KEN COLBUNG, a contemporary Aborigine leader, decided to retrieve the skull of Yagan in 1997. What a row insued!
First, the Australians were not thrilled at this idea...secondly, the English did not like the idea of the graves of the
infants being disturbed to exhume the head of a man they saw as a murderer. However, the Aborigine's had another view
of the man...not a murderer but a crusader. He is lauded as a "hero" who fought the incoming tide of settlers who were
taking over their land and their way of life.

As the sensitivity to the case became intense in England, two of our relatives, Brian (Will) Velvick and his wife, Denise
Velvick became involved. They simply made a phone call to a local paper to state their concern about this situation and
suddenly they were in the "spotlight"! English papers ran stories with their comments and concerns. Will and Den had
felt that the truth of the story had not been told, and thanks to them at least the truth of the situation concerning our
Velvick brothers was told with accuracy.

Finally, the English government decided to allow the exhumation of his head and return to Australia. Colbung had
succeeded. However, the head's return met with such opposition in his own country that the story didn't stop here.
They could not even bury it The Western Australian government had to lock up the head of Yagan! Oddly, much of
the problem rested among his own tribe, the Nyoongar Aborigines. Like so many things, it appears to have gotten
mired down in the ever present *quagmire* of politics! I do not know the current place of the "skull".

Who can say...we can surely see both sides of the story...times were hard for everyone, including the Aborigines
who saw their land being taken over. Yet...all I know *for sure* is many people died, including distant ancestors, because
once again people could not live side by side...and THAT part of
the story is universal!
NOW...What about the Third Brother, William Velvick??????
Poor William...what a life he must have had. It is believed that he was along the day his two brothers were
killed. Who knows what impact that, along with being left the lone survivor, had on him. 

What I *do* know is that on Sept 3, 1882, he met with death in the most unlikely of manner. He had been
to town that evening apparently visiting a local pub. He was on his way back to the farm. with a bag full
of drinks for his companions. While making his way through a cutout in the rocks near Jarahdale, WA,
he was trapped and ran over by an oncoming locomotive!

William was 75 years old...having been in WA for nearly 52 years. In his obituary notice from the local
paper it tells the sad story of his two brothers deaths once again.

What a tragic end to the dreams of our three young brothers.
If you or someone you know is a descendant of our Australian branch of the family, PLEASE contact me. I have much information and would be so interested in meeting and sharing data. 
HOME
BACK
Thanks to LINDA SAUL for proofing these pages!