History feature — The tale of Ngemba man Steve Shaw

Photo taken by Charles Kerry in 1898 at the bora camp on Quambone Station, at a distance from the ceremonial grounds. Steve Shaw is sitting in front of his goondie or gunyah. His wife, described only as Susie, is sitting on the left. Other family groups participating in the bora are visible in the background.

Story: Kaye SchofieldBrewarrina Historical Society

Steve Shaw was born around 1855 near Cobar. He was probably born at Coronga Peak although some say he was born at Boppy Mountain. Either way, his people were Karulkiyalu or ‘Stone Country’ people.

Today, we are fortunate to know a little bit about him thanks to some remarkable coincidences spanning 100 years.

We have first-hand stories about him because Muruwari man Jimmie Barker, the first known Aboriginal person to independently use recorded sound as a tool for preserving and documenting Aboriginal culture, recorded his memories of Steve Shaw at the Brewarrina Mission.

Jimmie said he was known as ‘Old Bugi’ because of his grey hair and that he had special powers. Jimmie remembered that “Quite often he would wander out in the mornings with two boomerangs which he would clap together. Then he would walk up and down our only Mission street talking loudly in Ngemba. He would reprove the people for drifting away from their old laws and tribal ways.” […]

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