| Joe Timbery | |
| Birth Name: | Joseph Timbery Jr |
| Birth Date: | 1 March 1912 |
| Birth Place: | Redfern, Sydney |
| Death Date: | 18 November 1978 (aged 66) |
| Other Names: | Timbery, King of the Five Islands |
| Occupation: | Teacher at Sydney Boomerang School, Boomerang Craftsman |
| Years Active: | c1940 - 1978 |
| Known For: | World Champion Thrower, Boomerang Craftsman |
| Notable Works: | Boomerangs |
Joseph Timbery Jr (1 March 1912 - 18 November 1978) was a Wallangang Indigenous-Australian expert maker of boomerangs, a world champion thrower, and a teacher at the Sydney Boomerang School. He was mostly known for his decorated Timbery Boomerangs.
In March 1912, Joe Timbery was born in Redfern, Sydney in the Timbery Family. He spent most of his life at La Perouse with his family. His grandfather died in 1952.[1] His grandmother, Emma Timbery known as Queen Timbery (1842 - 1916) was a known shell worker, sold her works to tourists and exhibited on the Royal Easter Show in London, 1910. Similarly, Joe entered the same market before coming famous for his engraved and painted boomerangs, and his excellence in throwing.[2]
In order to craft a boomerang, Joe would source his materials with mangrove elbows from Kurnell peninsula, Botany Bay. He was also invited to travel across Australia to throw his boomerangs, from southern NSW to Dubbo and Wellington, to also find material for his boomerangs. These boomerangs were made of mangrove and mulga wood.[3]
Instructions on how to throw a Boomerang, by Joe Timbery
Together with his cousin Laddie Timbery, they would go on tours, throw and craft boomerangs.[4]
Evidence to prove Joe's claim as a world champion thrower was lost to history, stated by author Pauline Curby.[5] [6]
In the 1954 Royal Tour for Queen Elizabeth II at Wagga Wagga, Joe Timbery brought his family over and demonstrated his throwing of a boomerang. Afterwards, he presented her with a boomerang afterwards. It was reported that her majesty stayed for an extra 10 minutes past her schedule to enjoy the show. As a teacher, he gave lessons to notable people such as ABBA, Cliff Richard, and Harry Belafonte at the Sydney Boomerang School. Joe Timbery would also tour the world sharing Australian Aboriginal culture through Boomerang throwing demonstrations, such as the Taj Mahal and the Eiffel Tower. He was also known for his story-telling, and was a keen writer in poetry.[5] [7]
Prior to the 1956 Olympics, located in the Blue Mountains, Joe Timbery demonstrated and threw his boomerangs in the presence of Olympic Games president Avery Brundage, with the audience of visiting international tourists. It was stated that he would be a gold medalist, if there ever was one for such. As a way to cut prices and make boomerangs more efficiently, plywood was used.[3] In the 1960s, Joe Timbery begun making boomerangs for Duncan Maclennan, owner of the Sydney Boomerang School.[8]
YOU BUY EM’, WE’LL TRY EM’ A slogan from the museum
Located at La Perouse is the Joe Timbery Museum, where him and his family sold boomerangs, and where a representative from the Buckingham Palace visited. After his death in 1978, Laddie Timbery would continue running the museum and store.[5] [9]
On November 18, 1978, Joe Timbery died aged 66. A burial event at Matraville, Randwick City was held. His legacy as an expert craftsman, as a business entrepreneur, and as a showman lives on through his descendants.[2] [10]
It was reported that a visitor from the Buckingham Palace came down to Joe's Museum at La Perouse and met his grandchildren to specifically purchase a boomerang crafted by Joe Timbery, under the advice of Queen Elizabeth II.[2]