Evans, Mr A.L.

Mr CREGAN (Kavel) (15:27): I wish to memorialise in this place the life of Allan Leslie Evans, who passed away on 5 February 2020, and to record the esteem in which my community held Allan. Allan was born on 20 February 1948 at Hamley Bridge Hospital, the second child of Ethel and Leslie Evans. Ethel was a proud Arunta woman and Leslie Raymond Evans was of Welsh descent and worked as an engine-driver.

Allan was a member of the stolen generations. He had a clear memory of two government cars arriving at his mother's house when he was seven. The boys, including his brother Michael—who was being breastfed at the time—were placed in one car; the girls were placed in another. Family members later said that Ethel did not know where her children were taken or, if she did find out, was forbidden from seeing them. Ethel died aged 47; it was said that she died of a broken heart at Port Augusta.

After being removed, Allan spent time at the Glandore boys' orphanage. It was a cruel environment. He was fostered out to a family at Littlehampton with his brother Stanley and later fostered on his own to the Healy family. Allan was honoured to be George Healy's best man at his wedding. At the same time, it is right to say that Allan's siblings, and of course, Allan himself, each longed for the love of their family.

Allan was an excellent athlete, working his way up to playing A-grade football and cricket in Stirling. Port Adelaide Football Club representatives invited Allan to join their practice sessions. Allan was also playing golf at this time at Mount Lofty and at Echunga. Allan was also boarding with an elderly lady, Mrs Miels, at Stirling. I understand that Allan in later years spoke of Mrs Miels with great affection and respect.

Allan married and had two children and was closely involved in family life. He believed in family. In time, he was reunited with his siblings by the Nunkuwarrin Yunti office and was deeply grateful for their efforts in seeing that this could occur. Allan found employment first as a tyre fitter and later, for many years, as an employee of the Reserve Bank of Australia. When their office closed in Adelaide, Allan worked for a time as a bus driver, and it is in that capacity that I met him.

He was popular with his colleagues. He was a prankster. He was a figure of quiet authority. He had an instinct for knowing when somebody was in trouble or needed help. He felt deeply about the world. He was a spiritual man and, with his broad smile and good humour, children flocked to him. In a charming habit, Allan would teach many of the children he came across new words; he had a strong gift for English. He would correct grammar and punctuation and he would recite poems by heart, which would delight all of his friends and some of his passengers.

At the same time, Allan was also a humble man, intelligent, wise, practical, moral and protective of his family and those in need. People remembered that he made them feel good about themselves. Being in his presence was, for a short time, to share some of the quiet joy of life, despite the many real challenges life offered to him.