Susan Upton launches Culture in Translation: The Anthropological Legacy of RH Mathews

Abstract

Later, all four sons went to The Kings School in Sydney and Aunt 'Georgie' was sent to a private girls school in Sydney. When he was about 50, old RH more or less retired as a surveyor and for the rest of his life devoted himself to his anthropological work. Many of you will remember Bill (WC) Wentworth, a Member of Parliament and the first Minister for Aboriginal Affairs.

Robert Hamilton Mathews, my great grandfather, was born in 1841 - soon after his parents emigrated from Northern Ireland. He died in 1918, aged 77, and is buried in Parramatta. He married Mary in her mother's home in Tamworth. I wear her wedding ring.

Their first born was Hamilton - my grandfather - followed by Georgiana, whose middle name was Transit, as she was born in the year of the Transit of Venus. Then came Gregory, Australie, Mary, William and Robert, totalling nine children in 13 years, one of them stillborn. The names Robert and Hamilton have been handed down since: my brother is Robert, and my sister and our first cousin both have Hamilton as a middle name.

Robert and Mary's third child, Gregory, was a renowned ornithologist, and the National Library has a significant collection of his work, which marries well with his father's collection. Australie, their fourth child, died before she was six, and neither of their surviving daughters married. From RH and Mary's four surviving sons, in my generation there are only four of us: my sister and brother, a first cousin and me.

Our family always knew Robert Hamilton Mathews as 'Old RH' or sometimes 'old RHM'. Many Aboriginal people knew him as 'Miranen', meaning 'well-liked man'. Although no-one in the family has any proof, it is known that on numerous occasions among Indigenous people he was given many of the privileges of an initiated man.

My father Frank remembered his grandfather very warmly, even though old RHM died when my father was 15. He said his robust grandfather, who was a qualified surveyor, had intense concentration, a lovely sense of humour and was very good indeed with children providing they were not too shy. He was also very good at languages, mathematics and astronomy, the latter being very useful when he was surveying new areas. As well, RHM was a good draftsman, that being invaluable for copying the Aboriginal rock art he saw on his anthropological expeditions. Old RH sang a number of Aboriginal songs, but my father wasn't sure who had transcribed them.

Old RH had pastoral interests. He didn't inherit any money, and so all he had he'd earned. In 1882, when he was 41, he and Mary went overseas for a year: first to New Zealand, and then through the US and Europe. Later, all four sons went to The Kings School in Sydney and Aunt 'Georgie' was sent to a private girls school in Sydney.

When he was about 50, old RH more or less retired as a surveyor and for the rest of his life devoted himself to his anthropological work. Many of you will remember Bill (WC) Wentworth, a Member of Parliament and the first Minister for Aboriginal Affairs. Knowing of my mother Janet's musical ability, he asked her to research and record some Aboriginal music before it died out. The Institute for Aboriginal Studies supplied her with a tape recorder and tapes and off she went. The family was extremely impressed and astounded, for here was a woman who'd lived a privileged life for her 50 odd years, heading off to places unknown and with little physical comfort at all. If she was referred to a particular person as an informant and he was in jail, she would sit and record with him there. She loved the work.

My mother started her investigations on the far south coast of New South Wales, and quickly realised that to learn and understand the music, it was essential for her to learn and understand the culture and some of the language of the areas where she was researching. When she introduced herself, quite a number of the older people, especially the men, asked if she was related to 'that old Mr Mathews' or 'Miranen'. When she said that he was her grandfather-in-law, she was immediately welcomed, was warmly accepted and everyone willingly co-operated with her in her quest for knowledge. We are all extremely proud of her and her achievements.

Our family is delighted that Martin Thomas has undertaken such unremitting investigation and research into old RH. I have very much enjoyed my frequent contact with Martin since 1999 and we all have learned an enormous amount about our ancestor from Martin's work. Martin, congratulations; you're wonderful and good luck in your future endeavours. No matter where they take you, I will always value our friendship.

Sidebar

National Library of Australia 17 October 2007

Footnote

1. Culture in Translation: The Anthropological Legacy of RH Mathews, Martin Thomas (ed), Aboriginal History Monograph 15, 2007.