AustLit

'Rolly Gtibert would have been an outstanding individual in any culture. Rolly was born into the Kurtjar tribe in the Gilbert River area of southwestern Cape York Peninsula sometime after the turn of the century. Although a 1984 newspaper account gave his age as 72, local DAIA records had estimated his year of birth as between 1901 and 1906, and this seems reasonable since he had some recollection of World War I days. He considered his birthplace to be Manakorr, near the mouth of the Gilbert, whether or not he was actually born there. Having pelican (mpunyngkuath) as one of his 'dreamings' he was named Mpunywithal, after someone related as father's father.'  (Introduction)