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| The Scottish explorer who became the butcher of Gippsland | The Scottish explorer who became the butcher of Gippsland |
| (7 months later) | |
| Once revered as a pioneer, the Scottish explorer Angus McMillan is now known as “the butcher of Gippsland”. | Once revered as a pioneer, the Scottish explorer Angus McMillan is now known as “the butcher of Gippsland”. |
| This reversal of reputation – from virtuous Presbyterian to cold-blooded killer – is the work not just of the people he wronged but of his own relations and the descendants of his closest friends. | This reversal of reputation – from virtuous Presbyterian to cold-blooded killer – is the work not just of the people he wronged but of his own relations and the descendants of his closest friends. |
| In July 1843 at Warrigal Creek, McMillan and his Highland Brigade surrounded a large group of Gunaikurnai people and mercilessly shot between 60 and 150 men, women and children. | In July 1843 at Warrigal Creek, McMillan and his Highland Brigade surrounded a large group of Gunaikurnai people and mercilessly shot between 60 and 150 men, women and children. |
| The killings were a reprisal for the murder of Ronald Macalister, who was ambushed by a group of Gunaikurnai men he had chased out of his shop hours earlier. | The killings were a reprisal for the murder of Ronald Macalister, who was ambushed by a group of Gunaikurnai men he had chased out of his shop hours earlier. |
| McMillan led five more massacres after that, at Nuntin, Boney Point, Maffra, Skull Creek and Butchers Creek, but for more than a century they were forgotten by the Europeans, and he was revered as Gippsland’s heroic founding father and “discoverer”. | McMillan led five more massacres after that, at Nuntin, Boney Point, Maffra, Skull Creek and Butchers Creek, but for more than a century they were forgotten by the Europeans, and he was revered as Gippsland’s heroic founding father and “discoverer”. |
| Word of his great deeds even reached his native Scotland and were proudly displayed in an archive centre. That’s where his great-great-niece, Cal Flyn, first became aware of him. | Word of his great deeds even reached his native Scotland and were proudly displayed in an archive centre. That’s where his great-great-niece, Cal Flyn, first became aware of him. |
| Flyn, a British writer, and her mother were on a road trip on the Isle of Skye when they ducked into the archive centre to escape the pouring rain. There, in a display of notable Scottish diaspora, she saw his photo. | Flyn, a British writer, and her mother were on a road trip on the Isle of Skye when they ducked into the archive centre to escape the pouring rain. There, in a display of notable Scottish diaspora, she saw his photo. |
| I can’t change what happened but it’s what we do next that matters | I can’t change what happened but it’s what we do next that matters |
| “There was a picture of Angus McMillan looking very stern, and a map of Gippsland which I found just enchanting,” Flyn says. “As I was looking at it, my mum peered over my shoulder and said, ‘Oh, we’re related to that guy.’ I was surprised and kind of excited, because I didn’t know we had an explorer in the family.” | “There was a picture of Angus McMillan looking very stern, and a map of Gippsland which I found just enchanting,” Flyn says. “As I was looking at it, my mum peered over my shoulder and said, ‘Oh, we’re related to that guy.’ I was surprised and kind of excited, because I didn’t know we had an explorer in the family.” |
| Flyn googled McMillan, intending to visit the areas he had explored and write a travel article about them. | Flyn googled McMillan, intending to visit the areas he had explored and write a travel article about them. |
| “I came across some coverage of how he had been accused of leading massacres in Gippsland,” Flyn says. “There was shock, but not disbelief. | “I came across some coverage of how he had been accused of leading massacres in Gippsland,” Flyn says. “There was shock, but not disbelief. |
| “I think we understand a lot of very dark work went on in the name of colonialism but, certainly, it was very different to understand it in the personal, being related to somebody.” | “I think we understand a lot of very dark work went on in the name of colonialism but, certainly, it was very different to understand it in the personal, being related to somebody.” |
| Viki Sinclair experienced similar horror when she learned that her great-great-grandfather Colin McLaren was one of McMillan’s right-hand men. | Viki Sinclair experienced similar horror when she learned that her great-great-grandfather Colin McLaren was one of McMillan’s right-hand men. |
| From her home in Mirboo North – much closer to the scene of his crimes – Sinclair had watched The Secret River, the ABC television series based on Kate Grenville’s novel of the same name, and wondered. | From her home in Mirboo North – much closer to the scene of his crimes – Sinclair had watched The Secret River, the ABC television series based on Kate Grenville’s novel of the same name, and wondered. |
| “I’d seen McMillan’s name in relation to Warrigal Creek and I’d had a few thoughts but I put them away because I just didn’t want to go there,” she says. | “I’d seen McMillan’s name in relation to Warrigal Creek and I’d had a few thoughts but I put them away because I just didn’t want to go there,” she says. |
| Then she discovered her great-great-grandfather had travelled across Gippsland with the Highland Brigade. “I was terribly upset when I found out. I felt ashamed and guilty. You feel like you own it – that’s your history, it’s your background.” | Then she discovered her great-great-grandfather had travelled across Gippsland with the Highland Brigade. “I was terribly upset when I found out. I felt ashamed and guilty. You feel like you own it – that’s your history, it’s your background.” |
| They didn’t know it at the time, but Flyn and Sinclair were on similar journeys of discovery. | They didn’t know it at the time, but Flyn and Sinclair were on similar journeys of discovery. |
| I don’t think 150 were killed – I hope there were – but I think that’s exaggerated | I don’t think 150 were killed – I hope there were – but I think that’s exaggerated |
| Flyn travelled to Gippsland. She read McMillan’s letters and diaries, and other historical records, and spoke to members of the Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation. | Flyn travelled to Gippsland. She read McMillan’s letters and diaries, and other historical records, and spoke to members of the Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation. |
| Out of that experience came Thicker than Water, a mixture of memoir, travel diary and historical account, and Flyn’s attempt to come to terms with being related to a massacre perpetrator. | Out of that experience came Thicker than Water, a mixture of memoir, travel diary and historical account, and Flyn’s attempt to come to terms with being related to a massacre perpetrator. |
| Sinclair found the book very helpful. “It’s really difficult, you start to feel like it’s who you are and it takes a long time to get through that,” she says. “Cal’s book was very restorative and she was a young woman without an Australian history who came in here fresh and with open eyes.” | Sinclair found the book very helpful. “It’s really difficult, you start to feel like it’s who you are and it takes a long time to get through that,” she says. “Cal’s book was very restorative and she was a young woman without an Australian history who came in here fresh and with open eyes.” |
| Other descendants of the Highland Brigade are far less introspective. | Other descendants of the Highland Brigade are far less introspective. |
| Max Macalister is descended from Ronald Macalister, the man slain by Gunaikurnai men, and his other relatives – Colin, Thomas and Lachlan Macalister – took part in the reprisals. | Max Macalister is descended from Ronald Macalister, the man slain by Gunaikurnai men, and his other relatives – Colin, Thomas and Lachlan Macalister – took part in the reprisals. |
| “I wouldn’t call it a massacre, I’d call it retribution,” Macalister says. “It was a common event during that period. | “I wouldn’t call it a massacre, I’d call it retribution,” Macalister says. “It was a common event during that period. |
| “Does that mean I don’t give a fuck about massacres? Well, it depends on the circumstances. If they deserve it, right fucking whack.” | “Does that mean I don’t give a fuck about massacres? Well, it depends on the circumstances. If they deserve it, right fucking whack.” |
| He says his relatives were threatened by Aboriginal people. “If I had a gun I’d have shot them,” he says. “I don’t think 150 were killed – I hope there were – but I think that’s exaggerated.” | He says his relatives were threatened by Aboriginal people. “If I had a gun I’d have shot them,” he says. “I don’t think 150 were killed – I hope there were – but I think that’s exaggerated.” |
| Macalister continues to trace his Scottish antecedents. His house is cluttered with memorabilia, family trees and old portraits. | Macalister continues to trace his Scottish antecedents. His house is cluttered with memorabilia, family trees and old portraits. |
| Sinclair, on the other hand, has done her best to contribute to reconciliation. “I can’t change what happened but it’s what we do next that matters,” she says. | Sinclair, on the other hand, has done her best to contribute to reconciliation. “I can’t change what happened but it’s what we do next that matters,” she says. |
| Flyn feels the same. “I don’t want to be too loud a voice on this issue because it’s not my place. Truth telling and memorialisation needs to be led by Aboriginal people.” | Flyn feels the same. “I don’t want to be too loud a voice on this issue because it’s not my place. Truth telling and memorialisation needs to be led by Aboriginal people.” |
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