Donald Thomson
Encyclopedia
Donald Fergusson Thomson, OBE
(26 June 1901 – 12 May 1970) was an Australian anthropologist and ornithologist who was largely responsible for turning the Caledon Bay crisis
into a "decisive moment in the history of Aboriginal-European relations." He is remembered as a friend of the Yolngu
people, and as a champion of understanding, by non-Indigenous Australians, of the culture and society of Indigenous Australians
.
. He also joined the Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union
(RAOU) in 1917 and served it as Press Officer (1923) and as Assistant Editor of its journal the Emu
(1924–1925). When he graduated in 1925 he joined the Melbourne Herald
as a cadet, also marrying Gladys Coleman in the same year. He then studied for a one-year diploma course in anthropology at the University of Sydney
, graduating in 1928, and then set off on an eight-month journey, working with and recording the Indigenous people of Cape York
. On his return, he was falsely accused of dishonesty, because of the loss of some funds, which was later traced to fraudulent activity by a staff member of the Australian Research Council
. This unhappy episode forever damaged his relationship with other anthropologists at Sydney.
After another trip to Cape York in 1929, Thomson joined the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
in Melbourne, and in 1932 joined the University of Melbourne
as a Research Fellow, obtaining his PhD
in 1934.
and non-Indigenous Australians, and is regarded as the crowning achievement of his life.
He formed a strong bond with the Yolngu
people, studying their traditional use of the land in the Arafura Swamp
and elsewhere. In 1941 he persuaded the Army to establish a Special Reconnaissance Force of Yolngu men, including tribal elder Wonggu and his sons, to help repel Japanese raids on the northern coastline of Australia.
In 1942, as the war moved northward from the Australian coast, the Special Reconnaissance Force was disbanded, and Thomson returned to the Air Force. He was badly injured in action in Dutch New Guinea
, and spent the rest of the war in hospital before being discharged from the Armed Forces.
there.
For some Pintupi, this was their first contact with Europeans. They were almost the last Indigenous Australian group with whom white Australians were to make contact with (the very last was a group of Pintupi
in 1984).
Thomson again demonstrated his excellent ethnographic skills. The photographs taken here, like those he took in the 1930s in Arnhem Land
, have become invaluable historical records for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians, particularly for the Pintupi.
The Thomson Collection of approximately four thousand black and white glass plate photographs is currently held by Museum Victoria
. One of these photographs was of a group of ten men in their bark canoes on a swamp and was the inspiration for the title of a critically acclaimed film Ten Canoes
. The title of the film arose from discussions between co-director Rolf de Heer
and the movie's narrator David Gulpilil
about a photograph of ten canoeists poling across the Arafura Swamp, taken by anthropologist Donald Thomson in 1936.
Thomson lived with the Pintupi, and liked them, through much of the 1950s and 60s.
He returned to the University of Melbourne
and continued working there until his death in 1970. His ashes were flown to the Northern Territory, Australia]Northern Territory and, accompanied in the plane by two of the sons of Wonggu, scattered over the waters of Caledon Bay
.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(26 June 1901 – 12 May 1970) was an Australian anthropologist and ornithologist who was largely responsible for turning the Caledon Bay crisis
Caledon Bay crisis
The Caledon Bay crisis refers to a series of killings at Caledon Bay in the Northern Territory of Australia during 1932–34. These events are widely seen as a turning point in relations between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians....
into a "decisive moment in the history of Aboriginal-European relations." He is remembered as a friend of the Yolngu
Yolngu
The Yolngu or Yolŋu are an Indigenous Australian people inhabiting north-eastern Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory of Australia. Yolngu means “person” in the Yolŋu languages.-Yolŋu law:...
people, and as a champion of understanding, by non-Indigenous Australians, of the culture and society of Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
.
Early life
Thomson studied zoology and botany at the University of MelbourneUniversity of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
. He also joined the Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union
Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union
The Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union, also known as Birds Australia, was founded in 1901 to promote the study and conservation of the native bird species of Australia and adjacent regions. This makes it Australia's oldest national birding association. It is also Australia's largest...
(RAOU) in 1917 and served it as Press Officer (1923) and as Assistant Editor of its journal the Emu
Emu (journal)
Emu, subtitled Austral Ornithology, is the peer-reviewed scientific journal of the Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union. The journal was established in 1901 and is the oldest ornithological journal published in Australia...
(1924–1925). When he graduated in 1925 he joined the Melbourne Herald
Herald Sun
The Herald Sun is a morning tabloid newspaper based in Melbourne, Australia. It is published by The Herald and Weekly Times, a subsidiary of News Limited, itself a subsidiary of News Corporation. It is available for purchase throughout Melbourne, Regional Victoria, Tasmania, the Australian Capital...
as a cadet, also marrying Gladys Coleman in the same year. He then studied for a one-year diploma course in anthropology at the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
, graduating in 1928, and then set off on an eight-month journey, working with and recording the Indigenous people of Cape York
Cape York Peninsula
Cape York Peninsula is a large remote peninsula located in Far North Queensland at the tip of the state of Queensland, Australia, the largest unspoilt wilderness in northern Australia and one of the last remaining wilderness areas on Earth...
. On his return, he was falsely accused of dishonesty, because of the loss of some funds, which was later traced to fraudulent activity by a staff member of the Australian Research Council
Australian Research Council
The Australian Research Council is the Australian Government’s main agency for allocating research funding to academics and researchers in Australian universities. Its mission is to advance Australia’s capacity to undertake research that brings economic, social and cultural benefit to the...
. This unhappy episode forever damaged his relationship with other anthropologists at Sydney.
After another trip to Cape York in 1929, Thomson joined the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research is Australia's oldest medical research institute.In 2011, the institute is home to more than 650 researchers who are working to understand, prevent and treat diseases including blood, breast and ovarian cancers; inflammatory diseases such as...
in Melbourne, and in 1932 joined the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
as a Research Fellow, obtaining his PhD
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in 1934.
Caledon Bay crisis
In 1932-33, as the Caledon Bay crisis erupted, Thomson offered his services to the Australian Government to resolve the crisis, and to the surprise of the government succeeded in doing so. His success had long-term ramifications for the relationship between IndigenousIndigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
and non-Indigenous Australians, and is regarded as the crowning achievement of his life.
He formed a strong bond with the Yolngu
Yolngu
The Yolngu or Yolŋu are an Indigenous Australian people inhabiting north-eastern Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory of Australia. Yolngu means “person” in the Yolŋu languages.-Yolŋu law:...
people, studying their traditional use of the land in the Arafura Swamp
Arafura Swamp
The Arafura Swamp is a large inland freshwater wetland in Arnhem Land, in the Top End of the Northern Territory of Australia. It is a near pristine floodplain with an area of 700 km2 that may expand to 1300 km2 by the end of the wet season, making it the largest wooded swamp in the Northern...
and elsewhere. In 1941 he persuaded the Army to establish a Special Reconnaissance Force of Yolngu men, including tribal elder Wonggu and his sons, to help repel Japanese raids on the northern coastline of Australia.
In 1942, as the war moved northward from the Australian coast, the Special Reconnaissance Force was disbanded, and Thomson returned to the Air Force. He was badly injured in action in Dutch New Guinea
Netherlands New Guinea
Netherlands New Guinea refers to the West Papua region while it was an overseas territory of the Kingdom of the Netherlands from 1949 to 1962. Until 1949 it was a part of the Netherlands Indies. It was commonly known as Dutch New Guinea...
, and spent the rest of the war in hospital before being discharged from the Armed Forces.
Thomson in Central Australia
In 1957, Thomson carried out the Bindibu (Pintupi) Expedition to the Western Desert to make contact with PintupiPintupi
Pintupi refers to an Australian Aboriginal group who are part of the Western Desert cultural group and whose homeland is in the area west of Lake MacDonald and Lake Mackay in Western Australia. These people moved into the Aboriginal communities of Papunya and Haasts Bluff in the west of the...
there.
For some Pintupi, this was their first contact with Europeans. They were almost the last Indigenous Australian group with whom white Australians were to make contact with (the very last was a group of Pintupi
Pintupi
Pintupi refers to an Australian Aboriginal group who are part of the Western Desert cultural group and whose homeland is in the area west of Lake MacDonald and Lake Mackay in Western Australia. These people moved into the Aboriginal communities of Papunya and Haasts Bluff in the west of the...
in 1984).
Thomson again demonstrated his excellent ethnographic skills. The photographs taken here, like those he took in the 1930s in Arnhem Land
Arnhem Land
The Arnhem Land Region is one of the five regions of the Northern Territory of Australia. It is located in the north-eastern corner of the territory and is around 500 km from the territory capital Darwin. The region has an area of 97,000 km² which also covers the area of Kakadu National...
, have become invaluable historical records for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians, particularly for the Pintupi.
The Thomson Collection of approximately four thousand black and white glass plate photographs is currently held by Museum Victoria
Museum Victoria
Museum Victoria is an organisation which operates three major state-owned museums in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; these are: the Melbourne Museum, the Immigration Museum and Scienceworks. It also manages the Royal Exhibition Building and a storage facility in Melbourne's City of Moreland.Museum...
. One of these photographs was of a group of ten men in their bark canoes on a swamp and was the inspiration for the title of a critically acclaimed film Ten Canoes
Ten Canoes
Ten Canoes is a 2006 film. It was directed by Rolf de Heer and Peter Djigirr and starred Crusoe Kurddal. The title of the film arose from discussions between de Heer and David Gulpilil about a photograph of ten canoeists poling across the Arafura Swamp, taken by anthropologist Donald Thomson in...
. The title of the film arose from discussions between co-director Rolf de Heer
Rolf de Heer
Rolf de Heer is a Dutch film director, writer and producer living in Australia. De Heer was born in Heemskerk in The Netherlands but migrated to Sydney when he was eight years old. He attended the Australian Film Television and Radio School in Sydney. His company is called Vertigo Productions and...
and the movie's narrator David Gulpilil
David Gulpilil
David Gulpilil Ridjimiraril Dalaithngu , is an Indigenous Australian traditional dancer and actor. His first starring role was Walkabout....
about a photograph of ten canoeists poling across the Arafura Swamp, taken by anthropologist Donald Thomson in 1936.
Thomson lived with the Pintupi, and liked them, through much of the 1950s and 60s.
He returned to the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
and continued working there until his death in 1970. His ashes were flown to the Northern Territory, Australia]Northern Territory and, accompanied in the plane by two of the sons of Wonggu, scattered over the waters of Caledon Bay
Caledon Bay
Caledon Bay is a bay in Arnhem Land, in the Northern Territory of Australia, at approximately 12.8° S, 136.5° E. It is perhaps most famous as the home of a group of Yolngu people who were key players in the Caledon Bay crisis, which marked a turning point in the relationship between Indigenous and...
.
List of works
- Thomson, D. (1935). Birds of Cape York Peninsula. Ecological notes, field observations, and catalogue of specimens collected on three expeditions to north Queensland. Government Printer, Melbourne.
- Thomson, D.; & Peterson, N. (1983). Donald Thomson in Arnhem Land. Miegunyah Press, Melbourne. Revised ed. 2003, ISBN 0-522-85063-4
- Thomson D. (1975). Bindibu Country. Melbourne, Thomas Nelson, ISBN 0-17-005049-1
External images
- National Library of Australia Newspaper photograph of Dr Donald Thomson Accessed 31 July 2009
External links
- Australian Dictionary of Biography - On-Line EditionAccessed 31 July 2009