My name is Johnny Balaiya...
I am about 70 years of age. I was born at Yilan, near
Ji-marda, I belong to Burarra clan. We come from the
mouth of the Blyth River also known as Gu-punga, in
Arnhemland.

When I was about 12 years of age, there was family
fighting and so I went to the Mission at Milingimbi. I
do not remember when that was. I walked to Milingimbi
with two other boys, one boy was Burarra, the other
was Matai. In Milingimbi, I remember seeing Japanese
planes fly over and bombing. The Australian army was
there and they took black people (both Burrara and
Matai) to go to war.

I walked from Milingimbi then by canoe back to Blyth
River and then back to Maningrida. I remember the
Australian army taking black people to war at
Maningrida as well. I was too young to go. I was
about 13 years old.

When I was at Maningrida, one of our family came
around and told me about Darwin. He told me that he'd
just been to Darwin and that there was a big mob of
tucker there, and shelter. A lot of people had been
taken from all over Arnhemland to Darwin by the Army
for shelter.

I took 5 or 6 family. We were all from different clan
and we walked from Maningrida to Darwin where many of
my relatives were already. We swam across the East
Alligator river. We could tell if crocodile came near
by their heat. We walked all day for about a month to
get to Darwin. I knew the way to go because the sun
goes down near Darwin and that is the way. We went
through Oenpelli and then near Jabiru and Pine Creek.
It was a rough road.

We stopped at Berrimah Reserve. It was in the bush and
the Army was there. There were people from all over,
Burarra, Matai, all walking to get there.

I stayed there and then I went to Bagot. I left Bagot
to look for a job with a couple of boys. Tom Harris
saw us boys, he was the camera man (projectionist) at
the star cinema and asked us to work. He was like my
father. He taught me English. I wanted to go to
school and I went to school for about a week. The
school was a missionary school at Bagot for both
Balanda and black. But Tom Harris wanted me to work
so he took me out of school to work. He was short of
people to work at Bagot. We were cleaning and
working at the cinema. There was a group of us and we
did the cleaning. I was selling tickets.

My first job there in Darwin was working at the East
Point Golf Course, we built it from bush, digging
holes and cleaning up the trees. I lived in a house at
the golf course, and Tom Harris looked after me. After
I stopped for the day working at the golf course, I
would go to sell tickets at the Star Cinema in the
evening.

Also, I used to work as a carpenter at Bagot, and
build houses there. Some of those houses are still
there. Tom Harris would bring movies to show at Bagot.
He would come most nights. He has a son, young Tom
Harris. He had two daughters Susan and Jill. I was
learning English from Tom Harris and his kids. Those
kids were teaching me English and they learn Burarra
too.

After that, I worked on the rice in Humpty Doo. I
lived at 16 mile camp. I worked pulling the rice and
driving the tractor. I also worked on the rice at
Tortilla. I worked for Mr Hunter.

I then went back to Bagot being a carpenter to build
houses. A lot of Burarra were there and it was a
Burarra camp. We had three or four houses at camp. I
was in charge of the Burarra houses. There were lots
of different clan there.

Mr White was the first Government. Mr Moore was the
second Government.

We had sticks and bottles and stuff. Some government
people were bad. Mr Moore was bad. He sent many
Aboriginal people away because they were drinking. He
went to kill King George. I saw King George, his wife
and two kids when I was in Darwin. He came to see
what Aboriginal people looked like.

King George wanted to meet the Aborigines, so after a
while he came to Bagot to meet us. This was after the
war.

Then I settled down and worked as a carpenter, stayed
at Bagot. I would look after family who came to
Darwin, I told them where to go to get work. I was
like an interpreter. I would translate about looking
for a job. When people came from different country,
desert country people too, I would look after them.
I looked after all these people, their parents and
grandparents. I taught other black people to do
carpentry.

I left after a while, and went to work on the road. I
started from Adelaide River, then Pine Creek, building
the Stuart Highway. . This was for two or three years.
I would sleep where we were working. We also built
the airstrip at Fannie Bay. I can't remember which
year. I had my Burarra / Matai team, 4 or 5 boys. Some
of my boys stayed in town and were working at
different places. Jackie Marroonburra stayed working
as a carpenter at Bagot. I would come back to look
after them. I was like a supervisor. I got a job for
Molok driving the government boat from Darwin to
Gu-punga. I would organise my people when they wanted
to travel between Darwin and Gu-punga. Some people
would go on the boat, with Molok to Ku-punga Some of
the old people didn't want to go on the boat, so I
walked with them from Gu-punga to Darwin. If people
were sick, I would organise them to come on the boat
to Darwin.

Then I went to Milingimbi and stayed there for a
while. I had married family there. I didn't work at
Milingimbi. I went back and stayed for 4 years at
Blyth River, Gu-punga, on the beach with my family.
Then a few people started to move back to Darwin, I
took off by foot with my family - about 6 boys -
walking about a month to get to Darwin.

I have children Judy Hayes, Jill Cooper, Helen
Mardarlidj, Michael (Gilbert) Humphrey, first daughter
passed away. Judy has one son living (Dion Cooper) at
Palmerston. Judy had two boys and three girls. Jill's
children are Justin Cooper, Edward Cooper, Dean
Cooper, and William Cooper, who has passed away.
Helen had two boys. I have about 10
great-grandchildren so far.

My children were born at the old hospital that was
near Mindil Beach. When I left Gu-panga my wife and
children stayed there. I left to go and get some work.

I took about 8 people with me and we walked. I was in
my 30's about 35. We got to Berrimah, because I knew
where to take my family. They did not know about
drinking. I knew about drinking from a big bottle
"coolabah". I told family not touch it. I said, no,
we don't touch it. Family will hate you for that.

I took family to Bagot and lived there. I thought it
was alright to stay It was OK at Berrimah but I
decided to go to Bagot when I got back, and everyone
was happy. I had family at both places.

I had a job at Winnellie building a warehouse. There
was loose iron and I had to patch it up a bit. I had
three or four boys working. My old workmates told me
about the job at Winnellie. Some of those boys were no
good for working because they were drinking too much.
I also went back working at the airstrip.

I lived at Bagot for a couple of years and then I went
back home on the boat. . I went back because of
family, but my wife wanted me to go back for the kids.

We had big meetings at Maningrida with Mr Hunter and
Mr Sweeny. I was talking for the people to make the
roads right through from Maningrida to Ramingining.
Another outstation Ji-marda, other side of mouth of
the Blyth River - I went there and worked there
building the airstripI worked at different
outstations. I went to Maningrida and worked on roads
to get to different outstations. I went to Dum Dum
outstations and worked there.

I had to finish things off in Arnhemland, when all the
roads where finished, I come back here to Darwin
because all the things that I learned in Darwin I used
when I was working back at the communities. I had
fresh ideas thinking about what could be done. But
family didn't want this to happen. I helped to build
the houses. I fixed houses for Balanda. They asked
me how I knew. I told them I learned this in Darwin.

Ji-bena was another outstation (about 20-30ks from
Gu-panga). I would go back to men's business to take
care of things with my children.

I lived at Bagot for a long time with my wife and
kids, maybe five or six years. The cinema was a job
first, then East Point. I was the boss and I would
talk to the Balanda for other people and would speak
for the others. I had my own work mates, they were
family. I got about 3 or 4 people. Some have passed
away and some live at Maningrida now - Jackie
Marroonburra, Michael Walupirra are still alive.
Raymond Walupirra has passed away. I used to organise
jobs for my people, to organise them for the Balanda.

After Humpty Doo working on the rice I came back to
Darwin and some bloke asked us to do fishing for him.
I moved around a lot fishing different places and
camping where we fished. From Tree Point, Shoal Bay,
Lee Point and Kulaluk were places we stayed. We
called all that place "Gullawu". We fished at East
Arm to Elizabeth River. I know all that area, just
like my own country. I moved a lot, camping all over
and worked as well. I was also working and counting
money for the Berrimah Shop.

Most of my life I have lived in Darwin, this is my
home. I have lived all over Darwin in many different
camps. I did go back to Bagot about 7 or 8 years ago
but there was too much drinking there. When I came
back things were worst, everyone was drinking. I
left. They were running amok. I didn't want those
things to happen. All hell broke lose. I camped at
Lee Point but Balanda and some policemen came and told
us to leave. There was an old lady there who was
dying. I told them "you have to take my mother to
hospital" but she died there.

I stayed at Fish Camp for a while but there was too
much arguing. Then I came out this way. That's why
I came here to Pipeline Camp. I want to be quiet.

I have been at Pipeline camp for about the last 4
years. In about November 2000, I got evicted from
that camp because the land was going to be used for
private development. A Balanda person gave me a
Trespass Notice. They did not use an interpreter.
They told me I had to move.

The bulldozers came when I was there. They did not
explain to me what was happening. One of the housing
men, a tall guy, came up and told me I had to be moved
because buildings were going to happen.

I asked where was my pick up and I was told I was
going to be moved. They gave me a lift with my family
and my things to the other Pipeline. It was a
government truck that brought me. The government man
did not tell me what to do. They just brought me
here. I stayed here because I don't want to be with
drinkers. I just want to keep away from trouble.

I am now camping on land known as Balaiya Pipeline
Camp.

I am a senior Aboriginal man and am known by many
family from many places, including Alice Springs,
Tennant Creek people. My family know to find me where
I now am. If I move a lot, my family will not find
me.

Burarra is my first language, Djinung is my mothers
language, I also speak some English but only when
Balanda speak with me. I do not understand everything
of what Balanda say when they talk to me. Those hard
words that I do not understand.

I am a black Aboriginal man, I have family all over,
Ramingining, Maningrida, Milingimbi. I have family
responsibility. There are many family members with
whom I have responsibilities that I must meet. I have
responsibilities for ceremonies. I know everything.
I have responsibility for young boys. They let me
know what is happening at Gu-punga and I send word
about what must be done. I need to be able to tell
them stories.,

I give a stable place for family to come and to be
safe. I do not like drinkers to be in my place. If
drinkers come, and make trouble I make them leave. I
tell them to go. I don't like nuisance people in my
camp. My grandchildren come and I talk to them, I tell
them stories about the past. I have many things that I
have talked about with my grandchildren whenever they
come. I tell them family stories to make them
understand about Darwin, not to drink, and I have seen
what not to do.

I am tired. I am tired of being moved by Balanda from
place to place. I am tired of being told by Balanda
that they will get me a house, and a place to stay and
nothing happens. I get sick. Sometimes health workers
come from Danila Dilba and check up on me, I get shaky
and tired sometimes. I do not like to walk long
distances.

I have to use a puffer sometimes to help me breath,
when I get short wind. I have cataracts, I'm worrying
about, I have eye doctor at Royal Darwin Hospital.

I get money from Centrelink. I do not have any land.
My things include an old tent, two mattresses and
cooking things. I live in a caravan which is owned
by Darwin Area Housing Association. I have a key
card. I have three dollars in the bank. I hold money
for my family so they don't drink it.
I need a place to live and be secure and which is
right for me to live as a black Aboriginal man. I need
a place that lets me live in the way of my culture. I
need a place where I can sit quietly. I want to stay
in this place until I die.

I need a place where my family can sit down quietly
and look after me, and I can look after them. I do not
like people making a lot of noise, making the radio
too loud and making trouble in my camp. This is not
my way. This is Balanda way. I can't go to 15 mile,
no, no, too much drinking and fighting. This is like
Bagot or One Mile Dam. I don't want family to come
when drinking.

I need a shelter with a roof to stop the rain, and
some walls to stop the wind. I need a bigger place,
lounge room for families to come with a big verandah
for the breeze to sit outside during the dry season.

I need the shelter to be raised a bit from the ground
for when the rain comes so that I can stay dry.

I need a fence to stop people from coming who are not
welcome in my camp. I need a big fence to stop people
coming, and to protect my dogs from going to places
where they are not allowed to go. I need to lock the
house to stop drinkers from taking things.

I need clean water for drinking and cooking, for
washing hands and staying clean. I have always wanted
to tap water to use to have a shower and a bath.

I need electricity for lights, my radio, TV, and for
cooking. During the Wet season, the trees are to wet
to make a fire, to make food.

I need a place which is right for me welcoming family
to come and stay with me for a while. I have usually
about four or five people who need to be able to stay
with me most of the time. I also need a place where
more people can come to stay for shorter times.
Young family people stay with me too I need a place
which allows for families come to visit me, sit down
for a while, make my tea, collect fire wood, and look
after me. I will not let them stay if they are drunk
and fight. I tell them to go. The good family can
stay and the bad ones can go. I let people stay when
they are tired and need a place to rest or when they
are visiting from many places.

I need to stay around this place where I have been a
long time. I am an old man, I cannot keep moving
around anymore. Many people know this is where I am.
If I move a long way, people will not find me. I will
not be able to honour my family responsibilities.

I need a place where the rubbish can be taken away. I
want to tidy up my place but I am an old man. I need
help for the rubbish to be taken away.

I need a place where I can keep the grass low. When
the wet comes, the snakes come, the children are not
safe because of the snakes. I need to be able to see
who is coming.

I do not want to live in a unit like Kurringal. I do
not want a unit because I am a black man and I do not
live like that. If I live in a unit like that. I feel
comfortable living out here, a space of my own. I
know that I will be moved out within a month. There
will be too much humbug with people coming from all
over town who are drunk and who will not go away. I
know there will be trouble and I do not want trouble.
I will not be able to welcome family who come to stay
with me because it will be too small. I will have too
much worry trying to look after the place.

Where I am now, without shelter, I get wet many times,
and get sick. I do not have electricity. If I get wet,
I get cold. Where I stay, I can be moved on at any
time. This makes me worry. I am worried about what's
happening. It's too dark. I don't have a telephone.
If I had a phone, I could call the police when there
is trouble. If there is trouble, I have to walk to
the police to get help.

Where I am, I am told I cannot get help with water
from the Aboriginal Development Fund because I stay on
Crown land. I use the pipeline water. I have to turn
it back on to get water.

Now pink signs are up, and I think that I will be
moved on again. I do not know where I can go.

Finish 1)


2) is Proud Old and Unbeaten the Story thay was in the
first KUJUK

Johnny Balaiya - Proud, Old and Unbeaten

Johnny Balaiya is a 70 year old man who has lived in
the Palmerston area for the last 15 years and in the
Darwin area since 1945 after walking from his home
land , Yilan near the the mouth of the Blyth River in
Arnhamland when he was about 15 years old.

Johnny was in the NT News recently a couple of days
before he was forced to move from Pipeline camp. The
NT News failed to mention why Johnny had to move and
named Johnny an itinerant, which is clearly untrue as
Johnny has lived in throughout Darwin living in bush
camps for years at a time. The reason why people are
now being labeled itinerant is because they are forced
to move daily / weekly by council by law fines for
sleeping, littering and lighting a fire.

In Johnny's case the bushland he was camping on was
leased to DMD Holdings for subdivision into 43 lots
for commercial development. A bulldozer started work
on the top of the hill. One afternoon as Johnny was
walking back from the shops he saw his bush land was
on fire. Subcontractors had lit the dry long grass
without notifing Johnny or helping him protect his
camp. Johnny spent all night with a metal rake
defending his camp from the bush fire. Following the
fire the buldozer started work near Johnny's camp.
Nobody came to talk to Johnny about what was going to
happen. Johnny and his family group watched and waited
as the bulldozer cleared the trees around their camp.
Family and friends helped to move the caravan, water
tank, two old vans used for sleeping, cooking gear and
matresses. This is the second time in six months
Johnny and his family group has been forced to move
further away from water, shops and the medical clinic.

"I am an old man. I am tired of being moved by Balanda
from place to place like the kangaroo, hiding in the
bushes, being hunted from place to place. I am tired
of being told by Balanda that they will give me a
house or a place where me and my family can stay, when
nothing happens." - Johnny Balaiya

Johnny's main worry is that he will be to far from the
shops to buy food. He is an old man and cannot walk
very far without getting short of breath, he has to
sit down and rest often.
He is worried about access to water as one water
carrier who has been filling Johnny's water tank
previously sais the road to the new camp is to narrow
his truck. Another water carrier will cost $85 a
fortnight to fill Johnny's water tank. The dust in the
new camp is also a big problem and will call
forseeable health problems throughout the dry season.

Stop Press
Johnny was visited by two police men last night, this
is the story johnny told me. "they told us we had to
start moving, you couldn't stay here. Johnny asked
"where are we going to go? We didn't make any trouble
here, you the ones making trouble." The police said
"go to15 mile or Bagot and start walking or we get the
big truck and come pick up all you mob, and take you
Berrimah lock up." Johnny said, "What for, what did we
do wrong? We sitting down quiet here, nobody fighting
or arguing." One police man tried to force Johnnys
door on his caravan. Johnny told him, "don't break
that, why you want to break that?" The police kept on
telling them they had to, "start walking", Johnny
said, "how I'm going to walk? How this blind man
going to walk, he can't see, I can't leave my dogs -
they can go with you", the police man said. " I can't
leave my stuff here, I'm not going anywhere, I'm going
to stay here" Johnny said. " they where really wild
with us and swearing but we didn't leave, they came at
5 o'clock and 8 o'clock night time, they tell us same
thing you got to move, start walking."


"This is a Blackfellas place. First place we never
seen the white man, only missionary. Rain time we make
it paperbark, sitting down, no clothes. When that
Captain Cook said, we'll make it right here, they put
themselves, they got big name, but not really one,
this country belongs to Black man - Larrakia people
they know me, I been camping here a long time."-
Johnny Balaiya


The Seniour Sergent in charge of Palmerston this
morning visited Johnnys camp after complaints where
made to him about the two police men. He told Johnny
that he did not have to move and that he would talk to
the police officers who made the trouble for Johnny
last night.

It'seem the police do not need to wait for the new
Public Order and Anti Social Conduct Act proposed by
the CLP.

Under this Act, a member of the police force could
apply for the declaration of a stateded area to be a
notified area. Once accepted as a notified area, the
area will be signposted to that effect for up two
years.
During that time the police will have the powers to
enter the area and move people on and even seize
property. Notification orders can apply to shops,
licensed premises, parks and amazingly PRIVATE HOMES.

"Can somebody help me please? I need a place to live
with my close family here. I need a place to be secure
and which is right for me to live as a black man. I
need a place that lets me live in the way of my
culture. I need a place where I can sit quietly. I
want to stay in this place until I die."

- Johnny  Balaiya

assisted by Stella Simmering