Patrick Smith Tjapaltjarri

Patrick’s father’s country is Tanami Downs and his mother’s is Kanningarra on the Canning Stock Route. His father worked as a gardener at Sturt Creek Station where Patrick was born. This is where he went through law with snake dreaming and where he started a long life of stock work; droving, mustering and branding. He travelled as far as Alice Springs droving cattle. Patrick helped with the building of the old mission and later moved to Balgo where his children could go to school. Patrick is knowledgeable in tracking, hunting, fishing, bush medicine and traditional law. Patrick currently cares for the old people of Balgo by providing meals on wheels.