'Robert McKeich, was born in Auckland, New Zealand in1923. He grew up through the Great Depression years. Robert served three years in the New Zealand Army and Air Force in World War II.' In 1954 McKeich moved from New Zealand to Cundeelee in Western Australia to open a government school for Aborigines. Earning the respect of the Aboriginal people, McKeich was initiated as one of the few white men to become an Aboriginal Elder into the Wangakayi tribe by the Cundeelee community.
To further his knowledge of Aboriginal culture McKeich studied at the University of Western Australia majoring in Psychology and Anthropology and was conferred a PhD in Anthropology. McKeich established the Katukutu Hostel for Aboriginal young men in Perth, and at the age of 88 published his first book. (Source: backcover; and Amazon website www.amazon.com)
