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 Roy Dick Roy Dick was a Hope Vale pioneer. Born on
15 July 1920 in Rosebank, near the old dairy farm at Cooktown, to
Martha of the Dhuubi Warra clan, Roy was taken to Cape Bedford
Mission when he was three at request of Pastor Schwarz. He and
Roy's mother were concerned for his safety because of the fairness
of his skin. Roy's real father, a white man called Jacob Dick, was
an Irish farmer who grew mangoes at "Chutney Farm". His stepfather
was Arrami Bagaarmungu.Roy grew up on the mission at Hope Valley under the care of Paddy McIvor, who was in charge of the boys' dormitory. He went to school in the mornings, and in the afternoons worked along with everyone in the fields. As he grew up, he was given the responsibility of teaching the younger children in Pastor Schwarz's (Muni) absence. He was a good student with a mischievous sense of humour. At Cape Bedford, all had to abide by the Missionary's rules. Roy was able to leave regularly to see his mother and family at times. For a short time Roy was the mail messenger for Muni. He would hike with a heavy pack of mail and documents around the coast from Cape Bedford to North Shore where a small boat met him and took him to Cooktown. The journey by foot took eight hours and was perilous in many parts with plunging cliffs, high tide and snakes abound. One had to be fit, responsible and trustworthy. Muni must have had much faith in young Roy to have given him this task. At the age of 15, Roy left school and worked as an apprentice carpenter with Muni's son-in-law. When he was 18, Roy moved to "Eight Mile", now the Cooktown Airport, where Muni farmed crops of sweet potatoes, bananas, cotton and maize. Roy helped tend the crops. During this time Roy fell in love with May Bowen. May was slim and delicate, with long shiny hair. He got word that May returned his affections and upon getting permission, they married at Spring Hill Church on 2 June 1940. At Spring Hill, Roy and May had their first child, Daniel. Roy worked gathering trochus shell, beche-de-mer (a sea slug highly prized by the Chinese) and catching dugong (Dugong oil, richer than cod liver oil, was packed and given to children to build them up and prevent tuberculosis). In 1942, when the war broke out, Roy's whole community was "evacuated" by American forces and sent 2,000 miles away to Woorabinda near Rockhampton. The only possessions they were allowed to take were the clothes they had on. For days they travelled, hungry, tired, frightened and unused to the cold climate. Unknown to them, Muni, who was German born, was also under guard to be locked away and later released in 1944.   Roy and May spent seven and a half years in Woorabinda, during which they had three more children. Here Roy continued to work as a carpenter. He also travelled to other parts to do work in various farm labouring like cutting cane and picking potatoes with other Cape Bedford men. These men had a reputation that stood them well above other workers. 235 Bedford people died during this time at Woorabinda. Roy lost his brother and his sister. He was the only survivor in his family. In 1946, Roy moved his family to Tanby to pick pineapples. Three years later in 1949, a new settlement, now named Hope Vale, was being established for the Cape Bedford people to return to their land. Roy was called upon to go and build temporary homes. His family did not see him for a whole year, after which they joined him at the new settlement. A year later, their youngest daughter, Roslyn or Rosie, was born. The family always did things together. May wove mats from pandanus leaves, which the whole family would gather. She sold them to help with the family's finances, as Roy received only rations from his carpentry during those days. Roy also gathered brightly coloured parrot feathers which May made decorative "flowers" with. In 1963, May developed a heart condition and in December, after suffering a stroke, she passed away in Cairns Base Hospital.  During his life Roy built numerous
buildings that still stand today. In 1954, Roy helped build St
John's Lutheran Church in Hope Vale. He was made foreman of the
carpenters, who then built several community homes. Roy helped many
friends build beach houses and built a girls' dormitory in Wujal
Wujal. He also built some houses in Cooktown, several of which
still stand in Racecourse Road. In 1966, Roy built the Church manse
in Coen. Roy was the first to build a holiday house
at Elim Beach in 1970, which is still inhabited today. When Elim became
too crowded, he built another holiday house at Alligator Creek. Roy
also built wooden boats in his spare time in his backyard at Hope
Vale. He supplied hand built boats to Wujal Wujal, Weipa and
Portland Roads.Roy was a Church Elder at Hope Vale for sixteen years, six of them as Chairman. Roy loved music and singing. He loved singing songs of praise and favourite hymns in Guugu Yimithirr language. He spent 36 years in the church choir at Hope Vale. When he retired, Roy spent time on his garden which was his pride and joy. He planted and tended to numerous vegetables, fruit and nut trees as well as beautiful flowering plants. His garden won many competition prizes. Roy also loved fishing and was a keen photographer. It is said when Roy was alive, that to sit and talk to him in his flourishing garden in the shade of the trees was a true learning experience. A part of Hope Vale opens up to those who were privileged to listen to him. |
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