Redressing ’cult of forgetfulness’ in Australian history

Turandurey carrying her daughter, Ballandella. Image: State Library of NSW - An Aboriginal woman carrying her daughter was instrumental to an 1836 colonial expedition exploring the Darling and Murray rivers. While many would know the name of Sir Thomas Mitchell, Surveyor General who led the expedition from Sydney, few would have heard of Turandurey, a young Aboriginal mother who took on the task of guiding Mitchell's all-male party to fresh water and food sources when older aboriginal men refused. The story of Turandurey and her daughter Ballandella are among 25 new biographies of notable Indigenous figures in Australian history researched, documented and published by the Australian Dictionary of Biography (ADB) at ANU. Turandurey's talent for expressive communication and translation was noted by Mitchell, who watched her communicate with other Indigenous groups as well take on the role of intermediary and translator between two individuals forbidden by custom to interact directly. Turandurey's biography says: "Mitchell considered his 'party fortunate in having met with such an interpreter'." Indigenous historian, Dr Shino Konishi Konishi from the University of Western Australia ,is leading the project to create 200 new Indigenous biographies for the ADB. She says the work redresses the 'great Australian silence' in the writing of Australian history - a phrase coined by esteemed Australian anthropologist Bill Stanner, an appointee to ANU in 1949.  "Stanner identified this absence of the Indigenous contribution to Australia's history.