Jimmy James (tracker, 1913–1991) facts for kids

Jimmy James OAM (1913–1991) was an Aboriginal Australian man from the Pitjantjatjara people. He was famous for being an Aboriginal tracker. For over 40 years, he helped the South Australian Police find people who were lost or had broken the law.

Early Life and Moving On

Jimmy James was born in South Australia, near a place called Pukatja. This area is in the northern part of the state. He spent his later childhood years at the Ooldea Mission.

In 1946, Jimmy and other workers moved to the South Australian Riverland. There, he helped to set up the new Gerard Mission. This was an important step for the community.

Becoming a Tracker

In 1948, Jimmy James started his career as a tracker. He worked for both the police and landowners. A tracker is someone who is incredibly skilled at following tracks and signs on the ground. They can find people or animals, even in difficult terrain.

Jimmy became very well-known for his tracking skills. He helped find people who had escaped, as well as those who were lost. He also assisted in solving important cases. One of his most famous cases was in 1982. He successfully found someone who had escaped and was considered dangerous.

Later Years and Legacy

In 1987, Jimmy James became very ill after having several strokes. He passed away on 27 October 1991. He was buried with his family at the Gerard Reserve Cemetery. This cemetery is located at the Gerard Mission.

After his death, a special granite memorial was built in Berri, South Australia. This memorial helps people remember his amazing work. In 2019, SBS also created an interactive website. It tells the story of one of the cases he helped solve.

Awards and Recognition

Jimmy James received several important awards for his work:

• 1984: He was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia. This is a very high honor in Australia.
• 1983: He was named the South Australian Aboriginal Person of the Year.
• He received a special gold medallion from the family of Wendy Pfeiffer. This was a thank you for his help in a difficult case.

Family Life

Jimmy James married Lilian Disher on 22 February 1947. Their wedding took place at the Gerard Mission. Lilian was the adopted daughter of another famous tracker, also named Jimmy James. This is where Jimmy James got his Western name. Jimmy and Lilian had four children together. Sadly, Jimmy outlived all of his children.