Full Story The Descendants: the search for Tom Wills
Aug 5, 2025
Ella Archibald-Binge, an Indigenous Affairs reporter for Guardian Australia, embarks on a compelling investigation into Tom Wills, Australia’s first sports hero and his controversial legacy linked to colonial violence. She explores the Cullen Laringo Massacre and its lasting impact on both Indigenous and settler communities. The podcast highlights the tension between historical narratives, the emotional journey of descendants seeking justice, and the importance of confronting uncomfortable truths about ancestry to foster healing and understanding.
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Reprisal Massacres Followed Cullen Laringo
- After the Cullen Laringo massacre, settlers including Jesse Gregson sought revenge on the Gayiri people.
- Multiple reprisal attacks and shootings led to dozens, possibly hundreds, of Aboriginal deaths in the area.
Local Elder Shares Unheard History
- Daryl Black, a Bidjara and Gungaloo man, shares Aboriginal history at Springshaw, educating locals and tourists.
- He faces isolation but persists in telling the stories that locals often ignore or resist.
Unclear Role of Tom Wills in Killings
- Evidence is inconclusive about Tom Wills' direct involvement in killings but letters reveal his animosity towards Aboriginal people.
- A commissioned report recommends broader truth-telling to investigate these historical claims further.