Raparapa Kularr Martuwarra: Stories from the Fitzroy River Drovers

 WEST AUSTRALIANA
ABORIGINAL AUSTRALIAN AGRICULTURE

Nine Kimberley Aboriginal stockmen tell their stories – and each one reflects the hard slog of their lives, particularly the tough and often abusive living and working conditions. These men worked seven days a week, all-year-round for payment of tobacco, flour, tea, blankets and, sometimes, clothing. Held in high esteem, the four men who remain are Senior Elders, cultural advisors and lawmen who contribute to the welfare of their people and communities. The men in Raparapa are resourceful, resilient, flexible, strong and intelligent. They worked hard to better the lives of future generations of Aboriginal people in the Kimberley. Their foresight and determination helped Indigenous people buy back vast tracts of land on which they now live, with their families, running their own cattle stations. There is an underlying sense of pride in the work these men undertook. Their work ethic is matched only by their love of the Kimberley countryside and the mighty Fitzroy River flowing through it.

pp. xiv, 288 illusts Signed by Author (inscription) #0220/0620/210623/071023/230424

Aboriginal Anyway Battve Battye Ubrary Beagle Bay Bidyadanga billycan blackfellas bloke Bore boss branding Broome brother bullocks Bunuba bush called Camballin cattle Cherrabun Christmas Creek Derby droving Emanuel everything father fence finished Fitzroy Crossing Fitzroy River Go Go goanna Halls Creek happened head stockman helicopter homestead horses kangaroos kartiya kids killed Kimberley live llowerl look Looma Lower Liveringa Mile Moola Bulla motorcar Mt Anderson Mt Barnett mustering Myalls Myroodah Napier Range never night Noonkanbah nowadays Number Nyikina old fellas paddock Paul MarshalL pick police remember ride road Rod Taylor saddle sheep spaying started station managers stock camp stock route stockmen stockwork swag tell There’s told took truck trying tucker wages walk Walmajarri watch waterhole Watson whitefellas whiteman windmills women yard Yeeda young fellas