Reunion story: Douglas family
Uncle Lawrence’s Story
My name is Lawrence Douglas, I was born in Cherbourg and I grew up with my mother, my father and my siblings. From a young age I was told that my father looked after my grandmother and grandfather till they passed away, and that my grandmother was taken from Waanyi country in 1912 and my grandfather was taken from Takalak country.
I was told by my mother that my Nan Linda Douglas nursed me when I was a baby, unfortunately she passed away in 1959 and I never heard stories from her. The majority of what I know was told was through my Grandfather Nimrod Dawson as he grew up on country. Growing up in Cherbourg under the Act, we had to ask for permission to do simple things, and when we received permission, we were still monitored and restricted. So as a child hearing of how our people hunted, roamed, and gathered on our country until they got in trouble for killing cattle, I found both mesmerizing and humorous. It went on to be one of my fondest stories he told me.
For me speaking to my Pop made me feel he was a great man of wisdom and knowledge of the area our family came from. I understood the importance behind his words, the feelings of being taken away from our home country and put so far away, and having our freedom taken in the process.
When I was 14, I started to lose track of myself and my selfdirection. I fell into alcoholism and into trouble with the law. It was not until I was 29 years of age when I woke up and said no more. I have not drunk since. Overcoming these struggles so early in my years, I developed a strong resilience and a determination to get back home.
From 1995 until now I have been working towards going home to my grandmother’s homeland. My son and I were discussing ways to get up to country and my grandson Jacob came into my life at the right time.
My Grandson Jacob and my son Koby are two individuals that I am thankful for and proud of. They worked together to get me up to country, something I have been striving to do for a long time. They are a big part of me, and I carry them in my heart.
Landing in Mt Isa I felt so positively overwhelmed and emotional, just being in the area and setting foot on soil in the far north.
I thought to myself, with my grandson next to me, about how thankful I am for this opportunity that I had been waiting for so long to achieve.
The first night in Mt Isa thoughts were running through my head, about Nan and Pop, about where they came from, and about me being so close to the place I was only told stories about. The next morning, we drove to Waanyi country. When we got to the sign location and opened the door, my grandson and I both took of our shoes to feel the hot soil burning our feet, the connection to the land was indescribable. It was a flourish of mixed emotions, good and bad, sorrow and happiness all mixed into one. I wish I born up in this country, it was beautiful. That night my thoughts were “not far now”.
The next morning on our drive out to Lawn Hill station, I got to see the full landscape. It was barren and dry, the landscape had changed dramatically since my Pop and Nan were there. Arriving at the station, I was surprised to see it sitting on a hill overseeing an oasis. As I was sitting at the station with my grandson, thoughts of my grandmother being taken from this country, and never returned were running through my head. I felt my Nan and Pop were sitting next to me. I felt the need to go right down the creek, so I listened. Standing by the creek, I felt a rush of sadness and sorrow, a deep pain inside. One question was rushing though my head.
Why? Why were they taken from way out here? Why couldn’t they leave them to be happy? This was such a faraway place from Cherbourg. I felt their sadness, I had been reunited with their spirits. They were home and I was there with them.
While I was sad for them, I was happy I could be there as a representation for my family back in Cherbourg. Driving away from the station, part of me wanted to stay, but I knew I would be back. I am thankful to Josh and Sloane for taking the trip with my grandson and I, and while I could not take my son with me this time, I will be back with him next time.
Jacob’s Story
My name is Jacob George, born Jacob White, in Gladstone Queensland. I grew up in Ipswich, Queensland with my mother, stepfather, and sisters. Through the means of the Aboriginal Protection Act, my three times great grandmother, Linda Douglas (Nee Piggot), was taken away from Waanyi country and was sent to Breakfast Creek mission. My Grandmother along with her siblings grew up in the Ipswich/Churchhill area as fringe dwellers.
My grandmother would talk of stories of living in fear of being taken away for being mixed race Aboriginal, as well as her experiences of racism and institutionalisation. Hearing these stories made me feel sad, but also prideful knowing how she and her siblings found the strength to overcome and push forward in life. Throughout the generations all my family members have wanted to go back home, but many things have always stood in their way, whether this be law, age, trauma, or distance. Knowing this gives me the most motivation to go back home.
As my Great Grandmother Josephine Conway did not speak much of her childhood or history, I learnt a lot of my knowledge through speaking to my Grandmother, Faith Basset (Nee White). I have always pushed hard to learn as much family history and culture through oral and written information.
I am proud to be the first of 5 generations to be going back to Waanyi country.
When my family got news that my Nan Josie was close to dying, my great grandfather, 1st cousin to my Nan Josephine Conway, reached out to me and came into my life. This brought light to a sorrowful moment. Pop Lawrie Douglas requested my help in escorting and assisting him back to country, and with the help of Koby we got the opportunity to go to Waanyi country together.
Flying to Mt Isa, I was feeling many emotions. Nervousness, excitement and happy all in one. Once landing it felt like we were one step closer to where we needed to go. That it was just the next step to our journey to Waanyi Country. Before going to Waanyi Country we met an especially important person to our people, Nan Cathy Willots, who told us the history and struggle that our people have had leading up the success of winning native title for Waanyi people. Hearing the stories gave me a sense of pride, that our people still to this day are so strong and prideful in what they are doing and what they have done shows the greatest amount of respect to all Waanyi people, ancestors and Country.
Driving towards Waanyi Country I became excited, as it was the closest I had been to home before. Once we got out at the Waanyi Country sign I felt a sense of relief, and realisation that where we were standing was tribal land.
Coming back to country I felt a huge weight off my shoulders that had been there for long time, getting heavier with each generation. I was proud, relieved and at peace.
This weight my family had been carrying through the generations had been lifted. I took in the scenery, the air, and the environment before me. It was beautiful. Heading from the sign towards Gregory Downs for the night, I was taking in the landscape of the country, how rough, beautiful, and rugged it was. I was in awe. The night at Gregory Downs was the best sleep I got the whole time. I had stood barefoot on the hot soil of our country, now I was sleeping the night here. I felt as if all my old people who had not been given the opportunity to return home had been put to rest.
Going to Lawn Hill Station, the first thing I noticed was the change of landscape, and how quickly it changed from hilly country to flat savannah. Arriving at Lawn Hill Station I received a rush of emotions. Sitting on the edge of the cliff where the station stood, I was able to acknowledge the history of the station and the significance it held to our family. Pop and I took the time to sit, admire and commemorate the country that belongs to us, the Waanyi people.
Going down to the water and walking along the edge of Lawn Hill Creek took me back in time to how our people would have been living all along this river. Admiring how magical it was; the crystal-clear deep water, the tall overhanging Pandanus Palms, the red, damp and rich soil and the long standing and aged paper bark trees. Pop and I had many moments along the creek when we just stood or sat and stared at the landscape. For me it gave me a sense of pride and strength knowing that our family come from here.
Leaving the station, felt like I was leaving a piece of me there with the Country itself and with the emotions and thoughts of an assured return. I am thankful for everyone that went into helping Pop and I get back to Waanyi Country, we enjoyed and needed every moment.
Published March 2021.