Narional Archives of Australia
Canberra Office
A6456 R136/007
Patrol Report, R Macaulay, 16 June 1960
16 June 1960
The Commissioner of Native Welfare
Department of Native Welfare
Box R 1268, GPO,
Perth, WA
Dear Sir
May-June 1960 Patrol to Central Reserve and Giles
1. I departed Woomera 7th May, 1960, proceeding to Giles Met-
eorological Station via Mt Eba, Coober Pedy, Granite Downs, Ernabella
Mission, and Mulga Park, arriving in the Rawlinson Range area 13th May.
The period 14th May to 25th May, was spent in the Rawlinson Range -
Mural Crescent area alternatively looking for a woman with suspected
tuberculosis and waiting for vehicular maintenance. May 26th I pro-
ceeded towards Alice Springs, arriving 28th May, departing 29th May,
for Ernabella Mission, Oodnadatta, Maree, Leigh Creek, and Port Augusta,
and arriving Woomera 3rd June, 1960. 3000 miles were covered during
the patrol.
Condition of Country
2. Further good rains had fallen after my January - February patrol
and the countryside is virtually blooming. There are some extensive
patches of green feed. All the natives encountered by me reported a
plentiful supply of rock-hole and soak waters. The impending South
Australian Ministerial Welfare Party will see the Reserve in fine con-
dition.
Wingellina Mining Camp
3. Indications are that the future of Wingellina will be decided
within the next six months. At the moment there are three or four white
men and one white woman at Wingellina with a likely small male increase
shortly. There was only one family of natives at Wingellina - Jacky and
his three wives. They were moved from around Wingellina by Mr Reid,
Geosurveys Camp Manager, following a squabble with Jacky over payments
for wood collecting and odd jobs carried out by Jacky. I am told that
one of Jack's wives stole some flour as well. Jacky and family then
moved across to Mt Davies where a South Australian Mines Department
camp had been set up.
Mount Davies
4. A small South Australian Mines Department party will occupy
the deserted buildings at Mount Davies intermittently until November,
1960, the party carrying out a geological mapping project in the
North-West Reserve area. When I left Mount Davies, the Mines Depart-
ment Geologist Mr R Mirams, was endeavouring to secure the services
of Tommy Dodd, a half-caste from Ernabella, and another native, as care-
takers while the Mines Department personnel proceeded south on short
leave.
Rawlinson Range Natives
5. A few days before my arrival at Giles, fifty Rawlinson natives
moved in from the east. They joined a few natives already near Giles
to receive a red-ochre corroboree from a visiting contingent from Warb-
urton. At the same time a series of dramatic Tidari (?Tinari) corroborees were
held to bring five initiated young men back into camp life following
their seclusion. After trading some scalps the whole group split up
and travelled north-east, east, and west to Warburton. There are now
no natives in the Rawlinson Range. There is a plentiful supply of kan-
garoo and emu meat in the Reserve. Certain localities have abundant
stocks of vegetable matter. There are many rabbit warrens away from the
harder quartzite flats surrounding the Rawlinson Range.
Health of Rawlinson Natives
6. Notification of Death - After camping in the native camp
I found a child in extremely poor condition. Tyadin, an eighteen month
old child had the appearance of a three month old child. I contacted
the Flying Doctor and an aircraft took Tyadin to hospital in Alice Springs
where she died three days later from malnutrition. Tyadin's case was
exceptional as all the other babies and young children are in fine con-
dition. It appears that Tyadin did not survive the dangerous transition
period from breast feeding to solid foods. Tyadin was the daughter of
Nowina (father) and Malguia. On medical advice I transported Nowina,
Malguia and an older daughter, Kam:i, to hospital in Alice Springs for
a check-up. They should return to the Reserve by aircraft shortly.
7. Burns - There was a large crop of burns to babies in the Raw-
linson group. These are normal winter accidents. Two of the burns had
become infected. On advice from the nursing sister, who flew out for
Tyadin, I treated the infections and some of the burns. This kept me
busy for two weeks.
8. Stones - Darky (Ta:ki) who was flown to Alice Springs a few
months ago in extreme agony, having passed several stones by urination,
has now returned from hospital in Alice Springs.
9. Tuberculosis - I was able to track Wanupai to south of the
Mural Crescent. She was two days ahead of me and leading an old blind
woman. Despite attempts by several natives and me to catch her, she
slipped into the Petermanns. Some of the natives may have caught up
with her by the time the Ministerial Party traverses the Petermanns.
The medical authorities in Alice Springs have now taken the urgency from
her case, and advise that she is a suspected tuberculosis case only, albeit
a reasonably certain one.
Yours faithfully
R Macaulay
Native Patrol Officer
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