2011 - Theses - Flinders University

White Lives in a Black Community: The lives of Jim Page and Rebecca Forbes in the Adnyamathanha communityTracy SpencerVolume Three Appendices: Creative Life WritingSection F: BelongingNepabunna Office, 2001The new community centre at Nepabunna houses a set of copies of Mountford’s photographs,and the manager has given me permission to look at them, and make photocopies if I like.There are some portraits, and a series of thumbnails of the mission buildings, and I try toorient myself in these images, and fail. The church has been rebuilt since then, and the otherold buildings pulled down long ago. Even the hills look different to me.There is also a series of large photographs of a men’s ceremony. I assume these must bethe public part of the ceremony, because I have been allowed to look at them, and because Isee a woman walking past the camera in one of them. Old Dick Coulthard is there, andArchie McKenzie, wearing the wide horn headdress. A young man wears a baler shell, andthe men dressed in trousers and shirts standing around him sport various styles of ringers’hats as well.These photographs must come from Charlie Mountford’s fourth and final visit toNepabunna, when he finally gets to witness a Wilyeru ceremony. 43 I can only imagine theteeth grinding that went on in the Eaton’s house. But it was a time of consternation foreveryone. Whether it had been decided at the time or not, this would be the last Wilyeruceremony for the Adnyamathanha. 44 Ray Forbes, being too young and not ready, would nevergo through.It was also the visit where Monty had a ‘remarkable personal experience,’ sitting withDick Coulthard in a creek bed. He knew Dick was a rainmaker, but had thought no more of it.A big whirlwind approached them, threatening to send his papers flying and cover them indust, leaves and debris. ‘At that stage, the Aboriginal chanted the spell to divert the wind. To