Lewis O'Brien
Born
Lewis O'Brien

(1930-03-25) 25 March 1930
NationalityAustralian

Lewis Yarlupurka O'Brien AO (born 25 March 1930), usually known as Uncle Lewis O'Brien, is an Aboriginal elder of the Kaurna people.

Name

Yarlupurka was in 2021 adopted by Uncle Lewis as the preferred spelling of his traditional name, following clarification of the Kaurna alphabet. Previous spellings variously included Yerloburka, Yarloburka, Yarluburka and Yurlaburka.

Early life and education

Lewis Yarlupurka O'Brien was born at Point Pearce Mission on Yorke Peninsula in South Australia in 1930. His father was Irish, born in County Cork.[1] His great, great grandmother was Kudnarto, who relocated from the northern parts of Kaurna country, near Clare in the nineteenth century due to dispossession of land holdings. O'Brien was ill as a child and became a ward of the state at age 12. Until the age of 18, he lived in a number of foster homes and boys' homes.[2]

He studied at Point Pearce, Ethelton Primary School and Payneham Primary School. He gained his Intermediate Certificate of education in 1946 from Le Fevre Boys Technical High School at Glanville, South Australia, overcoming extreme difficulties to do so, and gained an apprenticeship as a fitter and machinist with the South Australian Railways, completing in 1952.[2]

Career

In the 1960s, O'Brien became involved with several movements advocating advancement for Aboriginal Australians, including the first Aboriginal Community Centre and the Aboriginal Advancement League. His influence was felt on bodies such as the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission; SA Jubilee committees; and various South Australian heritage, sport and recreation committees.[3]

In 1977, he began working in schools, promoting Kaurna language and culture as well as supporting Indigenous students to complete education as a liaison officer for the South Australian Education Department.[4]

In 2002, O'Brien, along with Aboriginal scholar Alitya Wallara Rigney and linguist Rob Amery, co-founded Kaurna Warra Pintyanthi (meaning "creating Kaurna language"), a group developing and promoting the recovery of the Kaurna language.[5][6]

For over 30 years he worked in Aboriginal education, touching every sector.[3] He has also done a great deal of research and scholarly work.[3] He served as adjunct research fellow, David Unaipon College of Indigenous Education and Research at the University of South Australia, and is a Senior Elder on Campus at Flinders University.[4]

Memoir

In 2007, O'Brien published his memoir And the clock struck thirteen: The life and thoughts of Kaurna Elder Uncle Lewis Yerloburka O'Brien as told to Mary-Anne Gale, published by Wakefield Press.[7]

Recognition and honours

References

  1. O'Brien, Lewis (December 1990). "My Education" (PDF). Journal of the Anthropological Society of South Australia. 28 (2): 105–125. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  2. 1 2 "4th National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Male Health Convention" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 February 2014. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Premier's NAIDOC Award". Department of the Premier and Cabinet (South Australia). 10 May 2019. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  4. 1 2 "Uncle Lewis Yerloburka O'Brien" (PDF). Citation for the Award of the Degree of Doctor of the University (DUniv). Flinders University. 11 August 2011. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  5. "Kaurna Warra Pintyanthi". Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  6. "Re-Awakening Kaurna, the language of the Adelaide Plains". Alumni and Giving. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  7. O'Brien, Lewis Yerloburka; Gale, Mary-Anne (2007). And the clock struck thirteen: the life and thoughts of Kaurna Elder Uncle Lewis Yerloburka O'Brien. Wakefield Press. ISBN 9781862547308. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  8. 1 2 3 "UniSA honours Uncle Lewis Yarlupurka O'Brien". University of South Australia. 19 October 2021. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  9. "Dr Lewis William O'BRIEN [Centenary Medal]". It's an Honour (Australian Honours Search Facility). Australian Government. Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  10. "Dr Lewis William O'BRIEN [Officer of the Order of Australia]". It's an Honour (Australian Honours Search Facility). Australian Government. Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  11. "Our milestones". University of South Australia. 2 May 2023. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
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