William Edward Harney
Encyclopedia
William Edward Harney also well-known as Bill Harney, was a largely self-educated Australia
n writer. Most of his early life was an itinerant one of poverty and hardship, punctuated by tragedy, spent mainly in the outback
. He is notable for his writings about the Aboriginal
peoples of Australia’s Northern Territory
.
Harney was born in Charters Towers, Queensland
, the second of three children of English-born parents. From the age of twelve he was working as a drover
and boundary-rider in western Queensland
. In 1915 he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force
and, following training in Egypt, served during the First World War on the Western Front
.
After the war he worked at various jobs, mainly in the Northern Territory. He married Kathleen Linda Beattie in 1927 and had two children, though his wife died in 1932, his daughter Beattie in 1934, and his son Billy in 1945. He also partnered a Wardaman
lady, resulting in a son born c.1932 who grew up to be the well-known Wardaman elder Bill Yidumduma Harney
.
From 1940 to 1947 Harney worked for the Australian government’s Native Affairs Branch as a Protector of Aborigines
and as a patrol officer. Subsequently he concentrated on writing as well as acting as an adviser on expeditions by the National Geographic Society
to Arnhem Land
and Melville Island
. He was also an adviser during the making of the film Jedda
(1955).
Harney retired in 1962 and died the same year at his home in Mooloolaba, Queensland
. He is commemotated in the scientific name of the Sandstone Dibbler
, Pseudantechinus bilarni, which reflects the Aboriginal pronunciation of his name.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n writer. Most of his early life was an itinerant one of poverty and hardship, punctuated by tragedy, spent mainly in the outback
Outback
The Outback is the vast, remote, arid area of Australia, term colloquially can refer to any lands outside the main urban areas. The term "the outback" is generally used to refer to locations that are comparatively more remote than those areas named "the bush".-Overview:The outback is home to a...
. He is notable for his writings about the Aboriginal
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....
peoples of Australia’s Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
.
Harney was born in Charters Towers, Queensland
Charters Towers, Queensland
Charters Towers is a city in northern Queensland, Australia. It is located 137 kilometres inland from Townsville on the Flinders Highway. In 2006 the population was 7,979 people, some 450 fewer than in the 2001 census. During the last quarter of the 19th century the town boomed as the rich gold...
, the second of three children of English-born parents. From the age of twelve he was working as a drover
Drover (Australian)
A drover in Australia is a person, typically an experienced stockman, who moves livestock, usually sheep or cattle, "on the hoof" over long distances. Reasons for droving may include: delivering animals to a new owner's property, taking animals to market, or moving animals during a drought in...
and boundary-rider in western Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
. In 1915 he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force
Australian Imperial Force
The Australian Imperial Force was the name given to all-volunteer Australian Army forces dispatched to fight overseas during World War I and World War II.* First Australian Imperial Force * Second Australian Imperial Force...
and, following training in Egypt, served during the First World War on the Western Front
Western Front (World War I)
Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The tide of the advance was dramatically turned with the Battle of the Marne...
.
After the war he worked at various jobs, mainly in the Northern Territory. He married Kathleen Linda Beattie in 1927 and had two children, though his wife died in 1932, his daughter Beattie in 1934, and his son Billy in 1945. He also partnered a Wardaman
Wardaman
The Wardaman people are a small group of Indigenous Australians living about 200km South-West of Katherine in the Northern Territory of Australia...
lady, resulting in a son born c.1932 who grew up to be the well-known Wardaman elder Bill Yidumduma Harney
Bill Yidumduma Harney
Bill Yidumduma Harney is a senior elder of the Wardaman people whose homeland is near Katherine in the Northern Territory of Australia. He is also known as an artist, storyteller, and musician.-Early life:...
.
From 1940 to 1947 Harney worked for the Australian government’s Native Affairs Branch as a Protector of Aborigines
Protector of Aborigines
The role of Protectors of Aborigines resulted from a recommendation of the report of the Select Committee of the House of Commons on Aborigines . On 31 January 1838, Lord Glenelg, Secretary of State for War and the Colonies sent Governor Gipps the report.The report recommended that Protectors of...
and as a patrol officer. Subsequently he concentrated on writing as well as acting as an adviser on expeditions by the National Geographic Society
National Geographic Society
The National Geographic Society , headquartered in Washington, D.C. in the United States, is one of the largest non-profit scientific and educational institutions in the world. Its interests include geography, archaeology and natural science, the promotion of environmental and historical...
to 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...
and Melville Island
Melville Island, Northern Territory
Melville Island or Yermalner Island lies in the eastern Timor Sea, off the coast of the Northern Territory of Australia. It is west of the Cobourg Peninsula in Arnhem Land and north of Darwin....
. He was also an adviser during the making of the film Jedda
Jedda
Jedda was the last movie made by the Australian filmmaker Charles Chauvel. The film is most notable for being the first to star two Aboriginal actors in the leading roles, and also to be the first Australian film shot in colour...
(1955).
Harney retired in 1962 and died the same year at his home in Mooloolaba, Queensland
Mooloolaba, Queensland
Mooloolaba is a suburb and tourist resort township on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia. It is located north of the state capital, Brisbane, and is part of the Maroochydore urban centre.- Etymology :...
. He is commemotated in the scientific name of the Sandstone Dibbler
Sandstone Dibbler
The Sandstone False Antechinus, Pseudantechinus bilarni, also known as the Sandstone Pseudantechinus, the Sandstone Antechinus, the Sandstone Dibbler, Harney's Antechinus and the Northern Dibbler, is a species of small carnivorous marsupial, which has a patchy distribution in Australia's Northern...
, Pseudantechinus bilarni, which reflects the Aboriginal pronunciation of his name.