Ayaiga

Ayaiga, also known as Ayaigar, Aya-I-Ga, Neighbour or Nipper (c.1882 - 21 June 1954) was a police tracker and stockman in the Northern Territory of Australia. He was the first Indigenous person to be a recipient of a medal for gallantry in Australia, for saving a policeman from drowning.

Ayaigar
Ayaigar
Personal details
Bornc.1882
Roper River region
Died21 June 1954(1954-06-21) (aged 72)
NationalityAustralian citizenship
OccupationTracker and stockman

Biography
Ayaigar's Albert Medal for Lifesaving

Ayaiga was of the Alawa language group in the Roper River region. He worked as a police tracker at Roper Bar Police Station and as a stockman at Nutwood Downs and Hodgson Downs stations.[1]

In 1911, Ayaiga saved the life of Mounted Police Constable William Johns during a river crossing.[2] Ayaiga and three other men had been arrested for cattle stealing and was being transported in neck chains by Constable Johns. While attempting to cross the Wilton River, Johns' horse overturned kicking him in the head and knocking him unconscious.[3] Despite the neck chain, Ayaiga quickly rescued Johns, dragging him to safety. Ayaiga then borrowed Johns' horse and rode to Hodgson Downs Station to request help. He was not convicted of cattle stealing.[4] Then on 16 February 1912 he was awarded the Albert Medal for Lifesaving by King George V at Government House,[5] making him the first Indigenous Australian awarded a medal for gallantry.[6][lower-alpha 1] He was not permitted to keep the medal, which was kept for him by the government to wear on special occasions.[8]

He wore the medal in February 1915, while on trial for murder. He was acquitted.[9][10][11][8]

In 1940, he ferried supplies and rescued people stranded by the flooded Roper River.[11]

Constable Johns' grandson, sculptor Greg Johns, created a sculpture inspired by Ayaiga's story. It is on display at Northern Territory Library. Another of Johns' grandsons is ABC sports broadcaster Charlie King.[8]

His medal is held at the National Library of Australia. A replica is on display at the Northern Territory Library.[11][3]

Notes
  1. Some sources indicate he also won a medal from the Royal Humane Society medal.[7] There are no other reputable sources to support this.

References
  1. "Remembering a hero called "Neighbour"". Northern Land Council. Northern Land Council. Archived from the original on 18 February 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  2. Johns, John Robert; Lewis, D. (Darrell); Historical Society of the Northern Territory (1998), Patrolling the 'Big Up' : the adventures of Mounted Constable Johns in the Top End of the Northern Territory, 1910-1915, Historical Society of the Northern Territory, ISBN 978-1-876450-00-7
  3. "The Story of Ayaiga | Northern Territory Library". ntl.nt.gov.au. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
  4. "News & Notes". Northern Territory Times and Gazette. Vol. XXXVI, no. 1946. Northern Territory, Australia. 24 February 1911. p. 3. Retrieved 29 November 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. "Northern Territory Times". Northern Territory Times and Gazette. Vol. XXXVII, no. 2041. Northern Territory, Australia. 19 December 1912. p. 2. Retrieved 29 November 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. Gibson, Jano (6 May 2011). "Heroic Aboriginal prisoner's medal on display". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. ABC News. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  7. "Film negative - Neighbour, a recipient of the Albert Medal bravery award, Roper River, Northern Territory, photographed by Herbert Basedow, 1928". Collection explorer. National Museum of Australia. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  8. Everingham, Sara. "Brave indigenous digger finally recognised". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 7.30. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  9. "News & Notes". Northern Territory Times and Gazette. Vol. XXXIX, no. 2154. Northern Territory, Australia. 18 February 1915. p. 13. Retrieved 29 November 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. "Supreme Court of the Northern Territory of Australia". Northern Territory Times and Gazette. Vol. XXXIX, no. 2158. Northern Territory, Australia. 18 March 1915. p. 9. Retrieved 29 November 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. McCarthy, Malarndirri (6 May 2011). "Albert medal for gallantry by an aboriginal territorian on display". Northern Territory Government Newsroom. Northern Territory Government. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
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