Jimmy James (tracker)
Encyclopedia
Jimmy James OAM was an Aboriginal Australian and member of the Pitjantjatjara people, who was best known as an Aboriginal tracker
who helped South Australian Police
in tracking criminals over a forty year period.
Born near Ernabella (now Pukatja) in central Australia to his parents, Warlawurru and Kaarnka, he spent his late childhood at the Ooldea Mission
. He left the area in 1945, after being wrongfully arrested, and headed to the South Australia
n Riverland
, where he assisted in the establishment of the Gerard Mission
. It was there that he married Lilian Disher in 1947. In 1948, James began his career as a tracker for police and landowners, and gained much of his reputation tracking criminals (including arsonists, poachers and escapees) and lost persons. His successes including tracking escapee James Smith and finding Wendy Pfeiffer (who was nine years old at the time) after she was abducted near Mylor
.
Jimmy James was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 1984 and the inaugural South Australian Aboriginal Person of the Year in 1983, and he was given a gold medallion by the family of Wendy Pfeiffer. After his death, a memorial to Jimmy James was erected in Berri, South Australia
.
Aboriginal tracker
In the years following British settlement in Australia, aboriginal trackers or black trackers, as they became known, were enlisted by settlers to assist them in navigating their way through the Australian landscape...
who helped South Australian Police
South Australia Police
The South Australia Police is the police force of the Australian state of South Australia. It is an agency of the Government of South Australia within the South Australian Department of Justice.-History:...
in tracking criminals over a forty year period.
Born near Ernabella (now Pukatja) in central Australia to his parents, Warlawurru and Kaarnka, he spent his late childhood at the Ooldea Mission
Ooldea, South Australia
Ooldea is a tiny settlement in South Australia. It is on the eastern edge of the Nullarbor Plain, 863 km west of Port Augusta on the Trans-Australian Railway...
. He left the area in 1945, after being wrongfully arrested, and headed to the South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
n Riverland
Riverland
The Riverland, is a region of South Australia. It covers the area near the Murray River from where it flows into South Australia downstream to Blanchetown.The major town centres are Renmark, Berri, Loxton, Waikerie and Barmera...
, where he assisted in the establishment of the Gerard Mission
Gerard (Aboriginal Council)
The Gerard Community Council is a small, aboriginally controlled local government area located in The Riverland, South Australia. The community is dependent on the River Murray, with some horticulture and grazing in the district...
. It was there that he married Lilian Disher in 1947. In 1948, James began his career as a tracker for police and landowners, and gained much of his reputation tracking criminals (including arsonists, poachers and escapees) and lost persons. His successes including tracking escapee James Smith and finding Wendy Pfeiffer (who was nine years old at the time) after she was abducted near Mylor
Mylor, South Australia
-History:Mylor was surveyed in 1885, with a plan to develop the land as a focal point for orchard development in South Australia. The town was proclaimed in 1891 by Acting Governor of South Australia Sir James Boucaut who named it after his Cornish birthplace .Early inhabitants were strict...
.
Jimmy James was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 1984 and the inaugural South Australian Aboriginal Person of the Year in 1983, and he was given a gold medallion by the family of Wendy Pfeiffer. After his death, a memorial to Jimmy James was erected in Berri, South Australia
Berri, South Australia
Berri is a town in the Riverland region of South Australia. It is 238 kilometres north-east of Adelaide, the capital of the state of South Australia. It is primarily an agricultural and viticultural town on the north bank of the Murray River...
.