Lot 218

Gifted to Alison Hull who worked as a teacher at Yirrkala during 1956-57.

In 1956 a young Alison Hull (now Johnston) was sent as a teacher to the Methodist Mission Station at Yirrkala in North East Arnhem Land. At that time it was very remote with no roads and only a fortnightly plane bringing the mail and necessary supplies and an occasional lugger which sailed around the Queensland coast.

A school already existed and the children were taught by the Mission Superintendent's wife. Alison was the first specifically appointed teacher.

The local Aborigines lived a fairly traditional life, coming and going from the two main camps. They were partly dependent on the mission for some food, especially when their children were in school.

The only non Aboriginal people were the mission staff which, in addition to the Superintendent and his wife and Alison, included a nurse, an agriculturalist and a Fijian clergyman and his wife. Living conditions were fairly primitive and the humid weather difficult for somebody used to the more temperate southern climate.

Alison recalls the sacks of flour arriving complete with weevils. At first she would fastidiously pick these out before using the flour but didn't bother after a while!

Unfortunately Alison became ill during her time in Yirrkala and after about fifteen months had to be air lifted out by the Flying Doctor Service and was unable to return.

The woven baskets and mats and the beautifully carved wooden pipe were made in Yirrkala and surrounding area and were gifts to Alison, some being sent soon after she left in 1957.

The Melbourne Museum has a collection of Alison's photographs from that period.