Scotch College

Donald Findlay Fergusson Thomson OBE – and Rraywala Mildjingi

In the 1930s an Old Scotch Collegian and a Yolgnu warrior came together in a meeting of two very different cultures.

WORDS: MR JOHN OFFICER – Staff Photography: Arnham Land Photos by D F Thomson courtesy of the Thomas Family and Museum Victoria

Clockwise from left: Donald Thomson OBE (1901–1970); Rraywala with dingo pup; Donald Thomson in wet season hut

During the third week of Term 2 this year, my wife and I, our children James Thomson-Officer (‘08) and Isabel, and my wife’s family travelled to Darwin to attend a commemoration service and unveiling of a headstone on the grave of a Yolgnu warrior and leader named Rraywala Mildjingi.

Rraywala was born in Arnhem Land in about 1905 and was buried in an unmarked grave at Marrara Cemetery in Darwin on 20 February 1965. He was a remarkable man who became a friend, mentor, guide and bodyguard to my late father–in–law, Melbourne anthropologist Donald Thomson (’20), during his travels through Arnhem Land from 1935 to 1937.

In the early 1930s there had been much unrest amongst the Yolgnu, including the spearing of a police constable on Woodah Island and five Japanese fishermen at Caledon Bay. There was widespread talk of sending a punitive expedition of mounted police into Arnhem Land, and, knowing what that would mean for the Yolgnu, Donald volunteered to go there, ascertain the causes of the unrest, and pacify the situation. The federal government accepted his offer. In 1935 he went to Arnhem Land, and succeeded in his mission. However, as my brother-in-law said so memorably at the commemoration service, he could not have achieved what he did without Rraywala’s help.

Rraywala acted as his guide and mentor, teaching him about Yolgnu language, culture and appropriate behaviour, and gained them safe passage across hostile and unknown country. The two men became so close that in 1937 Donald was formally adopted into the Mildjingi clan by Rraywala as his brother – a tradition that still continues. When my family went to Arnhem Land in late 2000 we stayed with Rraywala’s son Jimmy Birinyila Mildjingi, who confirmed that my wife was his sister and a member of the Mildjingi clan, and we were all given what are known as ‘skin names’.

When war broke out and the threat of the Japanese invasion of Northern Australia was very real, Rraywala became a fully enlisted soldier in the Northern Territory Special Reconnaissance Unit which was set up in 1942 by the–then Squadron Leader Donald Thomson. Although Donald recommended Rraywala for a military award for his service, it was never afforded to him, and his contribution and that of others in the NTSRU towards the defence of Australia remains largely unknown.

The ceremony itself was very moving, with speakers including the Member for Arnhem Land, Malarndirri McCarthy. NORFORCE provided an honour guard, including one soldier who had just completed tours of duty in Afghanistan and Iraq. My brother-in-law spoke about the journey these two men went on together, both actual and in a figurative sense, and how remarkable it was for two men from such vastly different worlds to be able to forge such a strong and mutually respectful friendship.

The story of Donald and Rraywala has always resonated profoundly with me. It led me to take a great interest in contemporary Aboriginal issues concerning culture, traditional law and ceremony, health and the conditions under which so many Yolgnu people live compared with the conditions under which we live. On our trip into Arnhem Land in 2000 we were shocked and saddened to see the conditions under which so many people – our fellow Australians – live, and searched for something we could do to help.

We were fortunate to meet Richard Trudgen, of Aboriginal Resources and Development Services Inc. It was in the process of starting a Yolgnu language radio station which would broadcast throughout north-east Arnhem Land in the people’s own language. Richard has a deep understanding of Yolgnu language and culture and believes that many of the problems are caused by cultural and linguistic confusion. He sees the radio station as a way of reaching a much wider audience than would otherwise be possible. It aims to give the people information on health issues, how our law works, how our economy is structured and so forth – all in the Yolgnu language.

The radio station is now up and running and while we were in Darwin I took the opportunity to go to the studio and view its progress. The Scotch community has assisted them in the past, with the proceeds of the 2007 24 hour hike donated towards its running. For those of you interested in the work being done, broadcasts are now streaming online. Go to www.ards.com.au and follow the links.

Incidentally, bark paintings from the Thomson collection were exhibited at the Ian Potter Gallery, The University of Melbourne, earlier this year. GS