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MS 2533

Mowanjum Collection: Barunga Bequest



Access

Open access - reading. Copying permitted for private study. [Access code: A1 C1a]

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Scope and Content Note

Date range: 1947-1975 (bulk 1971-1975)

Extent: 26.5 cm (3 boxes) + 3 items in Plan Cabinet

The papers were presented to the AIATSIS Library, in memory of Albert Barunga, by Professor J.D. Freeman, in April 1986. Photographs and slides received with the collection have been transferred to the Institute's Audiovisual Archives Program.

The collection contains papers relating to the Mowanjum Community. Barunga, a Worrorra Elder, was an active member of this Community. There is a wealth of data about Mowanjum residents in Freeman’s foolscap notebook containing data on 'The Mowanjum Community: an enquiry’. Also included are notes by Freeman on the Mowanjum Community, papers relating to housing at the Community, including a Housing Project, minutes of meetings held at the Community, quarterly plans for the Community and lists of members of the Community and of the Mowanjum Mission School and Pre-School.

Mowanjum was established when the Presbyterian Board of Missions purchased a small property in 1955. The Mowanjum Community Inc. was incorporated on October 5, 1972, joining the associated tribal groups of Worrorra, Ngarinyin and Wunambal who lived at Mowanjum, six miles from Derby.

In 1973 Freeman was authorised by the Ruling Body of the Community to act as their agent in Canberra and elsewhere, in accordance with instructions from the Ruling Body.

Freeman's A report on Mowanjum community, with special reference to its housing needs, presented to the Aboriginal Housing Panel (1974) is available in the Library at PMS 423, and a second copy is held at PMS 424.

For a complete listing of the material, including audiovisual material, by Barunga and Freeman, that is held by the Institute, see the Mura® online catalogue.

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Name index

An index of selected names from this collection is available. To access these names contact the AIATSIS Family History Unit on 1800 730 129 (free call for family history enquiries only) or by email at family@aiatsis.gov.au.

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Biographical Note

Albert Barunga, was born in 1913 and died in 1977. He was a noted elder, and main spokesman, for the Worrorra tribe.

A founding member of the Aboriginal Cultural Foundation, Barunga was involved in encouraging Aborigines to contribute to the recording of their legends and life stories, which subsequently resulted in the publication of several books and the production of a number of tape-recorded reminiscences.

About this little devil and this little fella, story told by Albert Barunga; transcription by Stephen Muecke, and illustrations by Julie Dowling (Broome, W.A.,1999) was on the Western Australian Premier's Book Awards 1999 shortlist.

Barunga was the young 'tracker' who found Charles Kingsford Smith when his plane, the Southern Cross, was lost near the Kunmunya mission in the Kimberley on its way to Wyndham in 1929.

References:

 1.   Profile of Pudja Barunga on the Artists of Mowanjum website
 2    State Library of Western Australia website  

 

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Series List

1 Mowanjum, 1947, 1963, 1971-74
2 Housing Project, 1973-75
3 Miscellaneous papers, 1971-74
4 Ecumenical Institute at Mowanjum, 1971-73

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Series Descriptions

1.    MOWANJUM, 1947, 1963, 1971-74

This series consists of papers relating to Mowanjum and its people, including family history data.

Item

1

‘Mowanjum general notes’ 1947-74 and ‘Notes on Mowanjum’, Aug-Sept 1974, by J.D. Freeman. Handwritten

2

‘Notes on Mowanjum Council’, 1973-74, by J.D. Freeman. Handwritten

3

‘The Mowanjum Community: an enquiry’ conducted by Derek Freeman, Department of Anthropology, Research School of Pacific Studies, Australian National University, between 21 August and 27 September 1974. The survey covers such matters as historical data on population, family history, occupants, children at pre-school, primary and high schools and there are also the results of an opinion survey. Pencilled notes in foolscap book with cover title ‘The Mowanjum’

4

Papers, 1963, 1972-74. Includes Minutes of Meetings, Constitution of Mowanjum Community Incorporated, ‘An Act of Determination by the Aborigines of Mowanjum Community’. Also a crayon drawing by Timothy Jorda, born 25.9.63, of a jet plane landing at Derby Airport. Mainly photocopies or carbon copies

5

Mowanjum Community list, which includes family relationships and occupations and house occupants. Also lists of pupils in Derby High School classes and the Mowanjum Mission school and pre-school.

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2.   HOUSING PROJECT, 1973-76

This series relates to the building of houses at the Mowanjum Community.

Item

1

‘A report on Mowanjum Community with special reference to its housing needs’ [Also available at PMS 423 and PMS 424]. Also includes ‘Settled at Last? a contribution to ‘How to Live? the Problems of the Transition to Sedentary Settlement amongst Australian Aborigines, Section 25, 46th ANZAAS Congress, 1975, by J.D. Freeman [Also available at PMS 611]

2-3

Papers, 1973-74. Includes correspondence, diagrams, notes, including notes on meetings, photograph, sketch maps, plans, and reports. Also included is a ‘Report on the provision of services and housing for the Mowanjum Housing Society, Derby, W.A.’, by Clarke, Gazzard and Flower, an assessment of the report by Peter Myers and a response to the assessment by Donald Gazzard

4

Plans for the Mowanjum Houses, 1973-74. Includes floor plans, site plan and sketch plan elevations. Plans drawn by Clarke Gazzard Flower Architects

5-6

Mowanjum Community in Relation to the Derby Aerodrome, 1974. Includes plans, notes, correspondence and aerial photograph

7-8

Aboriginal Housing Panel, 1973-74. Includes site and other plans, correspondence, ‘Bibliography: Aboriginal housing’ (Oct. 1974) and an assessment of the architects proposals by Peter Myers

9

Plans and maps, 1974-75. House, site plan and schematic town plans for, and sketch map of, Mowanjum (Sept. 1974) and blurb for the Second International Conference on Jojoba and its uses (1975)

10

‘Mowanjum: comments on Peter Myers’ assessment’ and ‘Notes on social space at Mowanjum’, by Peter Lucich. Included are 1963 maps of family units, of the old people’s area and of the Mission, Worrorra kinship categories and marriage (1974) and clan relationships of Alan Mungulu of Mowanjum (1974) and a covering letter to Freeman.

11

Abstracts of papers for 'How to live? The problems of the Transition to Sedentary Settlement amongst Australian Aborigines’, 1974, and covering letter regarding publication of Freeman’s paper

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3.   MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS 1971-74

Item

1

Notes by J.B. Birdsell on Worora [Worrorra] Hordes. Informant Albert Barunga, 6.6.73

2

Notes written by Elkin Umbagai, of her own accord, and presented to Maisie McKenzie when she was writing The road to Mowanjum, 1973

3

‘A Proposal for beginning the reconstruction of the Wunan in the Kimberley’

4

'Proposal for a cultural Djaruk for the Kimberley Area' submitted to the Aboriginal Arts Foundation by the Mowanjum elders, the Oombulgurri elders, Kununurra representatives [and] Port Keats representatives, prepared by David Mowaljarlai and Sam Umbagai with the assistance of the Institute of Cultural Affairs

5

‘Sacred sites and their protection’, by Albert Barunga. Reprinted from The Preservation of Australia’s Aboriginal heritage: report of National Seminar on Aboriginal Antiquities in Australia; Canberra, 1972

6

‘Mowanjum Dance Group’, 1971. Photocopy from the Department of Native Welfare Newsletter, v.1, no. 10, May 1971

7

Mowanjum projects, 1974. Small file with letter and report on a possible pet food industry, a handcraft price guide and brief list of projects

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4.   ECUMENICAL INSTITUTE AT MOWANJUM, 1971-73

Item

1

Mowanjum Community Quarterly plans, 1971. Includes 1st and 2nd quarter evaluations, and 3rd and 4th quarter plans. Also a leaflet, ‘Just what is the Ecumenical Institute?’

2

Papers, including ‘Fifth city and N.C.O.: two styles of community organization’, a thesis by Robert Bos, McCormick Theological Seminary, 1971

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Box List

Box

Series

Items

1

1

1-2

   

4-5

 

2

1-3

   

6-7

   

9-11

2

3

 
 

4

 

3

1

3

Plan Cabinet

2

4-5

   

8

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Finding Aid updated by J. Churches, November 2002