Two men living in Alice Springs after WW 11 had an important influence on Jim Bowditch , above, photographed by Kerry Byrnes. The first was Englishman, Francis “ Frank” Whitewood , secretary of the ALP, who lived in a caravan and sent money home to his mother. Bowditch described Whitewood as his “ father confessor,” saying he was well - read and taught him to see values in people he otherwise would have missed. The two of them frequently sat up late at night in the caravan playing chess and discussing a wide range of topics, social and political.
The second was lawyer Richard “Dick ’’ Ward , a member of the NT Legislative Council and later a NT judge , with whom Bowditch formed a strong association ; this relationship lasted for decades , both fighting for Aboriginal rights , NT political reform , underdogs and numerous other causes.
By Peter Simon
Ward’s activities resulted in him being called the Clarence Darrow of the Territory . Darrow was the famous American lawyer who fought many legal battles for organised labor, becoming known as the legal champion of the oppressed and unfortunate . It was Darrow who defended the right to teach evolution in Tennessee schools. Ward had been a contemporary of ALP leader Gough Whitlam , they being born in the same month and same suburb. At a political meeting in Darwin years later when the similarities in their lives were pointed out by Whitlam, some wag called out “- and the same father. ’’
About l938 Ward became a partner in the Darwin law firm of Andrew Brough Newell in Darwin . He joined the Army during the war as a lance corporal and worked as a clerk in the record section at the Larrakeyah Barracks in Darwin . However, he was given leave to appear in a court case on February l9, l942, the day the Japanese first bombed Darwin , and he and others rushed out the back of the court and took shelter in a trench. One of those in the ditch was a court stenographer , Florence Wright , whom he later married.
Reflecting on his war service, Ward told this writer most of his work involved drawing lines and remembered attending a muster in sandshoes. He moved to Alice after the bombing of Darwin , set up a legal business and was drafted into the Allied Works Council. In l943 he married Florence Wright .
A dedicated socialist, Ward was known in Alice as “ Red Richard. ” He was a skilled orator, a brilliant advocate and had a firm belief in the rights of the individual . He became a leader in the Northern Territory Development League , formed to press for legislative and political reform, and in l946 the Chifley Labor government decided to form in l947 a Northern Territory Legislative Council. Ward stood for and was elected to the first Legislative Council, beating Frank W. Johnson by one vote. Johnson then won the seat by one vote at the next election . Ward called for Alice Springs to be made the administrative capital of the NT , a proposal backed by influential Adelaide businessmen , including Mr H. J. Bird , manager of S. Kidman and Co. The Deputy Leader of the ALP, Arthur Calwell, said he hoped the day would come when the NT would be divided into two, each one eventually becoming a state. He did not envisage this happening until the NT population had reached 250,000. There was a close relationship between many people in Alice and Adelaide. Territorians from the Centre down in Adelaide used to gather in a drinking spot called the Coal Hole at the Ambassador Hotel, King William Street.
While Bowditch was secretary of the Rovers Cricket Club , Ward was patron of the Pioneer Football Club . Ward arranged for a talented Aboriginal Australian Rules Footballer , Henry Peckham, to play in Adelaide where he received the best player of the year award. Ward was a man of broad interests-music, philosophy and books , of which he had a large collection. He and Jim drank together , and Mrs Ward was in the amateur theatrical group in which Jim and Iris Bowditch were members.
ASIO kept Whitewood, Ward and Bowditch under surveillance. Years later, an ASIO report would describe Bowditch and Ward as having “ long histories of association with Communists and radicals. ”
The Cold War between the super powers caused deep divisions throughout the world , including Alice Springs. Ferocious fighting and huge casualties in Korea , plus the Federal government’s attempt to outlaw the Communist Party heightened passions . It was whispered about the town that Jock Nelson held regular meetings attended by communists in a shed on his property . Nelson told how a union activist in Alice Springs who had a large hammer and sickle emblem emblazoned on the floor of his house had been accused of subversion during WW11. The Queensland Communist lawyer Fred Paterson represented him in court and had him acquitted.
Eddie Connellan was one of those who often spoke a lot about communists. Connellan, according to Nelson, had pulled out of the Northern Territory Development League , which he ( Connellan ) founded , because he said it had been taken over by communists. Dick Ward had become a dominant figure in the organisation
The “Commie” tag was trotted out frequently by people opposing Bowditch. It was also used as ammunition against Dick Ward by plumber Frank Johnson during elections. Johnson loved talking about politics , especially in relation to what happened in Australia during the Depression. It must have been more than sheer coincidence that for quite some time an advertisement in the Centralian Advocate for medical rubber goods appeared next to one for Johnson’s plumbing services.
Another event which added to the Communist jibes against Bowditch was his involvement with the Peace Council . The Peace Council was regarded by many as a Communist front , if not actively supported by “ subversives” then by gullible people being manipulated by evil forces. Because of its support for peace, the World Council of Churches was also regarded with suspicion and outright hostility in some quarters. A person deeply involved in the Peace Council was Marjorie Johnston, sister of Adelaide Communist barrister, Elliott Johnston, later a QC and a judge . When his sister planned to hold Peace Council meetings in the NT , Johnston wrote and asked Bowditch if he would help organise a venue and chair the event. As ASIO put it , Bowditch “ came under notice ”in August l951 when he began corresponding with the SA branch of the Australian Peace Council.
Peace Council Warnings
Bowditch , who had recently been approached and asked to become a Justice of the Peace, agreed to do so . Through his friendship with the incumbent minister, a chess player, Bowditch booked the Anglican hall for a night meeting in June l951 . A leading businessman and a mason both approached Bowditch and warned him against having anything to do with the Peace Council.
Miss Johnston had recently returned from an international Peace Conference in Warsaw and said she saw no sign that Poland and Czechoslovakia were preparing for another world war. Warsaw, she said, would be at the forefront of any invasion and there the populace was rebuilding the city after WW11, not preparing or wanting another global conflict. The Peace Council , she added, was non-political but willingly admitted any political creed as long as it had a genuine desire for peace.
At the Alice meeting Bowditch opened proceedings by introducing Ms Johnston and said peace was a desirable state . He urged those present - about 50 ,by his account - to listen to what was said and to make up their own minds .
In the audience, which included his friend Dick Ward , was Darwin’s Australian Security and Intelligence Organisation officer , Mr Mooney, who came down to report on the event . His secretary took notes throughout the evening . Also present was Mrs Esther Meaney , president of the Darwin Housewives’ Association, who was to accompany Miss Johnston in the Territory. Mrs Meaney had been the NT delegate to the l950 Australian Peace Congress in Melbourne. The Melbourne gathering had been attended by the Dean of Canterbury , Hewlett Johnson, dubbed the “Red Dean” because he had written favourably about Russia . His visit to Australia was criticised in the Press , the Sydney Morning Herald saying he was “ a decoy duck ” for the peace movement .
The Dean passed through Darwin on his way to Melbourne and no local clergy went to meet him because of the Red bogey . However , Esther Meaney, and her husband Jack, a watersider , later made a life member of the ALP , both tireless campaigners for a better society , invited him home to Fannie Bay for a meal, his first in Australia.
On his way back to England, the Dean again stopped off at Darwin and was entertained by the Meaneys, once more breaking bread with the couple. To young John Meaney ,the Dean seemed about “nine foot tall” and spoke in a strong, educated voice.
A short newspaper account of the Alice Peace Council meeting said Bowditch thanked Reverend F. Rodgers Burns for allowing the Church of England hall to be used for the meeting. Reverend Burns had responded by saying he had been impressed by what Miss Johnston had said , and that he was willing to support the proposed establishment of a Peace Committee in Alice.
The ASIO account of the meeting gave a more detailed version . It said Johnston had arrived in Alice on 2/6/5l and she and Meaney had been looked after by Bowditch , who entertained them at his home. It said Johnston had been the only speaker at the meeting , and when people attempted to ask her questions about Communism and the Peace Council , Bowditch had “ disallowed these”. A resolution was supported which had “effectively gagged” Bowditch so that a question could be asked. According to the ASIO account , nobody would accept the position of president or secretary of a local Peace Council committee, so Bowditch and another person , a committee of two , was voted in.
As a result of his involvement with the Peace Council , Jim’s appointment as a JP was either revoked or did not go ahead. The Anglican minister who allowed his hall be used for the peace meeting was transferred . Bowditch noticed that after the meeting some people seemed to avoid him . While walking in the main street Bowditch saw Police Inspector McKinnon , known as “Camel Bill” because in earlier years he had made extensive camel patrols , turn away and head off quickly. Another day, McKinnon repeated the dodging act . As they used to regularly meet in the street and chat, Bowditch decided to find out exactly why he was being shunned. He called on the police officer at his home and asked for an explanation .
McKinnon told him that because of the federal government campaign to have the Communist Party outlawed , it was not safe to be seen with Bowditch as people associated with communists could lose their government jobs. The policeman said he did not want his career jeopardised by being seen with him . The inspector also told Bowditch he had also been rejected as a JP because it was thought he would not be able to swear an oath of allegiance to the Queen.
Bowditch was not concerned about being rejected as a JP . He had indicated when first approached that he would not be interested in sitting on the bench in court cases and “ sending people up the river ”, but would be prepared to witness the signing of documents . While he did not become a JP , he did editorialise some years later that it was not right for Justices of the Peace with “ known attitudes to Aborigines ” to sit on cases involving them .
ASIO noted that by August l951 the Alice Springs Peace Council Committee had “ apparently fallen through” owing to lack of interest and support by local citizens. ( During the time of the Whitlam Goverenment, Jock Nelson informed Bowditch that ASIO had recently taken his (Bowditch’s ) name from the “ fellow traveller ”list .) NEXT : Marriage break down,wild ASIO claims .
