4 Francis
Record of Visit to Mission Stations, 1936 – Part 1
Georgina Baumann
Before heading into the Fryer Library Indigenous Collection, I asked my Ancestors to guide me. I was drawn to the left side of the room on arrival and as we moved through the collection, I noticed a big black book, a photo album. It read ‘Record of Visit, Mission Stations, 1936 – Part 1’. Slowly turning the pages, I felt myself go silent and was captured by the photographs of the different Missions in North Queensland.
Turning through the pages, I came to the Mission photographs of Aurukun.
My Uncle and cousins previously lived in Aurukun, establishing a connection to that Country. With that connection, my heart beat a little stronger. Looking through the photographs, I was captivated by three photos which read ‘Francis’ underneath each photo. Francis 392, Francis 401, Francis 434.
Looking at the photos of ‘Francis’, I scribbled down these words:
To let someone in
To share your light
Coming through the lens
In black and white
Such beauty in your big smile
So much kindness in your eyes
I can sense your energy and light
There is warmth and radiance
Like the sun
You are the sun, which always shines so bright.
Being captivated by the three photographs, I could feel the type of energy which young ‘Francis’ has. It is pure energy and light. I found myself tearing up. I thought how beautiful it is to have a soul which shines through an 85-year-old photograph. On reflection, I believe there is a sense of longing to meet ‘Francis’ and maybe I will one day, maybe I already have.
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Link to the Fryer Library Collection
Norman Francis Nelson, ‘Francis’, 1936, Record of visit to mission stations, UQFL57, Series A, Items 392, 401 and 434, Fryer Library, The University of Queensland.
Biography
Georgie Baumann is Butchulla from Hervey Bay. Georgie is a Gubbi Gubbi descendant and South Sea Islander (Tanna, Vanuatu). Currently the Project Manager (AIATSIS Code) in Research and Integrity, Georgie has worked in higher education for several years at King’s College London, The Queensland University of Technology and The University of Queensland. She has a background in dance and performance and is interested in creating positive change through creative practice.
