AustLit

A hearing in Darwin with the Industrial Commissioner leads to some interesting testimonies from local members of the Clerks' Union about their peculiar working conditions.

Bowditch describes the circumstances that led to an Aboriginal stockman murdering his wife and seriously wounding a white stockman, and the subsequent forty-day search to find the man.

Bowditch relates the story of Albert Namatjira's trial on charges of supplying alcohol to another Aboriginal man, and of how the differences between Aboriginal culture and white culture can affect Aboriginal people.

Bowditch recalls his friendship with the Anglican cleric, Arthur Gwyn-Jones. The priest, whose fondness for alcohol saw him transferred between parishes several times, was nonetheless an amiable and professional character says Bowditch.

When a difference of opinion between Bowditch and the mayor of Darwin, John 'Tiger' Lyons, escalates, the mayor challenges Bowditch to a fight. However, after a desultory attempt to fulfil the challenge, both men retire amicably to the mayor's back verandah to discuss the matter civilly over a drink.

Bowditch tells of how the actions of an 'honest cop' exposed the activities of many illegal gambling operations in Darwin.

In an endeavour to stop the practice of young airforce officers liasing with local Aboriginal women - an illegal practice at the time - a trap is devised in which a pretty young Aboriginal woman pretends to solicit in the area frequented by the servicemen. However, when it is discovered that the victim snared in the trap is a recent Italian immigrant, the course to justice takes a different path.

Bowditch relates the story of genial local, 'Dapper' Donald Duncan, who was for several years a cleaner at the offices of the Northern Territory Times, when Bowditch worked there, and the only true 'remittance-man'* Bowditch has ever met. 'Dapper' was originally from a privileged family in England, but his partiality for alcohol led him into disrepute, and to banishment in Australia. One evening the intoxicated Dapper fell off the wharf and survived six hours adrift on the ocean. Amazed by Dapper's feat, his employer sent him on a recuperative holiday shortly afterwards. Sadly, Dapper's holiday, the first he had ever had, was brought to an end with his death in an automobile accident on an isolated bush road.

(* An Englishman, from a good family, whose bad behaviour has resulted in his being sent to Australia where he lives off remittances sent by the family.)

Bowditch describes a gentle giant of a man, Feodore Cartchenko, whose idiosyncrasies led to him being regarded suspiciously by the townsfolk of Alice Springs.

Escaping over the walls of Fannie Bay gaol for a temporary respite was a regular occurrence tolerated by warders in the 1950s and '60s, but this tolerance was tested to the limits by the frequent disappearances of one prisoner. Following the intervention of a respected lawyer, the prisoner finally served out his sentence, realising that this was the quickest route to freedom.

Bowditch recalls the devastation of Cyclone Tracy and the heroic efforts of many people in aiding Darwin and its people to recover from the catastrophe.

Bowditch recounts his unwise decision to try and rescue his cat at the height of Cyclone Tracy.

When Hollywood actor, John Calvert, sent a distress signal stating that his luxury yacht, the Sea Fox, was in trouble somewhere off northern Australia, he offered very few details of its actual location. When eventually rescued, a tale emerged of Calvert having planned the disaster for publicity, of his infidelity and deceit, and of his exploitation and starvation of crew members.

Bowditch recalls a bemusing early-morning encounter with Miss Pink in which she rang his doorbell, clouted him with her umbrella and quickly stormed off with the words 'How dare you?' ringing in his ears. Though he never did find out what it was he had dared to do, Bowditch did discover that he was not the only person to have been on the painful receiving end of Miss Pink's wrath. However, Bowditch shows that any affront caused by her temperamental nature was easily overwhelmed by recognition of her passionate advocacy for Aboriginal rights.

When the Immigration Minister issued deportation orders for three well-liked and well-integrated Malaysian former pearl-divers, the Darwin community rallied to object.

Bowditch discourses on the establishment of casinos in the Northern Territory and other parts of Australia, and the history of human beings and their propensity for gambling.

Bowditch relates the story of an Aborigine from the desert regions who had been imprisoned for cattle stealing. With only three days of his sentence left to serve, the man, who had been dubbed 'Charlie', managed to outwit his guards and escape, never to be seen nor heard of again.

When a group of young men request to occupy four of five vacant government houses, locals are bewildered by the mysterious overnight disappearance of the fifth house. However, the answer is finally revealed to Bowditch many years later when one of the former occupants describes how the men obtained timber for their washing copper.

Bowditch recounts the story of Mick Daly and Gladys Namagu, a young white drover and a young Aboriginal woman, who wanted to get married but were prevented from doing so by law. When Mick was arrested and Gladys sent back to Western Australia, reporters Bowditch and Lockwood, took up their case. Though the Government would not budge on its stance, the reporters managed to gain the approval of the Catholic church for the couple to marry.

Bowditch relates the story of his encounter with the sculptor William (Billy) Ricketts in bushland outside Alice Springs and their subsequent friendship. He also offers biographical details of Rickett's unusual life and philosophical beliefs.