Brownie Doolan facts for kids

Brownie Doolan Perrurle (born around 1918, died 2011) was a very important Aboriginal man from Australia. He was famous for being the very last person to speak the Lower Arrernte language. When he passed away in 2011, this language sadly became extinct. A linguist named Gavan Breen worked with Brownie to create a dictionary of Lower Arrernte. This dictionary has about a thousand words, thanks to their conversations.

Who Was Brownie Doolan Perrurle?

Brownie Doolan Perrurle was a respected elder and a significant figure in Australian history. He played a key role in preserving knowledge of the Lower Arrernte language. He also worked as a stockman and a police tracker in central Australia.

The Last Speaker of Lower Arrernte

Brownie Doolan Perrurle was the last person who could speak the Lower Arrernte language fluently. This language was spoken by his family, including his mother Fanny, his father Paddy, and his grandmother. They lived in an area south of Aputula.

Because Brownie was the last speaker, it was very important to record the language before it was lost forever. A linguist named Gavan Breen spent time with Brownie. He recorded their conversations to learn and write down the words of the Lower Arrernte language. This effort helped create a dictionary with about a thousand words. This dictionary is a valuable record of the language and culture.

Early Life and Family

Brownie Doolan Perrurle was born in 1918. He wasn't sure of his exact birth date, but old government records confirmed the year. He was born near New Crown Station, which is not far from Finke in central Australia.

Brownie had a family. In the 1940s, he was married to Edie and they had two children. Later, in the 1960s, he was recorded living with his wife Biddy in Finke. They had several children, including Peter, Margaret, Sambo, Michael, and Stanley. Biddy was from the Pananka group of the Arrernte/Aranda people, and her birthplace was Hermannsburg.

A Life as a Stockman and Tracker

Brownie Doolan Perrurle had important jobs throughout his life. In the mid-1940s, he worked as a stockman at Andado Station. A stockman is someone who works with livestock, like cattle, on large farms or stations.

Later, Brownie became a police tracker. An Aboriginal tracker uses their amazing knowledge of the land and tracking skills to help police find people or follow trails. Brownie worked as a tracker for the police in both Finke and Kulgera. He was known for his skills and was one of the longest-serving trackers. He and his son, Michael, were also famous for the dogs they owned, which likely helped them in their work.

His Legacy

Brownie Doolan Perrurle retired from his work as a tracker around 1981. After retiring, he sometimes did contract work on the Central Australian Railway, which used to pass through Finke.

Brownie was a highly respected person in his community. Many people in the town of Finke loved and admired him. When he passed away in 2011, he was remembered as an "icon" in the town. His death was even noted in the NT Police News journal, showing how important he was to the police force and the wider community. His legacy lives on through the dictionary of the Lower Arrernte language that he helped create.