National Archives of Australia
Canberra Office
A6456 R136/006
Royal Commission into British Nuclear Tests in Australia
Collection of documents relating to Aboriginals 21. 1.1947 - 29. 8.1984
AIATSIS B G646.83/R1 Volumes 1-17
Tuberculosis Survey, R Macaulay, 14 July 1958
NB NAA R136/006 contains the the names and part of the
covering letter and is hand written. The AIATSIS volume
contains a later typed version. I have recorded the AIATSIS
part of the document in Italics.
Commonwealth of Australia
Department of Supply
Weapons Research Establishment
Giles Weather Station
c/o Private Mail Bag, P.O.
Alice Springs, N.T.
14 July 1958
The Secretary
Aborigines Protection Board
Aborigines Department
Kintore Avenue
Adelaide, S.A.
Dear Sir
Ref. A.D. 177/57, 2 May 1958 : Tuberculosis Survey
The itinerary provided for the transportation of natives to
Alice Springs Hospital for X-raying lapsed, due mainly to mechanical
trouble in my vehicle. Another itinerary was formulated to the sat-
isfaction of all concerned.
2. Two truck loads of natives were dispatched from Ernabella with
Ernabella, Kenmore, and some Everard natives (see lists). The second
truck left Ernabella 18 May, arrived Alice Springs 19, left Alice Springs
22, and arrived Ernabella 23 May. The Granite Downs truck, made available
by Mr J Davies, transported natives from Granite Downs, Everard, and
Kulgera to Alice Springs 21, 22 May, returning 24, 25 May.
3. In all cases, the numbers X-rayed exceeded the numbers on the
lists. This was especially so on the Granite Downs lists. It was felt
that natives who missed the Tuberculosis Examinations should be X-rayed.
Most children under 14 years of age, missed in the Examinations, were not
X-rayed as an instruction from Canberra to the Radiologist at the hospital
prevented this. One lad who looked tubercular was X-rayed and was found
to be suffering from tuberculosis.
4. 115 natives were X-rayed - 56 from Ernabella, 4 from Kenmore, 6 from
Everard, and 49 from Granite Downs. This represented an increase of 31
on the typewritten lists. Of those on the typewritten lists, 4 were missed
from the Ernabella Sheet and 1 from the Everard Park sheet (see lists).
5. One boy was admitted to hospital 24 May, 1958, the day after his
X-ray. He is Wintu Wintu, aged about eleven years (see Granite Downs list).
It is expected that the child will be hospitalised four to six months.
His parents returned to Granite Downs.
6. In gathering together natives for transportation to Alice Springs
I visited the following places - Curtin Springs, Mulga Park, Ernabella,
Kenmore, Kulgera, Umbiarra, Lilla Creek, Finke, Granite Downs, Everard
Park. Almost every native was returned to where picked up.
7. It is suggested that another truck of natives who missed both
Examination and X-ray could be collected within the next few months.
8. Apart from the Turberculosis Survey, several natives were taken
to hospital from Granite Downs. Molly Collins and baby were discharged
from hospital after observation for three days. They were returned to
Granite Downs 31 May. Another baby was admitted suffering from dehydration.
This child, christened Gillian in the hospital, is the daughter of Kurtatcha
and Uie of Granite Downs. She is aged between 4 and 7 months. Mr J
Davies of Granite Downs Station was to collect the child several weeks
ago. It is noted that nurses in the native ward of the Alice Springs
Hospital frequently Christen native children who are too young to have a
native name when admitted.
Yours faithfully
R Macaulay
Native Patrol Officer
Rawlinson Ranges
NB This is a typed copy of a report written and signed by
Mr R Macaulay, Native Patrol Officer.
Jack B Newman
Captain RAN
Superintendent, WRE, Woomera
List of natives from Ernabella requiring X-ray
* Charlie Nanyinyjaku Kuri
* Peter Nyaninunya
* Raymond Tailyanya
* Fred Iwanakaku Kuri
* Polly Mayawara
* Kampakuta
* Nyinnungka
* Iwana (50)
* Ngakunya
* Jessie
* Jessie 1sy iti (did not report
* Appintangu
* Ulillie Awalyaruliu Kuri
* Peter (Imunaku Kuri)
* Kitty
* Tjulkiwanya iti
* Imuna
* Mayaru (blind)
* Wanngauya
* Angkuna (Kenmu)
Dolly
* Kayubayu
* Emily (Everard)
Intjiki
Maggie (Gilpuku kuri)
* Nura baby
* Alyana
Tjutanya (Molly)
* Barney (Yukariku kuri)
Ayatinya Mantilku (missed unable to locate)
Martin (Alyanaku kuta)
* Mintjiku mama
* Billy (Cheeky)
Wakuriku mama (missed at Warburton)
* Jimmy (Tinimaiku kulpalpa)
Harry (Tinimaiku mama) (missed at Oodnadatta) (Frank crossed out in original letter)
* Graham (Kulyurunya)
* Adrian (Intjalkinya)
* Charlie (Mayana)
* Eric (Nyingutaku kuri)
* Muwatiku mama
* George (Multalicku)
* Billy (Kampukutaku kuri)
* Charlie (Paringkiku mama)
* Rupert (Nuraku kuri)
* Lionel
* Bruce (Kupinaku kata)
* Larry (Yabiritiku mama malatja)
* Jackie (Mayawaraku mama)
* Alec (Nuggetku matanya)
Harry (Napuruku mama) (missed at Warburton)
* Anunanya (Charlieku malanypa)
* Willie (Hectorku malanypa)
* Tommy (Papangalkunya)
* Leslie (Wilpintjanya)
* Mephastopl (Ngintjaku mama)
Additional
* Tommy
* Owen
* Alec
* Barney
* = Transported on Ernabella truck
= Transported on Granite Downs truck
List of natives from Granite Downs requiring X-ray
Lambena Mick
Jimmy
Mike
Tiger
Timmy
Hughie Collins
Tom Left Hand
Nellie, wife of Jacky
Nellie, house girl
Biddy
Angeline
Uie, wife of Gudarja
Joylene, 1/4 caste child
Nellie, mother of Joylene
Dorothy, daughter of Lambena Mick
Norah
Budja
Whiskey
Treacle
Wonga
Alan
Wallace
Additional to list
Snowy
Brumby (ex Kulgera)
Willie (lame ex Ernabella)
Turfey
Roy
Robin
Peter
David
Alec
Louie (ex Kulgera)
Kurtatcha
Johnny
Kumpiri (boy)
Frank (ex Kulgera)
George (boy)
Wintu Wintu (boy)
Nellie (ex Kulgera)
Minnie (ex Kulgera)
Tjukabiddy (Ernabella)
Biddy
Mundilla (Johnny's wife)
Pinuka
Mary (Tiger's wife)
Minny (Turfey's wife)
Junjinna
Hilda
Sally
List of natives from Kenmore Park requiring X-ray
* Mabel
* Stanley
* Barney
* Alec
List of natives from Everard Park requiring X-ray
* Everard
* Molly
* Mungy
* Minnie
Willie (Jack's child) (missed)
* Lily
* Nellie
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