GRIFFITHS_MARSH1945

Title: Message stick given to Roland Griffiths-Marsh

Item type: message stick in a private collection (donated)

Notes: 13.07.2023. Date of letter sent by Amberleigh Griffiths-Marsh (Amber) to Piers Kelly: "Dear Dr Kelly, I have just watched the third programme in the 'First Inventors' series on SBS On Demand. I have to say that the whole series has been fascinating, and has answered a number of questions I have thought about over the years. The specific programme I refer to here is the third one, when Message Sticks were studied. My father was given a message stick by an elder when he was training with the Z Specials (forerunner of today's SAS) in Darwin and usrrounds in readiness for his insertion into Borneo in the middle of 1945. (I include a copy of his book herewith for you. It has been so long since I read it that I do not know if he mentions receiving the message stick but it will give you context for the gift). He had always treasured the message stick, but had no idea what the markings meant. I had a friend take it to the Gumurri centres at both Mg Gravatt and Nathan campuses of Griffith University, hoping that someone whould be able to decipher the stick, to no avail. I include it here, and since dad died in 2012, I would like to make it a donation to your collection. No-on else is interested in it, and I don't want it thrown away when I die. The only thing I ask, is that if at all possible, you or one of your research assistants or other interested party would send me the information that the stick holds. I would reaslly love to know what it says, even a bit of its history, eg, when and where and by whom was it made. I know that dad would value the idea that it is in safe hands. He donated all his war memorabilia to the National War Museum, where he has his own display. We both value continuity, and preservation of istory, of personal and world history, big or small. Thank you for the work you are doing, we need to understand more about our First Naitons as it is relevant and important o the forward direction of Australia. Yours faithfully, Amber Griffiths-Marsh 20.09.23: PK in conversation with June Ross who suggested that the motifs represented yams, since this is similar to how yams appear in rock art and yams are an important motif in the Kimberley and Top End. She also mentioned that pokerwork style is typical of central Australia but is unusual to be in the Top End in the 1940s. Text discussing the yam motif is the thesis: Hammond, Judith W. 2016. Yam Culture in Arnhem Land: An analysis of cultural life related to Dioscorea yams from the ‘Yam Figure’ rock paintings to the present day. Armidale: University of New England MA dissertation. 27.10.23:PK: Possible that Roland Griffiths-Marsh travelled on the HMAS Arunta which also held message sticks. In his book he spells it Aronda (I think) 22.11.23: Compare yam motif with pokerwork on other objects eg British Museum acc no. 1942 Oc 3 3

Media Files:

Data Entry: Piers Kelly