Hi, I came across this discussion while doing some research and thought you might be interested in a snippet about Didong Abraham. It's an interview with Howard Sattler, though I don't know the date. It discusses the Pinjarra massacre and raises the possibility of a second massacre in the area, or also - given Didong's age at the time of the interview - potentially him recalling a first-hand account of the massacre given to him as a youngster which he now recalls as his own memory. Either is a fascinating prospect. This forum won't let me post an image, but it contains a photo of Jack and the text reads:
"OLD MAN DIDONG"
by HOWARD SATTLER
"We was out after rabbits along creek, when we hear shots up near bridge. We look round bend and see lotsa black fellas lying there on the ground.
"We plenty scared and we got out of there quick and run away to Pingelly."
Old "Didong" turned the logs on the fire he had lit outside his native reserve house before 5 am and talked about the day when he and his boyhood mate ran all the way from Pinjarra to Pingelly.
His description of the massacre which preceded it fits that of the famous Battle of Pinjarra when an 'official' party of whites armed themselves and shot down dozens of almost defenceless natives ... except that it took place almost 140 years ago and Didong (Jack Abraham) is only 108!
The horrific experience which planted itself in the young boy's mind was never recorded, and the culprits went unpunished.
With Jack (he doesn't know why he's called Didong) seeing out his twilight years in the harsh conditions of the Pinjarra Native Reserve, their reputations will probably go untarnished.
One of five children, Jack was born in the Dale River district, near Brookton, and grew up to a life of servility under the early white settlers in the South West.
His cracked, garbled voice could recall little of the Great War and his complete lack of memory of World War II was testimony to his age.
Another is his memory of Pinjarra before its church was constructed about 100 years ago.
The ancient face which has watched the loss of pride of the Aborigines since his childhood days sits atop a figure which is as trim as it was 75 years ago.
"It's the devil of a life that's kept me going," he croaked, then mimicked a kookaburra when he gauged the gullibility of his audience, which included several of his great-grandchildren.
Apart from the handed-out service station shirt he sports proudly, Jack, with broad-brimmed hat added, is still every wiry inch a bushman.
His culinary inadequacies (his old stove has not felt a flame for several years) are supplemented by the meals he receives from his neighbours.
Though his relatives tell Jack he is a great-grandfather, he is unable to recognise if any, or all of the children on the reserve, are his descendants.
But he still talks vaguely about the two wives he has had and who have long since passed away.
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Topic: Abraham family (Read 1882 times)