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House of Assembly - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2016-06-08 Daily Xml
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Tripp, Mrs Marjorie

Ms BEDFORD (Florey) (15:14): The Premier and the state government expressed their sympathy via minister Kyam Maher and extend condolences to the family of the much-loved and respected Ramindjeri elder, Marjorie Tripp AO, who passed away on Monday 16 May at the age of 70. I thank her family for permission to put this tribute on record and son Farin Wanganeen and brother-in-law Edmund Wanganeen who first advised me of her death.

Marjorie Tripp was born on 13 January 1946 to Cissy Lois Sumner (now deceased) and became the dearly loved daughter of Ephriam Tripp and Beryl Kropinyeri (nee Sumner), both of whom are deceased. She was the loved elder sister to all her brothers and a treasured big sister to Victoria. I do not have much information on her early life, but I do know she loved the songs One Day at a Time and Will the Circle Be Unbroken, and both were sung by the very large group of mourners who were gathered at the Torrens Parade Ground on Friday 27 May for her funeral.

South Australia's commissioners for Aboriginal Engagement, Frank Lampard and Ina Scales, also expressed their sympathy and condolences to Marj's beloved family. Commissioner Frank Lampard said that Marjorie would be greatly missed and remembered always as a pioneer ahead of her time, a highly respected community leader and a distinguished Australian servicewoman. He said:

She had a fighting spirit—always pushing for greater recognition and support for South Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Mrs Tripp's service to her country and community is remarkable. At 17, she became the first Aboriginal member of the Women's Royal Australian Naval Service in an era when Aboriginal people were not yet recognised as Australian citizens. Marjorie Anne Tripp, service No. R85750, enlisted in the Royal Australian Navy on 9 September 1963, commencing her basic training on HMAS Cerberus, after which she was posted to HMAS Albatross until she was discharged on 13 March 1965. Her discharge was an obligatory separation from the Royal Australian Navy due to her marriage to her loving partner, Arthur (Hitty) Wanganeen, who is also now deceased.

Frank Lampard said that since the time of her enlistment she had been a long-serving chairwoman of the RSL's Aboriginal Ex-Service Members and Dependants Project, helping to link Indigenous veterans with government services. He said:

As Chair of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander War Memorial Committee, [Aunty Marj] was instrumental in securing a permanent memorial honouring the tens of thousands of Aboriginal Australians who served their country [in every conflict since the Boer War].

After seven years of lobbying and fundraising, her [perhaps greatest] legacy was seeing lasting recognition for all Aboriginal servicemen, servicewomen and their families.

In 2001, Aunty Marj was awarded a Centenary Medal for her long service to Aboriginal care in South Australia and, of course, nationally as well. Frank Lampard said:

She…cared for the needs of older Aboriginal people—setting up a lot of aged-care facilities throughout the state and providing home care for Aboriginal people and people with disabilities.

In 2014, she was awarded an Officer in the Order of Australia (AO) in the Queen's Birthday Honours for her distinguished service to the Aboriginal community and her promotion of Aboriginal men and women in the armed services. Frank Lampard said:

Marjorie was a strong leader who advocated for the preservation of culture—helping to establish Adelaide's Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute.

She has also been acknowledged by the RECOGNISE campaign for her dedication and service to ensure the contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to Australia is known by many Australians. Aunty Marj was also last year named the Tea Tree Gully Citizen of the Year and the winner of the Gladys Elphick Award, which was presented during national NAIDOC Week to recognise the outstanding contribution of an Aboriginal woman to her community and country. As Frank Lampard said:

Under the leadership of her mentor Aunty Gladys Elphick, Marjorie was a devoted member of the Council of Aboriginal Women of South Australia—advocating for better conditions for [Aboriginal] people.

The day Marjorie was named the winner of the Gladys Elphick Award was a proud moment for her; as Aunty Glad was very much her inspiration.

I know that Aunty Glad continues to be a great inspiration to many people.

Aunty Marj demonstrated great bravery in her remarkable lifetime, in her achievements and in her dedicated service to all Australians. Our sympathy goes out to all her family, her children, her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. I know that she will be remembered as a highly respected Ramindjeri elder, an Aboriginal community leader, a distinguished Australian servicewoman, a loved aunty and a treasured relative and friend to many South Australians. Vale, Aunty Marj.

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