Makarrata in progress at Milingimbi c1935 SLSA PRG-933-13-131
MISSION CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR
Ella Shepherdson in 'Half a Century in Arnhem Land' gives the impression that the images below depict their first Milingimbi Christmas (1928) when the sole house was the one relocated in 1924 from Elcho Island by Rev. Watson - the staff then consisted of Rev. & Mrs TT Webb and a Baduan family, Karpu and his wife Mayjarumbi, so the image below may be a bit later. The 'congregation' of 500 Yolngu gathered from the surrounding area for the celebration and the opportunity to conduct a little business including the settling of disputes through the 'Makarrata' peace-making ceremony. It was also a good opportunity for a spot of Balanda business at the clinic.
Opening the Christmas Parcels - Milingimbi c1930 Ella Shepherdson 'Half a Century in Arnhem Land' (1983)
"Each year the women's auxiliary for overseas missions in Methodist Churches throughout Australia sent Christmas parcels to the various Mission Stations This scene at Milingimbi shows staff opening some parcels which were packed in crates. On the left, a group of interested onlookers has a vested interest in the activity as they will later be beneficiaries." Ella Shepherdson 'Half a Century in Arnhem Land' p13
Christmas Day at Milingimbi c1935 SLSA PRG-933-13-234
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Christmas lunch in smoke at Milingimbi c1935 SLSA PRG-933-13-367
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"For weeks we had been preparing, opening Christmas boxes sent in by W.A.O.M. (Women's Auxiliary for Overseas Missions), women from all states in Australia. Sorting out their contents and making small calico bags to contain gifts was an enormous task. Some bags would come in the boxes but we still had to make around 500. Each adult man and woman would receive a bag containing a trinket, beads, soap, sewing cotton or a garment and always the inevitable tobacco. Children would receive a toy and sweets from a Christmas tree which was attended by a member of the staff dresses as Santa Claus. This was followed by a feast of goat meat and rice cooked in our washing coppers." Ella Shepherdson 'Half a Century in Arnhem Land' p11
"New Year's Day was always Sports Day. Here the men prepare to jump. Rev TT Webb judge is seated on a box." Ella Shepherdson Half A Century p14.
"New Year's Day was always Sports Day when there were foot races, fire making with two sticks, canoe races, a spear throwing contest and a tug of war. Of course there were always gifts for the winners." Ella Shepherdson 'Half a Century in Arnhem Land' p11
Bag Race Milingimbi 1929 - Rev. TT Webb officiating SLSA PRG-933-13-70
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Spear throwing contest Milingimbi c1935 SLSA PRG-933-13-222
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Two Sticks Fire lighting Milingimbi c1930 SLSA PRG-933-13-218
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Two Sticks Fire lighting Milingimbi c1930 SLSA PRG-933-13-122
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Canoe Race Milingimbi c1930 SLSA PRG-933-13-470
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Canoe Race Milingimbi c1930 SLSA PRG-933-13-421
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The Dugout Canoe Races were fiercely contested and the one pictured at right involved rounding the Mission Lugger McBride which was moored out in deep(ish) water opposite the current barge landing. The McBride was wrecked at Rolling Bay in 1929.
Makarrata
"Many different tribes with scores to settle would come together at this time of year. Friend-making ceremonies on the back plain were frequent after Christmas festivities were over." Ella Shepherdson 'Half a Century in Arnhem Land' p11
Makarrata Milingimbi c1935 SLSA PRG-933-13-185
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Makarrata Milingimbi c1935 SLSA PRG-933-13-194
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Rev. TT Webb brokers Makarrata early 1930s SLSA PRG-933-13-197
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Makarrata Milingimbi early 1930s SLSA PRG-933-13-133
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"A war party coming from the mainland to fight another tribe at Milingimbi. They were persuaded to make a Makarrata (friend making ceremony)". This may be related to the 'squabble' referred to in PRG 933/13/133. A war party coming from the mainland to fight another tribe at Milingimbi. SLSA.
Makarrata in progress Milingimbi early 1930s SLSA PRG-933-13-353
This is the floodplain behind the school looking NW - Bapa Sheppy used it as a rudimentary runway for the Health Parasol he built there in the early 1930s.
Dispensary
Ella writes about that first Christmas in 1928 and thereafter - "Also during this time mothers would bring their children to the dispensary for injections for tropical yaws which were prevalent on the island at that time.
These days the people have a more balanced diet and we never see yaws." Ella Shepherdson 'Half a Century in Arnhem Land' p11
These days the people have a more balanced diet and we never see yaws." Ella Shepherdson 'Half a Century in Arnhem Land' p11
Opening new Dispensary Milingimbi 1938 SLSA PRG-933-13-542
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Showers at Milingimbi c1935 SLSA PRG-933-13-395
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There is a long-standing debate over the relationship between the three closely related treponemes that cause Syphilis, Yaws & Bejel (Endemic Syphilis). Health improvements accumulated through reduced violence, improved diet, water separation, personal hygiene and confidence in mission staff which often began with the visibly effective antibiotic treatment of Yaws. "Heal the sick, it opens many doors".
Pre-war Shepherdson's images of Milingimbi prepared by Mike Owen for East Arnhem Shire Council in 2011 to commemorate the Northern Territory Centenary
Wartime
Elcho Is. Mission Christmas 1942 - ”Friday 25th Baked two cakes. Had service early. Made big stew in copper 1 Wallaby & lots of peas & a little rice. Gave people small tin jam (1 for each family) 2 biscuits & ration of flour. In afternoon had Sports. In evening gave out few bags for women & 1 piece cloth for naga & lollies for small boys & picture book & lollies for girls. Peanuts for prizes for races etc. Big wind & little rain at ration time. Copper full of tea & sugar. We had roast wallaby & plum pudding.” (Ella Shepherdson Diary 1942/43)
Sources & Resources
The images were all captured at Milingimbi in the late 1920s & early 1930s (1928 - c1935). They are from a variety of sources but principally from the Shepherdson Collection in the State Library of South Australia and from Ella Shepherdson's 'Half A Century in Arnhem Land' which was scanned and reprinted by the East Arnhem Shire Council - with kind permission of Pan Print South Australia - to commemorate both the tenth anniversary of the passing of the Reverend Harold Shepherdson and the 40th anniversary of the dedication of Shepherdson College on Elcho Island. Dating is approximate though the Sheppys arrived in May 1928 and moved to Elcho island in 1942.
Errata
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Opening new Dispensary Milingimbi 1938 SLSA PRG-933-13-542
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Dispensary Elcho Is. c1945 SLSA PRG-933-13-489
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An all but identical image (SLSA PRG-933-13-489) is captioned "The dispensary at Elcho Island" c1945. The SLSA images were identified by Harold Shepherdson who lived to be 100 & during digitisation in c2020 representatives from Milingimbi & Elcho Island also provided input. Human error and the passage of the years naturally leads to misidentification of images. A file of such errata will be passed on to SLSA and any assistance with refining this unique resource is most welcome.
Images PRG 933/13/133 & PRG 933/13/374 are identical.