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Banjo Clarke
Banjo (Henry) Clarke was born around 1922 on Framlingham Aboriginal mission, located near Warrnambool in South-Western Victoria. During the depression Banjo moved to Melbourne with his family to look for work. Having very little formal education, Banjo learned about life from the elders at Framlingham and from other Aboriginal people he befriended around Fitzroy in Melbourne. At fourteen he got work at a sawmill in Tynong North where the proprietor's daughter taught him how to read and write.
During the war, Banjo worked in construction crews building roads and bridges throughout the Northern Territory and North Queensland. He reached Darwin just after it was bombed and took part in the clean up. After the war, Banjo returned to Melbourne, packing his swag to get woodcutting work in country Victoria. Banjo kept returning to Framlingham where he eventually married Audrey Couzens and worked at a stone quarry in Panmure.
Banjo and his wife had six children. He lived in Framlingham beside the Hopkins River and looks after the forest and the cemetery belonging to his ancestors. Banjo has shared many stories and taught many people about his culture. The story of the eels, "Kuuyang" is an important story for the whole region of southwestern Victoria where Banjo lives - with its rich river systems from the Hopkins River through to Darlot's Creek and the Glenelg River and its once abundant supply of eels. (Read about Short-finned Eels - Their Migration and Life.) Shane Howard and Neil Murray were told this story by Banjo and together they wrote the song The River Knows.
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KutjungkaGunditjmaraAndy Alberts |
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Banjo
joined the boxing troupes at 15, having been interested in the sport
from his time spent around the gyms in Melbourne. His brother and
friends boxed at the Fitzroy Stadium in Melbourne. He travelled
throughout Australia, boxing for Jimmy Sharman and Harry Johns.
Banjo hung up his gloves at 40 years of age.
