[“At Beagle Bay”, The Western Mail (Perth, WA), Saturday 05 January 1901, page 8, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article33198373]

AT BEAGLE BAY.

THE TRAPPIST MISSION.

(By Our Special Correspondent.)

The Trappists came to settle in Beagle Bay in this wise. It will be remembered that in 1879 Mr. A. Forrest explored the north-west of this colony, starting from Roebourne and working by Beagle Bay, and the Fitzroy River right through to Pert Darwin. It was on this trip that he discovered those splendid pastoral lands on the Fitzroy, which are now the home of some of our most successful pastoralists. His account of tho trip was read with keen interest. Amongst others who followed the story of his explorations with eager eyes was Bishop Gibney. His motive was, however, not the matter of acquiring good pastoral properties, but the welfare of the blacks. Ten years later a French priest of the Trappist order came to Perth in response to an appeal from the Bishop for workers to take in hand the civilising of the blacks. His request was made through the congregation of the Propaganda Board in Rome, was by them passed on to the Superior of the Trappists, and the result was the arrival in Perth of Father Alphonse. Ten years ago Bishop Gibney and Father Alphonse landed in Derby.

A Plucky Venture.

Here they started to make arrangements for a complete exploration of the country between King’s Sound and Beagle Bay. Their aim was to discover the most suitable spot from which to radiate their missionary work. At Derby they came in contact with Trooper Daly, a member of the police force, and a native of Victoria. Daly expressed a desire to accompany the party on it’s[sic] trip, and the offer was gladly accepted. The blacks in Beagle Bay in those days had a bad reputation, and Bishop Gibney was warned against them and advised to take firearms with him. This he refused to do, and there were not wanting prophets to foretell that under those conditions his murder by the wild blacks was a certainty. But the man who had braved death at Glenrowan to administer the last rites of his church to the dying Kelly gang was not easily to be deterred from carrying out what he conceived to be his duty. So, unarmed and unprotected, the party trusted themselves into the wilds of that country, for a three months’ sojourn amongst these blacks, of whom such bad accounts were heard. After much hardship and discomfort, and after having many times gone short of water and of food, the party landed at Beagle Bay swamps, where the present mission is established. This spot, they unhesitatingly chose as the site of the mission.

How the Mission Was Got Together.

Father Alphonse, after the arrival of the party in Perth, departed for Europe to preach at the various communities of the Trappists the needs of the Beagle Bay blacks. In this pilgrimage he was successful. Large sums of money and many offers of help came to him. Cheered by this success, he returned to West Australia. In the meantime Brother Daly, for Policeman Daly, inspired by the example of the party, had offered to become a Trappist and was accepted as a novice—with another commenced operations at Beagle Bay by preparing the site for the others who were coming out. In about the close of 1891 the mission was in full swing. Clearing operations on a large scale were undertaken by some of the brothers, others started the erection of the necessary buildings, while Father Alphonse applied himself to the study and systematising of the language. This latter, it may here be said, was no light task, as the native languages change materially in about every thirty miles. Father Nicholas the present abbot at Beagle Bay, tells me that from King’s Sound, or, say, from Derby to Broome, there are 16 almost totally different languages.

For the Sake of the Aboriginals.

Bishop Gibney, after some considerable correspondence, obtained a promise from the Government that the Trappists might settle on a huge aboriginal reserve, of 700,000 acres in area, situated between Beagle Bay and King Sound. It has been suggested that this large reserve was created in order to impress the Home people when Responsible Government was asked for, and in order that it might be said, “See what splendid provision we are making for the blacks, you may safely leave them in our hands.” Whether there is anything in the suggestion, or whether the reserve was made in the ordinary course of events, I am not able to say. However, it was in this reserve that the Government promised the Trappists—or more correctly speaking, Bishop Gibney—10,000 acres of land—provided they effected improvements thereon in terms of the Land Act, to the value of £5,000. Even this concession of 10,000 acres was asked for by Bishop Gibney only that he might hold it in trust for the natives and their descendants. It was never sought that the land should pass in fee simple to the Trappists for their exclusive benefit after the specified improvements had been effected. The land was asked for the blacks only, and the possibility of its passing into other hands was obviated by the condition of

trust self-imposed by Bishop Gibney.

Hardship, Privation, and Disappointment.

It can be readily imagined that the colossal work which these French priests—entirely ignorant of Australian conditions—were undertaking, was one, in which there would be many severe disappointments. That they stuck so well to their work, and have achieved what they did, is—all things considered—a good performance, Still the disadvantages of setting inexperienced men, devoid of colonising genius, at the task of reclaiming the swamps and heavy forests of tropical Australia is now visible in many ways. For it is unfortunately the case that much valuable energy, enthusiasm, and money have been expended ignorantly, wastefully, and unskilfully. The work done in the varions fields at once strikes the eye as being the work of amateurs. Evidently there has been here none of that organising genius that has made New Norcia the success it has

been in past years. The Trappists have been unfortunate in their leaders. There have been all the essentials for a successful place. The soil is splendid, there is abundance of fresh water, unequalled fishing is obtainable at Beagle Bay, seven miles distant, the blacks are—under proper management—capable of doing good work, and the climate is not at all had, and for nine months in the year is excellent. And yet but for Bishop Gibney the mission would have failed.

The Germ of Success.

Though the mission cannot, from a worldly point of view, be termed a success it has within it the germs of success. The work that has been done in the past has been a valuable experiment, It is now known for a certainty what procedure is best for the mission. The tropical fruits that have been raised, and the cultivation that has been practised, have all their value in showing along which lines success can best be achieved. Bishop Gibney is determined that the mission shall, with the new ceutury, take an onward movement. He has made arrangements and suggestions which cannot fail to be productive of the highest good to the district and the natives. It is understood that an adequate number of workers and priests are to be introduced. There can be no doubt that, armed by the experience of the past 10 rears, the mission has every chance of a noble and useful career. But the missionaries have devoted their energies in the past more towards the civilizing of the blacks than to the material advancement of their own lands, and in this course I cannot but think that an error of judgment has been committed. The work done amidst the blacks has, however, been both interesting and valuable. In order to permit of the adequate treatment of this portion of the Trappists’ work a separate article is called for.

AB notes:

some explanation of the tenure over the Beagle Bay lands included here:

“However, it was in this reserve that the Government promised the Trappists—or more correctly speaking, Bishop Gibney—10,000 acres of land—provided they effected improvements thereon in terms of the Land Act, to the value of £5,000. Even this concession of 10,000 acres was asked for by Bishop Gibney only that he might hold it in trust for the natives and their descendants. It was never sought that the land should pass in fee simple to the Trappists for their exclusive benefit after the specified improvements had been effected. The land was asked for the blacks only, and the possibility of its passing into other hands was obviated by the condition of trust self-imposed by Bishop Gibney.”