E. Graham Nakkamarra, J. Nixon Nakkamarra, R. Graham Namikili

Lots of Warumungu people lived and worked at BB station for many years. Old people lived there first and then their families came. Some lived at the mission first or other stations then came to BB. Men and women worked here and children went to school at the old school house. The ladies did many different kinds of work. They washed clothes, carried out the toilet water, helped cook and made clothes for kids. Making soap was a hard job. First they put lard in the big copper drums and then add a powder that was like sugar to the mix. They sat on the other side of the laundry building there working. They would put all the mix in a tub and boil it up. Then when it cooled down the next day they could cut it up into bars. Even the old ladies, three jaajus, used to help with the hard work. Some old people lived behind the hill. The boss, Mrs. Ward, knew about the old people but left them there. Those old people would use a mirror and shine it to tell others that a corroboree was on, so everyone could come over the hill for dancing.

Translation of “Working at BB Station” by: J. Nixon Nakkamarra

Julali Warumungu karriny ajjul nyiyina kapi warangarli jiyina BB Station-jji yurrmul-ngini. Pulkka pulkka apparra ajjul nyiyina yurrmul malungku jangu. Yurrkati ajjul nyiyina mission-jji kapi jartungku station-jji, BB station-jji . Kartti kapi kirriji, warangarli jiyina ajjul, pikka pikka ngini ajjul apina school kina yurrmulalki papulu kuna. Kirriji kirriji ajjul julali ngara warangarli jiyina. Ajjul wawarta pakinjina, kuna kari ngappa jarlarl jukkin ina, kapi kuppunjina mayi, kapi pakkinjina pikka pikka kari wawarta. Soap ajjul makum niyina, warangarli jiyina ajjul wilya. Nyirrinjina ajjul tikka apurru kumppu kuna copper drums kana, alangara ngini pungu kari kulppu kana ajjul nyirijina, akkil ngini. Ajjul marnu nyiyina yurrngara laundry-jji papulu wara ngarlu kari. Nyirrinjina ajjul tub kana kapi ajjul boilum muyuna kan. Apparra ama warna jiyina kilyirr jartti ngini wanginjina kan ajjul. Pulkka pulkka kirriji kirriji yurrkati jajujaju ajuljarni kaji warangarli jiyina. Yurrkati pulkka pulkka nyiyina ajjul purtangara wangari-jji. Purluju ama Mrs. Ward pina apparra ajjul nyiyina pulkka pulkka, ajurnu pangkarliyina manu kuna. Pulkka pulkka-jja ngini pilirr kuyina ajjul mirror, "Apijirra akkul wangarri kina warlanjanjji-ki!"