ELDER CELEBRATES 80TH

STILL SEEKING LOST WIFE AND CHILDREN

Harry Mills at the Thaangangarli-Yarndu: History and Heroes Exhibition

Yindjibarndi Elder, Harry Mills celebrated his 80th birthday out on country at Wayu Murri - Gregorys Gorge last week and shared the story about his remarkable and also tragic life.

Speaking fondly of the days before he was stolen from his family and his time as a stockman.

“I stayed around Millstream, until I turned seven years old and then I was stolen generation, taken to Carnarvon mission, I stayed there for a long time.”

Harry married shortly after leaving the mission and went on to have three children. One day when he was dropping off his wife and kids in Carnarvon, he was kidnapped by a station owner.

“When he was driving along I jumped off, and run back to my wife and kids! He reversed the truck back, got me and chuck me on, and I jump off again. He get me, tie me up and take me to Onslow.”

After many years working for the station owner, Harry found his mother on Mardie Station, but after learning, she had married another man he moved to Roebourne where he heard he had some family. He never saw his wife and children again. 

“So When I went to Roebourne I stopped there all my life,  No more wife and kids, finished. They never see my face anymore.” 

In 2019, Ngaarda Media shared a video of Harry asking if anyone knew where his wife and children were. It had been over 30 years since seeing them.

Their names are Jean Mill, Robert Mill and Trevor Flower.

He worked as a stockman around the Pilbara and Gascoyne Region where he was paid rations for his work. 

Family and friends later celebrated his remarkable life later that day in Ieramagadu, Roebourne.