My Grandfather, Athe Walter Nona Snr by Sofia Nona

My Grandfather, Athe Walter Nona Snr

Sofia Nona | Year 10

Athe Walter Nona Snr was a respected Elder of Badu Island. Not only was he a familiar face in the community, but he was a role model and mentor to many. He was a husband, brother, father, and grandfather to many lucky little kids, including myself. Athe was born on Badu Island, Wakaid Village, on 1 April 1923. He was the youngest of 13 children with eight brothers and four sisters. He lived on Badu his whole life but had familial and bloodline connections to many places such as Saibai Island and Samoa. Growing up, Athe didn’t have many opportunities when it came to education. He enrolled at the age of five and attended school on Badu Island. However, at the age of fourteen, he left school to work and make money to help his family. Athe went on to achieve many things in his lifetime. He joined the pearling and trochus industry which was big in the Torres Straits during this time. He worked as a trochus diver on his brothers’ sailing dinghy and dived for trochus at an area known as Boy Donkey, and later worked on several lugger boats firstly as a pearl diver then as a skipper. At the age of 17, Athe enlisted in the army and became a member of the only Indigenous battalion Australia has seen in its military history. He served as a marine pilot during World War II. In 1951, Athe married his wife of 57 years, Mrs Harriet Lati Nona (nee Cowley), at St Marks Church. They went on to raise eight children and numerous grandchildren on their home of Badu Island. Athe was remembered for many things – his storytelling about his gardening, pearling, WWII, his humour, his hunting skills, and his devotion as a Christian. But most of all, Athe was remembered for his significant role in education on Badu Island.

Athe gave a large amount of his land on which to build the school, and so today, Badu Campus is located right next to my Aka and Athe’s house. Growing up, especially around the time when my Aka was sick, I and my siblings would just run to their house after school and stay there. Athe Walter went to the school every day. He visited classrooms, counselled students, attended all parent meetings and conducted home visits to talk to parents. Athe was a very strong advocate for quality education in the community. If he missed a day not coming to school, the staff and students would go looking for him. Athe knew every child and staff member, and everyone felt proud and privileged to call him Athe Walter. Many successful past students said that Athe’s constant encouragement played a major role in their successful schooling. Athe was also the Badu Island School P&C President for over 30 years. Athe was considered a silent achiever. He rarely boasted about all his accomplishments. He was a very humble man. However, he was recognised for his roles many times by many people. In 2000, Athe was awarded the Centenary Medal by the Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia, Peter Hollingsworth, for ‘Contribution made to Australian Society’. He was also awarded with a Certificate of Appreciation by the Badu Island Council for his professionalism, commitment, wisdom, and advice on Badulgal traditional culture and customs as an Elder at the Badu Island Community NAIDOC Day celebrations. In 2003, Athe Walter was awarded the Outstanding Service Award by the Peninsula Regional P&C Council for ‘Outstanding contribution and excellent service to education communities and Parents and Citizens Associations in Peninsula Region’. He was also presented with an Area Award in the 2003 Showcase Awards for Excellence in recognition of his significant contribution to improving student educational outcomes. In 2005, Athe was selected as one of twenty significant Elderly Australians to be interviewed for the book ‘Inspiring, not retiring’. He was the only Indigenous Elder chosen for this project. In 2007, Athe Walter entered a competition for selecting a name for the new Torres Strait College. Athe proposed the name ‘Tagai’ and won. The college is now named ‘Tagai State College’. In recognition for his contribution to education, the college has named their Year 7 scholarship ‘The Athe Walter Nona Scholarship’. Athe Walter’s contribution to education in the Torres Strait is just one of the many reasons why he touched so many people’s hearts. I am incredibly proud to call such an illustrious man my Athe, and I am so happy to be able to share his legacy. My only hope is that, one day, I could do something to continue this legacy and help people the way my Athe did.

Meanings

Athe: Grandfather Aka: Grandmother Tagai: The legendary figure, Tagai, is now a constellation in the southern sky, traditionally referred to by the ocean-faring people of the region for navigation. Tagai is also described by Elders as the ‘heavenly clock’. Tagai directs the seasonal changes and its visibility in the night sky throughout the year tells Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the region how to adapt to the wind and tidal movements, and the best times to hunt, fish, plant, and harvest.

My Mum, Sophie Nona

Q. What is your name and who was Athe to you?

A. My name is Sophie Nona and Athe Walter was my dad.

Q. What is your favourite memory with him?

A. Going to school every day with him.

Q. What is the best advice he ever gave to you?

A. To be humble and respectful.

Q. Why do you think education was so important to Athe?

A. Because he wanted for the children. He wanted them to achieve whatever they wanted to achieve and get a good education. Athe used to always talk about when he grew up, all they had was a slate and a lead pencil.

Q. How would you describe him?

A. Always humble. Very respectful. He was always greeting people in the community, saying hello. And he loved children. He was an inspiration to many, including myself. That is why I work with children today.

Q. What was one of his greatest achievements in your opinion?

A. Giving his land to build the school on and the ‘Athe Walter Nona Scholarship’.

Q. If Athe was here right now, what do you think he would say about our education?

A. If Athe was here, he would continue to say finish your education, make sure you graduate and get a good job for yourself and help your people.

Q. Do you think Athe would be satisfied with how much education in the Torres Straits has improved?

A. He would for sure. He always used to say he wanted a high school in the islands and on Badu Island, so kids wouldn’t have to travel far away from home to get a good education, and he always talked about how he wanted culture taught in the classrooms as well.

Q. Why do you think he was so respected by others?

A. He was a community person. He was very easy to approach, very open and never held things back. He was always helping people.

Q. What do you think Athe was most known or remembered for?

A. For his role in education, how he worked with kids and the advice he gave. When you ask people about him, they will always say how they remembered the tapping of his walking stick outside the classrooms. That’s how you knew Athe was at school.

My Cousin, Elijah Jackonia

Q. What is your name and who was Athe to you?

A. My name is Elijah Jackonia and Athe Walter was my Athe.

Q. What is your favourite memory with him?

A. Working in the gardens.

Q. What is the best advice he ever gave you?

A. To be humble and respectful.

Q. Why do you think Athe was so respected by everyone around him?

A. He was an Elder and he was always talking about the importance of culture and God.

Q. How would you describe him?

A. He had high expectations for everyone, but he was very kind at the same time.

Q. What was one of his greatest achievement in your opinion?

A. His role in education on Badu Island and his role as P&C President.

Q. What do you think Athe was most known or remembered for?

A. His kindness.

Q. Why do you think education was so important to Athe?

A. He just wanted the best for people. He was always talking about how different education was for him compared to now and so he just wanted the best for every individual. They had very limited resources.

Goegapa Kabminaik (Dance Till Day Light)

Left Right, Left Right, Left Right, Left Right Goegapa Kabminaik, Dance till Day Light The beat of the drum, a sensation to my ears The spirit of our ancestors calling after all these years. They’re telling me to move my feet To dance along with the drumbeat. Left Right, Left Right, Left Right, Left Right Goegapa Kabminaik, Dance till Day Light My culture is my identity, our stories told through songs and dance You want to know what I am saying, just watch the way I move my hands The way I stomp my feet, the way I tilt my head, Until the dance is over, and then I start again. Left Right, Left Right, Left Right, Left Right Goegapa Kabminaik, Dance till Day Light.

Poem by Sofia Nona

Image: Goegapa Kabminaik (Dance Till Day Light) Artist: Laurie Nona Snr.