2011 - Theses - Flinders University

his faith was such that he kept his equanimity about him, but I do not think so. I have re-readthe oral history transcripts, and sense the same disquiet amongst those I interviewed as well.‘Untrue things were said…’‘He was worrying about what he’d done I suppose. [He] might have made a mistake…’‘Some say…can’t really say and no one knows and it’s not the sort of thing you’d want tosay or pass on really. 165Only one was straight out:‘He was mucking around with Aboriginal girls. People knew that missionaries were notsupposed to do that. He had been too at Ernabella and Oodnadatta too.’ 166In the end, there is no proof. Remember that.In the end, it’s the kind of thing that could happen to us all. Remember that.‘Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.’THE UNITED ABORIGINES MESSENGER July 1 1935NepabunnaMr. Page writes:-A Native WeddingOn Wednesday I attended a fire stick wedding. One of the Christian girls got married. Iwas invited over to witness the ceremony.All the relatives of the bride meet and follow the parson (carrying the ‘udla’ or firestick) to the home or wurlie of the bride’s mother, where both the bride and bridegroomare waiting.Good AdviceThe fire stick is placed between, and then the ‘parson’ leads off into a long speech innative language , in which a lot of wise laws of conduct of married couples is given tothem to observe. When this is done, others can make speeches, some in English, and somein native tongue.One thing was emphasised, that if they had a row, to have it to themselves away in thebush somewhere, but not to come making a quarrel in the camp. (True love never runssmooth, so provision has to be made for rough weather.) If they keep the good advice, theyshould live happy ever after.After all had finished, I had my say and was able to give Christian counsel.109