National Archives of Australia, Darwin Office
Series NTAC1976/23 Item 14
Bulman Visit
Copyright P J Mackett, 2009
Bulman Visit 31. 8.1974 - 6. 9.1974
The objective in visiting the Bulman region was to assess relations between the
groups at Weemoll and Gulpuren and to form an opinion of the influence of such
relationships on developments in the region.
31. 8.1974 Left Darwin
1. 9.1974 At Beswick picked up Rex Campion who wanted to go to Bulman.
At Flying Fox Creek picked up Ricky Forbes and his family also seeking
to return to Bulman.
Arrived Bulman.
Proceeded to camping place on the Wilton (Bonijaku). Met Willie Martin
en route. He was planning a mortuary ceremony for the remains of his
father to take place in August 1975.
Willie told me Nancy Weston had come to teach at Bulman but had been
removed by relations (Paddy Fordham and Charlie Kanatanga) after a short
stay as they were 'jealous' for her welfare at Bulman (her father is
dead and her mother Lily lives at Beswick.)
2. 9.1974 Met Tex and Nellie Camfoo, Larry Murray and Chuck-A-Duck Lindsay,
all of whom are living, with their families, at Gulperun (the old
miners campsite).
There are only two Aborigines working at Mainoru at present,
Terry Cameron and his wife Dorothy (Nellie Camfoo's sister).
....With the aid of excellent source material supplied by Mrs Campbell I am
appending details of local relationships which demonstrates clearly the
homogeneity of the contemporary Bulman people (strengthened and developed
of course by their close association at Mainoru in happier days).
Sheet 1(A)
Tex Camfoo
Nelly, wife
Wayne, son, born 3. 5.1964
(Family at Bulman. Sheet has been censored.)
Sheet 1(B)
Larry Murray, born 1905
Dolly Murray, wife
Susan, daughter, married to Rex Campion
Annette, daughter, born 20. 2.1958, at Kormilda
Sonia, daughter, born 7. 9.1960, at Kormilda
Roland, son, born 31. 5.1963
Kirstyn, daughter, born 29. 1.1966
Cynthia, daughter, born 5. 8.1968
Regina, daughter, born 5. 3.1971
Lazarus, son, born 26. 9.1972
(Larry's previous wife, Peggy, now living in Katherine.
Larry, Dolly, Roland, Kirstyn, Lazarus marked at Bulman Susan marked (8).)
Sheet 1(C)
Chuck-A-Duck Lindsay
Florrie, wife
Ronnie Lindsay, son, 29 yrs, works at EAS
(Chuck-A-Duck and Florrie at Bulman. Florrie has a H/C child Eileen Moore
(father Billy Moore) in Darwin, married to a European.)
Sheet 1(D)
Willy Martin, born 1937
Lucy Martin, wife, born 1937
Scott, son, born20.12.1958
Lynette, daughter, born 22. 3.1960
Ewen, son, born 16. 7.1962
Margaret Jolly, wife, born 16. 8.1956,
father Jolly Laiwanga and mother Gabiji (Flora Nitawanga) of Bamyili
Coleen, daughter, born 28. 8.1972
Faviola, about 1 year
(Also caring for John Cameron born 18. 7.1957 and Donald Cameron born 18.11.1959
(father Henry deceaed and mother deceased) and Tony Cameron born 21. 7.1963
(father Henry deceased and mother Glen now married to George Lowitjawui).
Lucy Martin ? previously married to Chuck-a-Duck Lindsay.
Family at Bulman.)
Sheet 1(E)
Tom Kelly, born 1945
Lynette, born 22. 3.1960, wife, parents Willy and Lucy,
brothers Scott and Ewen (see Sheet 1(d))
No issue
(Family at Bulman.)
Sheet 1(F)
Ronnie Martin, born 10. 6.1945
Peggy Martin, born 1944, wife
Sandra, daughter, born 14. 2.1966
Duncan, born 25. 6.1968, son
Spencer, born 12. 9.1969, son
Shane, born 10. 5.1972, son
(Peggy is in Katherine Hospital at present awaiting birth of baby.
Family at Bulman.)
Sheet 1(G)
Ricky Forbes, father Don Forbes Ritarrngu at Nangalala
and mother Anne Gunumba Rembarrnga at Bulman
June Bowden, born 16. 6.1948, wife, father Diver Bowden at Mountain Valley
and mother Rachel at Bam.
Richard, born 17. 2.1966, son
Shirley-Anne, born 26. 7.1970, daughter
Sheila, born 14. 2.1974, daughter
(Rachel ran away to Bamyili with a young boy. She is the daughter of
Peter Ngulupuma deceased and 1/2 sister to Peter Cameron. Diver is a full
Nalagan in Tex Camfoo's family.
Family at Bulman.)
Sheet 1(H)
Jerry Cameron, born 17.12.1953
Dorothy Murray, wife
No Issue
(Family at Mainoru. See also Sheet 1(D) with Broelus John and Donald.
Sheet has been censored.)
Sheet 1(I)
Bruce Murray, father Jack Murray and mother Alice Murray (Boehme)
Nancy Murray, wife, father deceased and mother Peggy Martin
No issue
(Peggy Martin is now married to Ronnie Martin Sheet 1(F).
Family at Bulman. Sheet has been censored.)
Sheet 1(J)
Butcher
Nelly Rakai, born 1928, wife
No issue
(I have not details of Butcher except that he is a Nalkbon man.
Nelly was previously married to Alec Anelam (Tiwi). Some eight
of her children are at Bamyili with Alec.
Family at Bulman.)
Sheet 1(K)
Denny (Dean) Raindjing, born 1930 (Morphet), parents deceased Jinba
Florence, born 2.10.1958, wife, father Billy Jugai (Waillri) and
mother Peggy Rembarrnga at Bamyili
Joshua, born 30. 8.1973, son
(Family at Bulman.)
Sheet 1(L)
Peter Cameron, father Peter Ngulupuma and mother deceased
Vera Ashley, father deceased and mother Rittarngu at Nangalala
No Issue
(Family at Bulman.)
Sheet 1(M)
Bill Lawrence, born 1930
Abie, born 1944, wife now separated
Kim, born 1. 7.1959, daughter
Vivienne, born 7. 6.1961, daughter
Yvonne, born 27.12.1963, daughter
Lachlan, born 5. 3.1966, son
(Abie now lives with Bill Roy (at Bagot ?). She has a H/C son, Brett
(father Tony Patrick). She separated from Bill on this account.
Bill, Yvovve and Lachlan marked as living at Bulman.
Bill Lawrence also 'grew up' Dennis Lawrence.)
Unnamed Nalkbon parents had the following children
Bill Lawrence, above
Barney Gunini, died at Bamyili
Dick Gunjumul, son Dennis has been 'grown up' by Bill
Jinny, married to Jolly Laiwanga
Flora Kabiji, married to Jolly
Mary Bungapu, widow, son Jack Jadum
Sheet 1(N)
Dennis Lawrence, father Dick Gunjumul Sheet 1(M)
Elizabeth Avelam, born 19. 9.1959, father Alec and mother Nellie (separated)
No issue, just married
(Family at Bulman.
Nellie now married to Butcher, both at Bulman. Sheet 1(J).)
Sheet 1(O)
Rex Campion, born 1949, father Barney Bulmarangu at Maningrida and
mother Rose Myalbis Sr. (Maiyalpi)
Susan Murray, born 1954, wife
Rhonda, born 10. 6.1971, daughter
Sharon, born 13. 2.1973, daughter
(Family at Bulman.)
Sheet 1(P)
Paddy Martin, Rembarrnga
Margaret Martin, Wulagi, wife
Nellie, daughter, married to Tex Camfoo
Willie, son, first wife Lucy, second wife Margaret
Smiler, son, married Lorna
Dolly, daughter, married Larry Murray
Dorothy, daughter, married Jerry Cameron
Ronnie, son, married Peggy
(Tex Camfoo and Larry Murray are cousins (mothers were full sisters).
Lucy Martin was formerly married to Chuck-A-Duck Lindsay. Stolen by Willie.
Dorothy is the widow of - line ends here.)
Unnamed Rembarrnga / Nalkbon man
Unnamed Rembarrnga woman, wife
Chuck-A-Duck, son, married to Florrie
Peggy, daughter, married to Larry Murray, now in Katherine
Alice, daughter, married to Carl Boehme
Unnamed Rembarrnga man
Unnamed Rembarrnga woman, wife
Dick, son, married to Dorothy Murray who is now married to Jerry Cameron
Florrie, daughter, married to Chuck-A-Duck
Larry, son, married to Dolly
Lucy, daughter, married to Willy Martin and formerly married to Chuck-A-Duck
Sheet 1(Q)
Single People
Sidney J Cook, family at Bamyili
Victor Bun-Bun, works for C C Howells
Anne Gunumba, pensioner, see Sheet 1(G)
Bob Yalang, from Bamyili (on Weemoll wages)
John Cameron, see Sheet 1(D)
Donald Cameron, see Sheet 1(D)
Tony, Jolly Laiwanga's son
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