2011 - Theses - Flinders University

his plans for the future etc. I know how you must feel these days, and Brother believe mewhen I say I am remembering you in prayer as you make ready to leave, and I trust youwon’t need to stay longer than Dec 6 if you need to stay until then… 224At the same time Samuels writes to Brother Hathaway, hoping that this young man willoutlast the stubborn older missionary.…Glad Brother Eaton has agreed to let you now act as Supt and the time won’t be longnow before you have the field clear on your own, I realize it is not quite satisfactory atpresent re the house and the wireless etc, but it will soon come and all will be well Itrust… 225The Eatons have devoted over twenty years of their life to living on faith and no wage, andmost of that at Nepabunna. It is the end of an era.Gladstone, South Australia, 2002I was accustomed to yuras sadness at the end of Mr Page’s life with them, but Enis surprisedme when she suddenly added:I mean it’s the same with Mr. Eaton even: ‘Why did Mr. Eaton leave? He was sent thereby God to look after us!’ and they never ever forgave Mr. Eaton for leaving them, youknow, because he was somebody special. ‘Why didn’t Mr Eaton stay and die withus?’…He was there a long time with the old people. As we came along we sort of thought‘Oh yes, he’s the only one that knows how to run the store’. Isn’t it silly how you think asa kid; you think he’s the only who knows how to stand up in church and preach to us, he’sthe only one that knew how to play the little mandolin or the little musical instrument. Hewas a father figure and what else do you say? 226Fred Eaton had been the Superintendent of the Mission for twenty years, and before that, oneof the founding missionaries. He dug wells and oversaw the erection of the windmill andpiping from the wells to the community, he struggled with Adnyamathanha cultural ways,tended wounds, ran Christmas Day races, preached heaven and hell from his rude pulpit andeven built a new church that stands to this day. He badgered the government and the UAM157