The+Cattle+Industry


 * The Cattle Industry/Pastoralists**

//'Packhorse & Waterhole'// by Buchanan, Gordon (1997) Format: [|Book: Packhorse & Waterhole by Gordon Buchanan] Published by: Hesperian Press, Western Australia (1997)
 * Resource One: Non-Indigenous perspective**

Gordon Buchanan, is the son of Nathaniel Buchanan (probably the same Buchanan referred to in the book 'born in the cattle'?). Buchanan, tries to capture the the life of his father in those early pastoral years. Between droving in New South Wales and Victorian golfields, Nat Buchanan is seen to be enthusiastic about droving. Nat Buchanan is described as having various roles in a variety of locations. Moving from Bowen, to Darwin then eventually to the Ord River region. Encounters are mentioned between Aboriginal people and white settlers, especially in relation to 'cattle killings'.

In the last chapter, Gordon describes his father in this light '...lives of pioneer endeavour harden some souls, and fill others with kindsness, sympathy, and understanding. So Nat died, clear of soncience and " at love and charity with his neighbours" (p.108).

'Emerarra - A man of Merrara' by Jebb, Mary Ann(1996). Morndi Munro talks with Daisy Angajit, Weeda Nyanulla, Campbell Allenbar and Banjo Woorunmurra Format: Book Published by: Magabala Books Aboriginal Corporation. Broome, Western Australia.
 * Resource Two: Edited by Non-Indigenous person but Indigenous version's of accounts.**

This book begins with Morndi describing the origin of his name, stating '...it's a salwater name...the saltwater mirage...(p.1). He begins his journey by describing the country, his country and others, set in the Kimberley region. Between Kimberley Downs and Napier is where he is born. Literally being born in the paddock, where his mother used to work the branding iron. He describes being born in '...the bush, like a mob of calf....(p.5). Growing up in the bush doing tradtional things, like hunting seem like good times to him.

Morndi, Allenbr and Woorunmurra retell there accounts about stations, station managers and working as stockman. Their individual experiences are expressed with enthusiasm but in the most part is often potraying tough times. Some instances are very strict and hard laboured work. Some accounts depict the power white settlers had on Aboriginal people, in particular stealing wives of Aboriginal men.

The end of the book is very heart felt. There is a lot of pain expressed in the way white settlers came onto country. There is a lot of pain also about how the white settlers left country. In concluding Wooorunmurra said '...I say this to the government; you trying to force us to look after our country, but we can't do it. The white man has been there before you told us to look after country. It's too late for you to say that. And we were struggling to get the places out from whtie man, bu they wouldn't give us the land. We vote Labour; today we still vote Labor. We were cheap labour, but government, he's a money man now, he's rich labour...(p.151)

//'Three Families Outback - In Australia's Tropic North'// by Martin, Florence (1980) Format: Book Published by Hesperian Press (2007)
 * Resource Three: Non-Indigenous perspective**

Florence Martin was born in 1909 in Wyndham, Western Australia. She was one of eight children and she spent most of her childhood growing up at Carlton Station.

She begins the book describing Wyndham and all it's elements, from one single strip of road to the two storey building of Wyndham Hotel. Among these things she also describes the meatworks at the beginning; it's economic and social status. Throughout the book she makes reference to people like the Duracks, who managed the cattle industry along the Ord River region during the pastoral era. She also notes of an understanding of some the traditional customs in the region, for example she describes '...An established custom throughout the native tribes of the north is that they are not permitted by tribal law to speak the name of a dead person...'(p.57) She tells the story of her family and their experiences from the early pioneering years to leaving the Kimberley in 1926. There are a variety of images of landscape, infrasture and family portraits.

//Note: Video may contain images of Indigenous people who are deceased.//
 * Resource Four: Edited by Non-Indigenous person but Indigenous version's of accounts.**

Video of '..The Kimberley Indigenous Management Support Service - Kimberley Cattlement Pt1&2.

This video looks at contemporary life on cattle stations in the Kimberley region. Exploring what was once an Non-Indigenous Management domain, is now about the survival of cattle stations currently under Indigenous management. The Kimberley Indigenous Management Support Service is said to be a joint program between the Department of Agriculture and Food and the Indigenous Land Corporation.

KIMSS is said to '...increase the profitability and sustainability of the Kimberley Indigenous pastoral industry by providing management and technical support to Kimberley Aboriginal land managers...' and '....operates according to the directions and needs identified by the Aboriginal land managers and corporations...'

Colin Fuller, a Coordinator with KIMMS grew up in the 60's among station lifestyle. Fuller begins this documentary by describing how station life was like when he was growing up and the raising the concern that alot of properties were now becoming run down. He highlights what KIMMS is trying to establish, that is to lift up standards in the place for '...better management overall...'

Dicki Cox, reports how others and himself wanted to '...run these stations on our own but we like to learn more about that, how to run place...so others can see...'

//Part One:// media type="youtube" key="wg5j3JrExZw " width="309" height="271"

//Part Two:// media type="youtube" key="ZEmCiWAJykY" width="312" height="282"

Robin Yeeda, a Manager of Lamboo station (near Halls Creek) begins the second part of this documentary, describing how he loves to work back at home with his family. He talks about how he enjoys seeing the place he and his family work on getting developed. He goes on to describe how by becoming a sustainable property, it will enable him and his family to work and enjoy life on the station for many years to come.

Format: Poem **[|The Tale of the light roan cow]** by Mary Durack (1930
 * Resource Five: Non-Indigenous person**

Biography of Mary Durack. Mary Durack was born on the 20th February 1919, she was the daughter of Michael Durack who was one the early pioneers in the Kimberley region. The Durack name is a fairly familiar name in the Kununurra region.She grew up in the surrounding areas of Argyle and Ivanhoe. She is known for her many books like "Kings in Grass Castles' and "Sons in the Saddle". As well as an author, she was a historian and a poet.

//'Born in the Cattle'// by McGrath, Ann (1987). Format [|E-book] Published by: Allen & Unwin
 * Resource Six: Edited by Non-Indigenous person but Indigenous version's of accounts.**

//Acknowledgements by McGrath:// "..My interpretation was only made possible by those who generously shared their station experiences; through words and taking me to special places..." (McGrath, i)

Introduction:

"...In Australia's cattle country, Aborigines tell of lives spent in an historical landscape different to that crossed by Aborigines hunting and gathering. The white intruders wore boots, rode horses, travelled different roads and were ignorant of the paths were spirits had left their mark...."(McGrath, viii of Intro) "...Aborigines watned their story to be told. I interviewed a number of Europeans and Aborigines involved in the cattle industry. As Aborigines were key participants in the drama, their voices are given prominance. But I am not merely a passive observer or mouthpiece; I have listened with as open mind as my values would allow, but then stood back and used my sources critically, and in conjuction with a rich variety of contemporary historical documents. Weight has been awarded to views which fit in credibly with the broad picture growing from my data and analysis...'(McGrath, viii of Intro)

The book begins with a character by the name of Amy Laurie, a Gurinji woman. McGrath captures the image of Amy as strong woman, who in all her 70 years has experienced many things in life. She is said to be an expert in fishing, a woman with vast bush knowledge and amazing droving skills. Amy retells her grandfather's version of accounts in seeing the first white man on horse, which was also described as '.... a devil riding another devil...(p.1). Amy also mentions the character Nat Buchanan.

Throughout the book there are series of apprehension among the local Aboriginal people towards the white settlers. A new world that is now made up of strange men with strange sticks in their hands, strange animals and strange food. The cattle industry is fast spreading, which now is followed by agression then serious conflict. Relationships between Aboriginal people and their counterparts are rocky.

The book ends in the idea that although Aboriginal were faced with harsh situations, McGath captures that there is still a desire from Aboriginal '...to live side by side with white man...(p.145)