My good friend and fellow historian, Phil Bianchi, recently wrote a book on the well-known bushman, tracker, drover and pastoralist Tommy Ningebong. Tommy was a highly regarded Aboriginal man from the Wiluna district. Phil tells me that every person he interviewed about Tommy for the book spoke of how Tommy was a such a genuine person, a hard worker and a most lovable chap.
The following is an extract from Phil’s book and part of an article he did for the Western 4wdriver’s Spring/current edition magazine. Many thanks, Phil for your kind permission to share the story. Details of where to purchase the book are at the end of the article.
Tommy Ningebong
Bushman, Tracker, Drover, Stockman and Pastoralist
Tommy Ningebong was born at Well 9 on the Canning Stock Route (CSR), circa 1900. He lived all his life in the Wiluna, Carnegie Station and Carnarvon Range area; working as a stockman, tracker, horse breaker, dogger, camp cook and gardener. The spelling of his surname is Ningebong and not Ingerbong as thought by many. He, however, preferred to be known as Tommy. Tommy didn’t see himself as an Aborigine living in a white man’s world. He saw himself as a person living within the Wiluna district community, and was welcomed and treated as such. He was held in high regard by Wiluna identities, with many willing to provide assistance and help him fight the bureaucracy to protect his rights.
Tommy Ningebong – Photo courtesy of Keith Quartermain
Tommy was never initiated, he left his tribal group when quite young. His first brush with white men occurred during the construction of Well 9 on the CSR in 1908 when explosives were detonated. His terrified mother grabbed him, and they ran off.
Henry Ward Snr was at Windich Springs circa 1912. Tommy and two other boys were there and were offered jobs. Tommy first worked as a stock boy on Millbillie Station and then lived with Fred Pope near Granite Peak Station. Pope taught him saddlery and horse handling. By 1919, Tommy was breaking horses for the Indian Army remounts and the Australian Light Horse.
Tommy Ningebong – Photo Bill Cresswell
Tommy was a strong man in the 1930s, and locals encouraged him to enter the shotput events at the Wiluna sports day. In preparation for the event, Tommy practised by throwing a small anvil. When it came to his turn, he found the shot was half the weight of the anvil and he threw it so far he embarrassed the competition. On one occasion during fencing on Millrose Station, the fencers were unable to get a cart loaded with fencing wire across a lake. Picking up 3 coils of wire at one time, one on each shoulder and one around his neck, a total weight of 150 kilos, Tommy took them across.
Tommy was an expert tracker and bushman; he first rose to prominence through his expert tracking abilities; skills that enabled him to lead the police party through the desert in search of, and the eventual arrest of the murderers of Joseph Wilkins, killed in 1936.
Tommy’s horse yard at Blue Hills 1998 – Photo Yvonne Coate
Tommy was then engaged to act as an interpreter at their trial. At the trial, he said he found Wilkin’s dead horse at well, 13, on the CSR, he recognised it by its white face and one eye. He followed the horse tracks to Well 13 on the CSR and then lost them and went back to Wiluna. Returning with constables Larsen and Pollard, they found the body of Wilkins. Tommy recognised Wilken’s red hair and the saddle and saddle bags, in particular, the britching of the pack saddle by the number of holes it contained – he had previously seen Wilkins doing the riveting.
He knew from previous experience that one of the tracks at Wilkins death site belonged to an Aborigine named Meloora. Following these tracks, they arrested the murderers Meloora and Yalyalli at Well 17. Tommy was then asked to be an interpreter at the trial, translating for various Aboriginal people. They were found guilty and sentenced to death, which was later commuted to 10 years gaol.
Tommy working with sheep on Earaheedy Station 1950’s – Photo Norma Ward.
In the mid-1930s Tommy was driving a Chevrolet some 30 miles from Millrose when it stopped. Undeterred, he hitched a horse to the front of the ‘Chev’ and standing up in the vehicle, steering it with one foot and, steering the horse with long reins, he returned to the homestead.
Tommy loved dogs; he would keep a ragged and torn blanket for himself and give his new blanket to the dogs. He gave his dogs strange and amusing names such as Lizarder, Wanderer, Sweet Apple and Red apple.
With the support of Pope, the Wards, Cresswell’s and other local families, Tommy applied for a pastoral lease of 134,530 acres west of Well 5 on the CSR. The application was approved in 1956 and he called it Blue Hill Station. Blue Hill was part of Tommy’s tribal country which centred on the CSR Well 9.
Tommy had a very adaptable attitude, he didn’t mind whether he worked with sheep or cattle and was always working at fixing things. He didn’t see clothes as a fashion, he would save money by patching and repairing them and would continue to wear the same clothes until they were completely worn out. He usually wore shorts in summer and long’uns in winter. Watch and pocket knife pouches hung from his belt. Tommy did not like socks. He would wear the sleeves section but the bottoms had to be cut off. If he was given new boots, he would want a larger size so that the air could get to his feet, or he would just cut holes in them.
His cigarettes were always rolled with three papers looking more like a cigars. When Tommy wanted supplies, he would place an order with Gilly Isbel at H Eves & Co storekeepers in Meekatharra. Because Tommy couldn’t write, he and Gilly developed a system where Tommy drew pictures of what he wanted, with Gilly interpreting the list and supplying the goods. Some of the drawings Tommy used include.
Lemon and melon jam – Tommy drew a lemon and a melon.
Matches – a square box and a single match with the flame.
Tobacco – a face with smoke coming from it.
Tea – a packet and a Billy can with the spout on it.
Flour – a big bag with no ears.
Sugar – a bag with ears.
Soap – A hand with a cake of soap in it.
L-R – Bill Small – Tommy Ningebong – Sue Small – Photo Joy Smith
Billy Cresswell from Granite Peak remembers Tommy being well-liked. He recalls Ningebong being Fred Popes offsider and working for various pastoralists around the district, doing jobs such as fencing, mustering and well sinking.
Tommy was in charge of feeding the pigs at Prenti Downs where he developed a liking for them, often cooking them Johnny cakes. Being an enthusiastic worker, the only way to get Tommy to have a day off was to tell him it was Sunday every two or three days. A Native Title determination over his country on the 6th of June 2016 included Ningebong as one of the common law holders of the native title for the Birriliburu People.
Dogger Peter Moore had a strong friendship with Tommy. He described Tommy’s camp as basic with a bough shed and furniture in the style of ‘Saltbush Bill’. The furniture was made from mulga logs and rails. The table was made of squared rails supported by four posts sunk into the ground. The chairs were made of mulga and were so heavy that they were almost impossible to lift. On one visit Muir saw that a new small hut had been built. He also noticed the table and chairs had not been moved. The Hut had been built around them.
In his advancing years, Tommy worked for the Linkes on Carnegie and Prenti Downs Station as Gardener. He refused to take sit-down money ‘welfare’ preferring to work. Tommy had an infectious laugh. He would finish each sentence with an ‘eh’ even if the subject wasn’t particularly funny; one couldn’t help laughing with him. Tommy Ningebong was a wonderful man, a man with a charming eccentricity. He was highly regarded in the Wiluna district and a real gentleman.
Tommy died peacefully at Prenti Downs on the 5th of November 1978. A number of geographic features in the area are named after him.
Tommy Ningebong’s Grave at Wiluna Cemetery – Photo Phil Bianchi
Tommy Ningebong – bushman, tracker, drover, stockman and pastoralist.
Tommy Ningebong – by Phil Bianchi
Bushman, tracker, drover, stockman, pastoralist, Aboriginal Ningebong was an extraordinary individual. C1904-1978 he spent most of his life in the wider Wiluna area. He was a favourite of the local people and many are the stories of his solidity and of course his little quirks. This biography places on record his life and peoples appreciation of him. He was the principal witness in the trial of the murderers of trapper Joe Wilkins in 1937 and in a rustling trial in the 1970s. He was one of the first Aboriginals to have his own pastoral Lease. – $25.00 + Post from Hesperian Press or the Eastern Goldfields Historical Soc
Moya Sharp
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Hi Moya 😊
A lovely story on.Tommy’s life .
It was nice to see that this gentleman got his Pastoral Lease .
What a blessing it must have been for him 🌝
Thank you. Remarkable man and lovely story. R.I.P. Tommy.