Autor/-in: Stuart Phillpot

Under the Barkley Sky: Surviving the Arrival of the Papulanyi draws on many roots that the author has carefully nurtured over time. The story is shaped by a rich and varied life experience, which informs the pathways explored within the book. The author grew up in a family connected to wheat and sheep farming in the Mallee and Wimmera regions of Victoria. During his school holidays, he frequently worked alongside Aboriginal stockmen who nicknamed him 'Cobber. ' These formative experiences - tending to sheep, cattle, and horses - left a lasting impression on him. After leaving school at sixteen, he began work as a junior clerk in the Naval Department and briefly considered a career in the Navy. However, a senior officer in the Northern Territory recognised the value of his rural background and encouraged him to become a Patrol Officer working with Aboriginal communities on pastoral properties. He accepted the opportunity and relocated to Darwin, where he was appointed as a Cadet Patrol Officer. He subsequently served in several reserves across the Northern Territory, including Bagot, Umbakumba, and Lajamanu, undertaking a wide range of responsibilities in the North.