, I left Port Hedland
on 13th October, 1964, by RAAF aircraft (Fl/Lt Todhunter)
and flew to Broome. The instructions were that the aircraft was
to fly to Swindell's Field where I was to be met by a WRE
vehicle and taken to Lake Percival, but these had been counter-
manded by Patrol Officer Macaulay, who was broken down near Well
31 on the Canning Stock Route with two broken differential gears.
Macaulay had decided to remain in the spare vehicle alongside
the broken down International to await the return of two guides
who had gone searching in the direction of extensive smoke fires.
As Mr McDougall was on Lake Percival with a similarly disbaled
vehicle there was no point in off-loading me at Swindell's Field
and I remained with the plane crew for four days, until Sunday,
18th October, when we flew to Swindell's Field. Shortly after
the plane landed at 8.30am Mr Macaulay arrived by vehicle
from Well 35. Earlier, both McDougall and Macaulay had inti-
mated that a final air search was unnecessary and could frighten
natives already gathered together for the firing. However, as
it was imperative that a member of this Department also be satis-
fied as to the situation in the area, I insisted that a final air
sweep take place and Fl/Lt Todhunter was most co-operative and
agreed readily to the request. The plane took off at 9.30am
and I was accompanied by Mr Macaulay. The area appeared to be
without any form of human habitation; even the vicinity of well
31 was empty of life, despite the fact that we expected a party
to be making their way in this direction - that is, the three
guides, Sailor, Tuckamarra and Nyani.
When the plane landed at 12.30pm Macaulay and I left
for Lake Percival and camped that night at Picture Cave Hill.
The Commissioner was wired as follows :-
'Concur with combined signals by WRE officers concerning
clearing of area. Personnel and radio contact made and
final air sweep conducted today indicated area clear.
LONG'
The party joined MacDougall and the group of 20 natives
at 5pm just north of the northern perimeter of the dump area,
and, after considerable discussion and conservation with the
native women in charge of the group a telegram was forwarded to
Mr Gare, worded as follows :-
'Have contacted Mr MacDougall and twenty native women and
children. Evacuation ABSOLUTE NECESSITY for tribal, physical,
welfare and medical reasons plus women's own request for
evacuation. Mr MacDougall and Macaulay agreed to give
their assistance for transport to Swindell's. Anticipate
arrival there Thursday for Elphinstone to examine woman
leprosy suspect. Suggest Jigalong as destination and
please contact Roberts for early arrangement of truck to
Mission and RAAF transport of Doctor to Swindell's.'
The women were desperate to quit the area. They had
seen no men for years and were frightened that if they did
run into a group containing men that some of them may have
been killed, if they were considered unsuitable as wives.
Also, the boys in the group were growing up, and apart from
having no choice of women for themselves, they were arriving
at adulthood without being instructed in the 'law'. Any attempt
to drive a vehicle for any purpose, at this stage, resulted in
an avalanche of women and children piling themselves aboard.
There was no question as to their wish to leave Lake Percival
at the earliest possible moment. On our previous search in
May the women had watched our movements every day and were
delighted to tell us of how we had behaved on that occasion.
Without the services of the guides, Sailor and Nyani, who were
also distant relations of the group, we would never have made
contact. They had never seen whitemen before.
The rocket firing took place at 8.30am central time
and the re-entry was watched and heard by all of us. After-
wards, photographs of the women and children were taken and
relationship particulars were noted. The party then made its was
off the Lake towards Swindell's. The party split at 9pm
and MacDougall drove slowly on toward the airfield while Mac-
aulay and I drove on to Well 35 to pick up the guides and
repair the broken-down vehicle. The following telegram was
sent :-
'Acknowledgement and confirmation of yesterday's telegram
concerning transport and other arrangements for native
women is requested. Recommend presence Welfare Officer
Winderlich on journey Swindell's to Mission. Women tra-
velling with McDougall in damaged vehicle and expected
Swindell's friday. Macaulay and self proceeding Well 35
tonight to contact guides and possible other group. My
ETA Swindell's also Friday.
LONG'
Well 35 was reached at 12pm and Macaulay's vehicle,
broken down in a desolate stretch of sandhills eight miles
south of the Stock Route, was rejoined at 7pm. There was
no sign of the guides and no answering fires. We drove down
to Well 31 on the morning of the 22nd and there found eight people,
three men, two women and three boys, all gathered in by the
guides. This group was a fragmented portion of an old tribal
group and wished to be evacuated. Of the two women, one was
old and feeble. The following telegram was despatched via
Woomera :-
'Urgent you inform Commissioner Gare further group of
three men, two women and three boys, met at Well 31.
Proceeding Swindell's ETA Friday as group pleaded
evacuation to Jigalong. Health good but some clothing
required for both groups when truck arrives. Acknowledge-
ment from Commissioner is requested, please.'
The party left for Well 35 at 5pm and arrived there
at 11pm. Conditions were very windy and cold and it was
necessary to feed and rest the party.
At 6pm on the 23rd, Macaulay left for Woomera not in-
tending to drive back to Swindell's and the two drivers, Messrs
Surman and Meakins, and myself drove to Swindell's with the
natives, arriving at 3pm.
Dr Elphinstone examined the group and confirmed that
the woman, Ngandja, was to be taken to the Derby Leprosarium.
The doctor was determined to leave the child behind, but it
was obvious that the effect on this unfortunate woman would
have been disastrous, and he was persuaded to take her with
him to Derby, together with a note for Mr Cornish in which
I asked him to place the child at a nearby Mission. However,
a subsequent report from Mr Cornish states that the child,
Bagagayi, also has leprosy and is not separated from the
mother. The plane left at 4pm.
The three officers from this Division and Miss Winderlich,
who had arrived from Derby with the RAAF arranged the dis-
position of the group for the night and it was found that there
was insufficient room for the party of twenty-eight people.
Mr McDougall very obligingly agreed to put his two trucks at
our disposal and they accompanied us to Jigalong Mission. Men
and women were bathed and clothed the next day and the convoy
left at 12 noon, on the 24th.
Mr Kininmonth and Mr Tonkinson were detached from the
party at Marble Bar and sent on to Port Hedland on the 25th.
Mr Tonkinson's assistance was invaluable and he did much to
keep the natives contented and free from fear. The party
camped near Roy Hill that night.
The Mission was reached on the morning of the 26th, and
the natives left in the care of the guide, Sailor, and the
Superintendent and Staff. Mr McDougall's two trucks left us
on the morning of the 27th, bound for Woomera via Wiluna and
Warburton Mission. Mr Reibel, Mr Webster, Miss Winderlich
and myself returned then to Port Hedland via Wittenoom and
arrived at 2pm on the 28th, having completed a trip of
1038 miles from Swindell's Field.
Natives in Dump Area
The area now appears to be clear of any native groups,
but it is possible that the old, blind man and his two wives
who have been reported as living well to the North of Lake
Percival, could return in the future. He has not been seen
for 18 months or so and this possibility can, I feel, be dis-
counted. He is more likely to have perished or gone further
north to the Joanna Springs area where Wapet report constant
fires and smoke. There have been regular visits to Well 35
by members of the small party we contacted at Well 31, and
hunting parties used this route to come up from the McKay
Ranges and Lake Disappointment. This route, too, should now
become unused. Names of both groups are :-
Lake Percival Group
Name Sex Age Notes
Yugunyayi F 48 years
Nyibi F 35 years Daughter of Yugunyayi
Yuwali F 16 years Daughter of Nyibi, granddaughter of Yugunyayi
Yadji M 10 years Son of Nyibi
Itiyi M 5 years Son of Nyibi
Manga F 2 years Daughter of Nyibi (from letter dated 6 November 1964
and stated as missing in original report)
Ngandja F 38 years Leprosy victim
Bagagayi F 2 years Daughter of Ngandja, also leprotic
Djundju F 27 years
Gudu M 10 years Son of Djundju
Naga F 8 years Daughter of Djundju
Marawuru F 4 years Daughter of Djundju
Dadjaga M 3 years Son of Djundju
Bamba F 50 years
Rabudji F 15 years Daughter of Bamba
Nabinanin M 12 years Son of Bamba
Guwada F 21 years Blind in one eye
Moodia M 5 years Son of Guwada
Bilumba F 9 months Daughter of Guwada, apparently fathered by
the blind man referred to previously
Gamdiba F 48 years Mother of Guwada
Canning Stock Route - Well 31 Group
Name Sex Age Notes
Yinayadu M 29 years
Baya F 24 years Wife of Yinayadi and daughter of Turudjara
Yulambina M 6 years Son of Baya
Nyadyu M 14 years Also known as Manina
Nyarinyari M 20 years Brother of Nyadyu
Turudjara F 60 years
Djidji M 20 years Son of Turudjara
Tibi M 11 years Son of Turudjara
Vehicles
The fact that this Department was forced to rely on the
use of WRE vehicles already under the control of their own
patrol officers, created an undesirable and invidious situa-
tion, in that I was prevented from taking part in the final
phases of the ground search and had to rely on a last minute
air sweep conducted at my own request, by Fl/Lt Todhunter,
who could not have been more helpful.
It is my earnest recommendation that the officer appointed
by this Department be independent on the ground and also in the
radio communication field. Mr McDougall affirmed this opinion
and has suggested that the Salisbury authorities provide a
vehicle for our Department on the next firing in order to
give our representative a very necessary separate mobility.
Appreciation
Mr McDougall's co-operation and assistance was, as
usual, given whole heartedly, and it would not have been
possible to have transported the extra party we found at
Well 31, together with those from Lake Percival, to the
Mission, without considerable discomfort, if he had not
agreed to travel a further 700 miles out of his way in order
to assist.
T Long
A/Superintendent - North West Division
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