National Archives of Australia
Canberra Office
A6456  R136/007
Patrol Report, R Macaulay, 11 February 1960


                                                        23 March 1960


The Secretary,
Aborigines Protection Board,
Aborigines Department,
Kintore Avenue,
Adelaide, SA

Dear Sir,

       January - February 1960 Patrol to Giles and the Central Reserves


Movements

1.    I left Woomera 13th January, 1960, proceeding to Giles
via Leigh Creek, Marree, Oodnadatta, Granite Downs, Everard Park
and Ernabella Mission, arriving Giles 10th January. The route
then lay to 'Wankari in the Dean Ranges (21 January) and Kutjinderry
and Waraban (Mural Crescent area) (22 and 23 January) where it was
hoped to contact the tuberculosis suspect, Wanupay. It was then nec-
essary to proceed to Alice Springs via Curtin Springs and Angas Downs
to have two front springs fitted to the International. I left Alice
Springs 31 January proceeding via Curtin Springs to Ernabella and
Giles, then to Wingellina and Mt Davies (3 and 4 February) and
to Waraban Creek (5 February). I departed Giles 7 February, arr-
iving Woomera 9 February via Ernabella, Everard Park, Granite Downs,
Coober Pedy, and Mt Eba.

Condition of Country Roads

2.    Widespread rains had fallen throughout the whole area cov-
ered by the patrol, and slippery road surfaces and washaways were a
constant menace. To generalise, two to five inches of rain fell through-
out the patrol area, and the Todd, Hugh, Finke, and Palmer Rivers
flowed to a depth of up to seven feet. The main north-south road is
in good condition but there have been many washaways and much scouring
on the road between Ernabella and Wingellina.

3.    The Reserves are in wonderful condition with grass up to one
foot high. The feed position around Ernabella, Kenmore Park, and
Everard Park is excellent, and Granite Downs has surface waters sufficient
for two years.

Wanupay

6.    I brought Wanupay to Giles from Waraban. She came willingly
and appeared in good spirits so I did not take measures to prevent her
running off.However she did decide to remain in her country to die and
she ran off the night before we were to leave for Alice Springs. Wanupay
will have returned to the group by the time Mr MacDougall reaches Giles
and she should not be difficult to locate as the natives themselves
realise that she must go to hospital. Kam:i, the child with the burnt
leg, was flown to Giles at Christmas.

7.    It may be possible during the winter of this year to arrange
for Mr MacDougall and me to round up all the Rawlinson natives for a
thorough medical check by Woomera medical authorities at Giles.

Wingellina

8.    The contact position at Wingellina Mining camp was not good,
and the natives complained that they were under paid for work done.
They also claimed that Tony Sullivan, the Contractor at Wingellina, had
supplied a pannikin of alcohol to a native and had then attempted to
rape the native's wife. Mr R Sprigg, Managing Director of Geosurveys
informed me that Sullivan had been dismissed by him for general lawlessness
in Adelaide and for poor work at Wingellina. The last three Contractors
have all failed dismally. Callaghan was dismissed for continual drunk-
enness, Arica for offences against native women and for other misdeeds
(letter on file from Mr J Johnson refers) and Sullivan for actions men-
tioned above.

9.   Mr Sprigg is of the opinion that in a few months time only a
caretaker staff of one or two men will be required at Wingellina. He will
go to greater lengths to obtain suitable personnel, and in attempting to
further minimise the chances of employing the wrong type, he has asked
the South Australian Aborigines Department to interview prospective per-
sonnel for Wingellina. The normal system of supplying two character ref-
erences before obtaining a Reserve permit does not appear to be working out
very well.

10.    I interviewed the Wingellina natives about Arica's alleged
offences and they denied all knowledge of them. This I would interpret as
indicating that there is some substance to the allegations.

11.    On 7th February, 1960, the white personnel at Wingellina were
Geoff Rowley, Jack Scribble, Len Terry, Eric Paunola, Bruno Beyer, and
Hermann Radolovich. The only natives at Wingellina were Jimmy and Mike
and their families and two young men. Three other families, including
Bruce and Mary, were at Mt Davies en route to Ernabella.

Ernabella

12.     At Ernabella, the missioners are concerned about the forthcoming
payment of pension and social service benefits to some of the mission
natives. The problem resolves into whether social service benefits should
be pooled for the general benefit of all mission natives or whether those
entitled to the benefits should receive the full amount each. The Miss-
ioners fear widespread unemployment if the latter case applies as they
expect younger natives to 'live off' the older ones.

13.    The Superintendent of Ernabella asked me to meet a large group of
Areyonga natives headed for Ernabella for initiation ceremonies and to
endeavour to dissuade them from starting spear fights. I backed out of
that one very gently. As it turned out each group feared the other would
seek reprisals over a killing connected with an initiation at Areyonga
last year. The Areyonga mob came as far as Angas Downs, but gradually
lost interest when the Ernabella group did not turn up, and as the flour,
tea, and sugar gave out, they returned to Areyonga and the ration and
settlement life. Eventually a few dozen Ernabella men hurried to Mulga
Park, initiated two boys, then scampered back to their rations at Ernabella.

14.    A newspaper cutting is enclosed in the Woomera file copy of
this report as it indicates how a very minor episode can be turned into a
major publicity embarrassment, (in this case the NT Welfare Department).
I spoke to the '200'. They said there was plenty of game around (black-
fellow tucker) but they were alarmed and out of sorts because their tea,
sugar, and flour had run out. They were extremely loath to continue
without these goods, so they had 'demanded' them at Angas Downs Station.

Yours faithfully


R Macaulay
Native Patrol Officer

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