dinner at ‘tent city’ in which he
pointed out what could be
achieved if white people and in-
digenous folk worked together. I
was impressed by his historical
knowledge and his plans to better
the situation for indigenous
people, and felt honoured to be
photographed with him.
With time up our sleeves, on the
last day Bunu and Kyle Yanner,
who likes and respects snakes,
took us out on the saltpans to look
for animals. Joe also joined us, but
although we visited several spots
and saw snake tracks, as well as
disturbing a couple of wallabies,
we didn’t spot any snakes. Then
we were led to an old ruin with
plenty of tin lying around. We
knew we were onto something
because every sheet of tin in one
pile hid at least one shed snake
skin, and sure enough we eventu-
ally found two small Stimson’s
Pythons. This is big sky country
and there was not a cloud to be
seen. Joe stopped for photos at
some ancient Aboriginal middens,
where thousands of shells covered
the ground. I was reminded of
some words from a Banjo
Patterson poem about the salt-
bush plain, ‘Where the air so clear
and so cool and bright refracts the
sun with a wondrous light, and out
on the dim horizons makes, the
deep blue gleam of the phantom
lakes.’
The mirage of lakes in the
distance was so convincing it
actually looked as though there
were islands divided by water.
Then there was some excitement
when a mob of pigs showed in the
scrub and Bunu and Kyle took off
in hot pursuit. Joe spotted two
smaller pigs but couldn’t catch
Above left (slide show): the
forum included a static snake
display, demonstrations in a pit,
Powerpoint presentations, and
training in snake handling.
Left: with Euan Edwards and
Murrandoo Yanner.
Right: two small Stimson’s
Pythons were found at an old ruin.
Images by Joe Sambono and
Euan Edwards.
them. Bunu was armed with a
PSE compound bow and when
they drove back, he had bagged a
pig.
were removing the meat and we
were invited to sample sea turtle,
Dugong, Turkey Bustard and
wallaby. Once the meat was
loaded on a vehicle it was off back
We headed back to town where
to the salt pans, where tables for
the food was being prepared for
300 people had been set up with
the final feast to mark the finale of white table cloths and battery-
the forum. This was being done in powered lights. A large circular
traditional Aboriginal style in large area bordered by white-painted
pits in the ground almost opposite logs had been arranged as the
the pub. When we arrived the men dance area; vertical poles each
‘We knew we were onto something,
because every sheet of tin hid at
least one shed snake skin.’