Told and provided by Elder Carol Petterson. When a pastoral lease was granted the Aboriginal people associated with the area were regarded as the property of the pastoralist. They were ‘signed up’ to ensure sufficient labour for the busy shearing season. They weren’t paid. During the slack months the workers were sent into the bush to fend for themselves and if they didn’t return, they were considered to be absconders and a warrant could be issued for their arrest (under the Masters and Servants Act, British legislation from 1842). Absconding from an employer was a common charge often resulting in the three months in prison. It is unlikely the men who were arrested had any idea why they had been arrested. It is likely that some pastoralists used the Act to get the Nyoongar men out of the way so they could access the women. 

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This layer contains historical information about Aboriginal people that may be distressing. It contains names of people who have also passed away.

John Knapp was a proud Meneng warrior, his mother was Jacbam (white fellas called her Mary Nailcan). Jacbam was taken from her traditional area by a white man who took her to Cape Arid. John was born in the Gnuju Tribal area of Esperance. John Knapp enjoyed life as a free independent man who did all things proper and according to time honoured traditions and protocols. He was, and still is, in our family memory, a proud warrior. His wife was Lily. 

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This layer contains historical information about Aboriginal people that may be distressing. It contains names of people who have also passed away.

John Knapp, along with a number of other Nyoongar men in a similar position were rounded up and taken to Esperance where they were found guilty and sentenced. There was no prison at Esperance, so they had to be taken to Albany to serve their sentence. At that time there was no road and no rail line from Esperance to Albany, travel was by ship, the men were taken on the cutter ‘Eve’. In Albany a special timber lined cell had been constructed to hold the Aboriginal prisoners because so many of them escaped. This left Lily and the other woman whose men had been shipped to Albany, lonely and in a very vulnerable position. They decided to walk to Albany to see their men, to hold vigil outside the jail. They walked, probably with their children, nearly 1000 round trip kilometres, before the road was constructed. They did it many times. When John was released, he and Lily walked back to Albany. Their love is celebrated by the children that were conceived and born on these epic walks. What brave strong women they were, they would have closely ancient trails, parts of which have become the Albany to Esperance section of the South Coastal Highway. 

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