Murray Island, Queensland

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This article refers to an Australian island. The American one is referred to as Murray Isle.

Murray Island (known by the local Torres Strait Islanders as Mer) is a small island of volcanic origin, populated by the Melanesian Meriam people and situated in the eastern section of Torres Strait, near the Great Barrier Reef. The island has a population of around 450.

This island is one of the Torres Strait Islands. The Murray Group comprises of three islands - Mer, Dauar and Waier. There are eight Meriam tribes - Komet, Zagareb, Meuram, Magaram, Geuram, Peibre, Meriam-Samsep, Piadram and Dauer Meriam. The organization of the island is based on the traditional laws of boundary and ownership.

The people of Mer (Meriam) maintain their traditional culture. Modern influences such as consumer goods, television, travel and radio are having an impact on traditional practices and culture. Despite this, song and dance remains an integral part of island life and is demonstrated through celebrations such as Mabo Day, Coming of the Light, Tombstone openings and other cultural events.

The people of Mer speak Torres Strait Creole and Meriam. English is a second language.

Mer is governed by the Community Council, which is responsible for roads, water, housing and community events. The Community Council has a major influence on community life. The elders of the community hold a position of respect and also have a major influence on island life.

1 Geography
2 History
- 2.1 World War II History
3 Aerial photos & maps

[edit] Geography

Mer is a basaltic island formed from an extinct volcano. The island rises to a plateau 80m above sea level. The highest point of the island is Gelam Paser - the western end of the crater (230m). The island has red fertile soil and is covered in dense vegetation. The island has a tropical climate with a wet and dry season.

[edit] History

Murray Island has been influenced by a number of events. These events, especially during the twentieth century, forced the islanders to adjust to a new lifestyle being introduced through government control. The events include:

• Forty year of strict government control which prohibited Islander culture.

• The pastoral responsibility of the island being handed over to the Church of England by the London Missionary Society. This saw a relaxation the anti traditional attitude of the missionaries.

• The 1936 maritime strike which allowed islanders to assert control and reject government controls. This strike was the result of the Islanders dissatisfaction with the fact that their wages and boats were managed by the Protector - a government appointed supervisor.

• The 1937 inaugural Island Councillors meeting on Yorke Island which resulted in the Torres Strait Islander Act of 1939. This gave Islanders more authority in their own affairs and established local government on each island.

• World War II, which brought Islanders into contact with more Europeans. Over 700 Islanders volunteered to assist with coast watch work. This group was known as the Torres Strait Light Infantry Battalion.

• The migration of Islanders to mainland Australia as jobs disappeared in the pearling industry.

• The call for independence from Australia in the 1980s due to the government failing to provide basic infrastructure on the island.

• The 1992 Mabo case which confirmed the Islanders ownership of their land. Formed from an extinct volcano, Murray Island has red fertile soil and dense vegetation. The highest point of the island is Gelam Paser (230 metres). The island has been inhabited by the Meriam people for thousands of years prior to European exploration and settlement of Australia. Westerners began to settle on the island in 1872 when the London Missionary Society founded a missionary school there. The Queensland Government annexed the islands in 1879.

Murray Island's most famous resident was trade unionist Eddie Mabo, whose decision to sue the Queensland government in order to secure ownership of his land, which had been removed from his ancestors by the English colonial powers using the terra nullius legal concept, ultimately led to the High Court of Australia, on appeal from the Supreme Court of the State of Queensland, issue the "Mabo decision" to finally recognise Mabo's rights on his land on 3 June 1992. This decision continues to have ramifications for Australia. Unfortunately, Mabo himself died a few months before the decision.

[edit] World War II History

During World War II, Japanese submarines regularly visited Murray Island to collect food and water and to avoid detection by allied ships. One example was a RO-33 class submarine was witnessed by the Murray Island elders to use the islands close by as a means of evading detection from anti-submarine patrols and the crew coming ashore to collect fresh water from the wells and fresh fruit from the islanders gardens.

Witness accounts were relayed to Manuel McAuley and Vanessa Seekee (curator of the Torres Strait Heritage Museum) who believe the RO-33 was responsible for sinking the Burns Philp merchant ship "MV Mamutu" (300 tons) on the 7th August 1942 north of Murray Island.

It is estimated in that in late July 1942, or some time after the sinking of the "Mamutu", the submarine surfaced beside "Dauar" Islet (one of the 3 volcanic islands that make up Murray Island). They landed on "Dauar" Islet to take on fresh water from the wells at the Sardine Factory and to obtain intelligence on the area.

On 29 August 1942, HMAS Arunta sunk the RO-33 10 miles SE of Port Moresby.

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