How this outback community is keeping the legacy of the Afghan cameleers alive
It has been a while since Ammin Nullah 'Bobby' Shamroze last donned the traditional grey-and-black turban and gold-embroidered coat typical of Australia's Afghan cameleers.
These items of clothing celebrate his legacy as a direct descendant of the men who forged a living carting goods across the desert on camel trains and are a marker of his heritage.
From the 1860s to the 1930s camel trains played a key role in transporting wool across the country's outback.
While they were known as Afghans, the cameleers were mostly Muslim men from what is now northern India, Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Bobby Shamroze says preserving and sharing the history of the cameleers is important. (ABC Broken Hill: Bill Ormonde)
Over the weekend, Mr Shamroze gathered with Broken Hill locals at the town's heritage mosque and museum to pay tribute to the tireless work of the men who faced harsh working conditions both from the desert environment and from those who tried to exploit them.
Historian, Pamela Rajkowski OAM has been researching and working with descendants for decades on the history of the Afghan cameleers.
"The cameleers had no union, they were forbidden to belong to a union," she says.
"So one day they just wanted to put up a list of their freight charges so everybody understood what their charges were so they would not be exploited or undermined.
"They really had to fight for what they did."
A list of freight charges was one of the gifts donated to the Broken Hill Afghan Mosque. (ABC Broken Hill: Bill Ormonde)
Adding to the history of the cameleers
The event coincides with the 100th anniversary of the passing of Khan Bahader, one of the region's leading cameleers.
New items were donated to the mosque, including an old camel saddle to commemorate one of the last cameleers to have travelled from Broken Hill — Mr Shamroze's cousin Don Aziz —who died nearly two months ago.
Ms Rajkowski travelled from Adelaide to Broken Hill to donate a historical article detailing Mr Bahader's death, as well as a published list of freight charges.
"It means a lot to me. The [cameleers are] starting to get a bit more recognition now, and I like telling people about what the camel drivers had done," Mr Shamroze says.
He says that over the past 40-odd years, he has taken an interest in finding out the history of his father, grandfather and other family members.
An old camel saddle was donated to the Broken Hill Afghan Mosque by family. (ABC Broken Hill: Bill Ormonde)
Calls for national stamp
Ms Rajkowski is now calling on officials to create a stamp highlighting the contribution of the cameleers.
"Cameleers carried wool back to ports, back to railway yards and then to ports across South Australia, across New South Wales, across Queensland and Northern Territory and Western Australia," she says.
"To have a stamp delivered across the country would be a simple visual image with a message to remind people across the country, [that] the cameleers served this country and they were so essential."
Pamela Rajkowski is calling for an official stamp to be made in recognition of the Afghan cameleers. (ABC Broken Hill: Bill Ormonde)
She said a stamp would remind people in the country as well as those visiting about the "unique part of Australia's history".
"They worked very hard, had families, community, spiritual centres that served their mental and physical wellbeing," Ms Rajkowski says.
More young and local engagement
Bobby Shamroze says he would like to see more local engagement in the mosque. (ABC Broken Hill: Youssef Saudie)
Mr Shamroze says sharing the history in the community is important to him.
"Seeing as I'm the only one left now out of the family, I thought I wanted to get as much done as I can before I pass on," he says.
"I'm no spring chicken. I'm heading towards 83 so the more I can get done, the more I can preserve the mosque, the better."
He hopes to further engage the community to help them understand more about the Afghan cameleers, particularly young people.
"This is something for all the children and schoolkids.They've got to learn about their history, especially around Broken Hill and around the district," he says.
"It'd be good for kids to learn it, and adults [too] so they can know how hard it was for them back in the day."