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Violence committed against Aboriginal stockmen in the Kimberley during the stolen wages era has been detailed to the Federal Court.
Mirriwong man David Newry gave evidence in the action against the WA government at the Broome Civic Centre on Monday over an old policy that allowed the government to withhold up to 75 per cent of an Aboriginal person's wage.
The court has already heard from witnesses in Fitzroy Crossing and Beagle Bay. It will hear from 30 witnesses over two weeks.
Between 8,000 and 10,000 members have joined the action, which may also be resolved through scheduled mediation later this year.
Mr Newry detailed the stories of his family, who worked on stations that straddled the Northern Territory-WA border, he had heard through the Mirriwong Joonba corroboree.
"My father [through the kinship system] … he took a horse to go meet his girlfriend from Kildurk Station," he said.
"He probably galloped the whole way … [the horse's] heart probably couldn't take it."
The horse dropped dead halfway to the station, forcing the young stockman to walk the remainder of the way across the border.
His station manager found out about the stockman's actions and made him walk back to the horse.
"The saddle was still on the horse's back," Mr Newry said.
"They got him to rip the saddle off the horse and [carry it back to Kildurk] … a really stinky saddle, pulled off the rotten horse flesh.
"He didn't have any choice but to do it."
Stories tell of hardship
Mr Newry also told stories of station managers waking his sick relatives up with a kick to the back and dragging them onto the property to lash them with cattle hide whips.
"[Another time] other people saw that and they were pushed back by the manager and yelled at," he said.
"They said 'if any of you black bastards jump in … then I'll use my revolver'."
Mr Newry said the lashes delivered to his family by the managers and station owners were not perceived as discipline.
"It was more of a hatred whip. I can't really describe it ... it was something more serious," he said.