1. Alawa people (N92 (NT SD53-10)
2. Bilingual books
3. Bravery
4. Colonisation
5. Country
6. Courage
7. Cultural heroes
8. Culture
9. Food
10. Glossaries and vocabularies
11. History
12. Hunting and gathering
13. Imprisonment
14. Indigenous knowledge
15. Indigenous languages
16. Law
17. Livestock
18. Massacres
19. Rivers and creeks
20. Stealing
21. Violence

Ayaiga was an Alawa man whose Country, in the Northern Territory, had seen the arrival of the white colonisers and their livestock. The newcomers quickly occupied much of Alawa country building camps and fencing vast tracks of land often the best hunting grounds and waterholes. For the Alawa, life became increasingly difficult. The new livestock trampled the country and disrupted the rhythms of the landscape and the native animals that were their main food source were scared away.

For Ayaiga, hunger and family responsibility made him risk stealing food. The theft was seen and Ayaiga was arrested and shackled around the neck with heavy chains and taken by Constable William Johns to Leichhardt’s Bar Police station, the policeman on horseback and Ayaiga on foot. Johns tried to cross a flooded creek and was knocked unconscious by his panicked horse. Despite the heavy chains, Ayaiga did not hesitate to rescue Johns and remained with him while he recovered even assisting him back onto the horse, that Ayaiga had retrieved from downstream, and leading Johns the rest of the journey to Leichhardt’s Bar following the safest and easiest route.

The journey gave Johns time to reflect on events and on Ayaiga’s courage. His integrity led him to speak in defence of Ayaiga at his trial. The charges were all dropped and the story of Ayaiga’s bravery spread even to King George V in Britain who decreed that Ayaiga or Neighbour ,as he came to be known, be awarded the ‘Albert Medal’ for ‘Gallantry in Saving Life on Land’, the highest civilian award in the British Empire.

Whilst the book tells of Ayaiga’s bravery, it also reflects on the dispossession, disadvantages, racism and violence brought upon the Indigenous people of this land. Today Ayaiga’s medal is held by The National Library as a national treasure but its historical symbolism is more important. Ayaiga showed humanity, bravery and grace to his white captor who represented a system that had devasted his Country and Culture.

The book contains additional sections from the author, from Ayaiga’s grandson, Darren Farrell and from a descendant of Constable William Johns and Gurindji woman Emma King. There is also a glossary of words in Alawa, English and Kriol.

Author Thomas Hall is a non-Indigenous teacher and artist who resides in Darwin. Colin Hall is an Alawa man from the Ngukurr Language Centre on Alawa Country who assisted with language and created the glossary. Artist Wally Wilfred works with the Ngukurr Art Centre. His work explores traditional and present-day culture with history and storytelling including the effect colonisation has had on his people and Country.

1. NLA Publishing Teachers’ Notes for ‘Ayaiga: Neighbour and Hero’ https://www.library.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2026-02/nla-publishing-Ayaiga%20-teachers-notes.pdf
2. National Library of Australia 15 Jan 2026. ‘The remarkable story of Alawa man Ayaiga celebrated in new book.’ https://www.library.gov.au/news-media/remarkable-story-alawa-man-ayaiga-celebrated-new-book
3. The Book Muse 11 Mar 2026. Ashleigh Meikle reviews ‘Ayaiga: Neighbour and Hero’ by Thomas Higgs with Colin Hall, illustrated by Wally Wilfred. https://ashleighmeikle.com.au/2026/03/11/ayaiga-neighbour-and-hero-by-thomas-higgs-with-colin-hall-illustrated-by-wally-wilfred/
4. Inside Story 26 Oct 2018. ‘An exhibition extraordinary in its ordinariness. A Territory Story. Northern Territory Library https://insidestory.org.au/an-exhibition-extraordinary-in-its-ordinariness/
5. National Library of Australia ‘Portrait of Aya-I-Ga, also known as Neighbour and Nipper was awarded the Albert medal, 1912 by His Majesty King George V’ [picture] https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/catalog/2502122
6. ABC News 6 May 2011. ‘Heroic Aboriginal prisoner’s medal on display’ by Jano Gibson https://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-05-06/heroic-aboriginal-prisoners-medal-on-display/2706966