Koolatah Station and Mitchell River Mission in the 1960’s

The photo had been published in a book on crocodile shooters by Cairns author, Bryan Peach. Bryan and his mates spent upwards of fifteen years around the Koolatah area where they hunted crocodiles in the local rivers and waterholes. Bryan remembers Frank and his sons Lefty, Simpson and Paddy Yam. George Murray was also on Koolatah at the time. The photo of Frank was re-published in the new book, Algngga orrngan after speaking with Bryan with help from Richard Jenkins of Balkanu. Simpson features prominently on the front cover as an Elder. In November, Viv presented a copy of Kowanyama’s book to thank him and enjoyed a barramundi dinner with Bryan before leaving for southern parts. A set of five fine colour images followed from his friends to add to their story. We thank Paul Colvey and Eric Frei for the photographs shown in this story.

Koolatah Station and Mitchell River Mission in the sixties

An unexpected outcome of a chance finding of a photo in a book has led to the unearthing of a small but valuable set of five 1960’s photographs for Kowanyama’s Photo Archive. The photograph was of Frank Yam at Koolatah and is the first photograph that the family, now living at Kowanyama, had seen. Now everyone has a second one of Simpson and his father.

Paul Colvey 1961 Photograph by

Frank Yam and son Simpson on the river waiting for pig to cook in a ground oven

b ou t 1966 a Ernie Frei Photograph by Stock camp at Black Gin Yard

Paul Colvey 1961 by Photograph s