AUSTRALIAN ROMANCE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 68, 3 January 1947, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN ROMANCE

ABORIGINES RISK ALL TO MARRY

Jack Mgoolda and Freda Bulgulunga, two youthful aborigines, are in Adelaide, on their way to Gerard Mission, on the Murray. They are going to be married and are risking their lives to do it.

They didn’t look very romantic as they wandered round the city. They looked a little uncomfortable in their unfamiliar European clothes, but they looked very happy. Recently they gave up their tribal way of living at Ooldea because they loved each other. Freda was pledged before she was born to marry a man who is now about three times as old as she is (she is about 20) and who has three other wives. According to tribal rites, she was married to him, but she was badly treated and was unhappy.

Then she and Jack fell in love. To break a tribal marriage meant death, so they ran away. Freda has a little boy of about two by her tribal husband, and Jack agreed that they should take the child with them. They set off to travel 350 miles to Finnis Springs. On the way Jack got work, mostly fencing, and at last they reached Finnis Springs where Jack knew a missionary. It was soon after this that the president of the United Aboriginies’ Mission, Mr A. E. Gerard, heard their story. He discussed it with other members of the mission, and it was decided that Gerard would be the best place for them to go to.

Mr Gerard said the mission felt these two people were entitled to their happiness together. Freda’s tribal marriage would not be a bar to a Christian marriage which would be performed at Gerard.

Jack was anxious to look after Freda’s little boy, Howard. They were a good type of native, and Mr Gerard said he was sure they would make a success of their new lives. Jack gave the American ViceConsul, Mr H. 'Hemmerieh, a lesson in spear and boomerang throwing on the parklands. Mr Hemmerieh, who is -setting out on the . first stage of his return journey to America, is taking with him a collection of aboriginal weapons. He was anxious to be able to give his people some idea of how they were used.