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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-10-15 Daily Xml
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Ministerial Statement

WILSON, MRS KUNMANARA

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Minister for Environment and Conservation, Minister for Early Childhood Development, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, Minister Assisting the Premier in Cabinet Business and Public Sector Management) (15:15): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: My ministerial statement relates to the passing of Mrs Kunmanara Wilson, an Aboriginal elder of the APY lands. She is highly respected by many people throughout South Australia, Western Australia, Northern Territory and Queensland. The government was saddened to learn of her passing and we extend our sincere condolences to her family, extended family and to the Aboriginal people of the APY and surrounding areas of South Australia, Northern Territory and Western Australia. I acknowledge the presence here today of her sister, Mrs Nellie Patterson.

Kunmanara Wilson was a deeply respected senior law woman, a powerful and highly sought after ngangkari, or healer, and Aboriginal elder. Kunmanara Wilson was passionate in sharing her knowledge of Aboriginal culture, law and traditions. She envisioned for Aboriginal people a great sense of responsibility to protect, support, maintain and sustain Aboriginal law and culture. She felt strongly that non-Aboriginal people have a duty of care to ensure that Aboriginal people maintain their way of life, law, language, family, rituals and ceremony.

Over many years, Kunmanara Wilson spoke with both state and federal governments about Aboriginal women and the need for the establishment of women's health services, shelters, family violence and domestic violence services, and mental health services. In many ways the significant contribution made by Kunmanara Wilson required enormous courage as a true leader and champion for her people. Kunmanara Wilson had an abundance of bravery, as she often spoke out about the many harms experienced by Aboriginal people within remote communities.

I have heard it spoken of Mrs Kunmanara Wilson that she changed the social fabric of the way in which the government views the safety of Aboriginal women, children and men. We are grateful to Kunmanara Wilson. Her early leadership in the focus on land rights for the APY region led to the associated Land Rights Act 1979.

It was Kunmanara Wilson who, more than 40 years ago, initiated the much needed community controlled Aboriginal organisations, many of which are well established and provide support for Aboriginal people today, including the Pitjantjatjara Council, NPY Women's Council and Alukura, a women's service and birthing unit in Alice Springs.

She played a significant role in improving the lives of Aboriginal Australians. She long advocated for better outcomes for Aboriginal children, and was a key figure in calling for more to be done about child abuse in remote communities. She had a strong influence in the establishment of the Northern Territory government inquiry, The Little Children Are Sacred report, and the South Australian government's Children on APY Lands Commission of Inquiry, better known as the Mulligan inquiry.

Kunmanara Wilson has deeply touched the lives of many people, not just South Australians but many people across the country and around the world from as far away as Canada, the United States, Israel and New Zealand. The world will remember when she led 350 women to perform traditional Inma at the Olympic Games opening ceremony in Sydney.

I am told that, when she relocated to Adelaide for medical treatment, in fact up until the day she passed, she was committed to providing advice to Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people alike. She maintained her involvement in cultural workshops, often putting other people's needs ahead of her own.

Kunmanara Wilson was a strong woman who was passionate about her beliefs that we as humans have a responsibility to one another, to the earth and to cultural integrity for all people. I want to acknowledge that her passing is difficult for Pitjantjatjara and other Aboriginal people who looked to her for guidance and support.

Mrs Kunmanara Wilson has left an enormous legacy for all Australians and she will be sadly missed. A memorial service to honour her life will be held on Saturday night in Amata.

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