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Lewis O'Brien (Kaurna elder)

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Lewis O'Brien
Born
Lewis O'Brien

(1930-03-25) 25 March 1930 (age 94)
NationalityAustralian
Other namesYarlupurka or Yerloburka, Uncle Lewis
Known forEducator and leader
SpousePauline Sansbury

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

Early life and education

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Lewis William Arthur O'Brien was born at Point Pearce Mission on Yorke Peninsula in South Australia on 25 March 1930. His father, who until late in life he had thought was an Irishman, and registered on his birth certificate as Ernest James Patrick Holmes O'Brien, was actually English. O'Brien's sister Merle found out that his birth name was actually Ernest Holmes Prince, and that his mother had changed his name after she became involved with an Irishman called Patrick O'Brien.[1] Ernest Holmes/O'Brien came to South Australia as part of an immigrant boy apprentice scheme known as "South Australian Farm Apprenticeship Scheme" introduced by the premier Henry Barwell after World War I. Lewis never met his father, who left his mother before he was born, and returned to England in 1935, remarried and had another family there. His mother was Gladys Florence Simpson, granddaughter of Kudnarto, and he had an older brother, Lawrence.[1]

Named after three maternal uncles,[1] Lewis was largely raised by his great uncle and aunt, Lewis and May Adams.[2][1] 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.[3] At the age of 18, around 1948, he went to live with his "Auntie Glad" (Gladys Elphick?) in Thebarton, an inner-western suburb of Adelaide. He later wrote that he had "blond hair and fair skin, who looked more Irish than Aboriginal. Even the kids on the mission referred to me as the white kid and used to throw stones at me for fun. And yet I grew up for a time with my Aboriginal grandparents as an Aboriginal kid".[1]

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.[3]

While O'Brien was in his later school years and beginning his apprenticeship, he lived at Kumanka Boys' Hostel in Childers Terrace, North Adelaide.[1] In 1948, there were 23 boys aged between 13 and 18 years resident at the hostel.[4] O'Brien had fond memories of his stay there, and wrote in his memoir (pp.130-) that the Lyndons (superintendent H. A. Lyndon and his wife, who was matron[5]), were "excellent people", who helped him attain his education.

Career

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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.[6]

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.[7]

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.[8][9]

For over 30 years he worked in Aboriginal education, touching every sector.[6] He has also done a great deal of research and scholarly work.[6] 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.[7]

Name

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In his 2007 memoir, O'Brien wrote that he sometimes used the name Warritya, meaning "second born male", but later took on Yerloburka, meaning "old man of the sea" (possibly related to his time in the merchant navy).[1] In 2021 he adopted the preferred spelling Yarlupurka, following clarification of the Kaurna alphabet.[citation needed]

Memoir

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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.[1]

Recognition and honours

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Personal life

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In 1957 O'Brien married Pauline Sansbury, and they had five sons and a daughter. Pauline grew up mostly in the city, but moved around the country a bit with her mother. Her father, Eddie Sansbury, had grown up in Point Pearce, and in later life lived with the O'Brien family.[1]

O'Brien met his half-siblings, his father's second family, who had since migrated to Australia, in 2006.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j 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. Extract, see especially, p.3 in the preface, pp.67-70 & 84-85 for family info. See Postscript (p.243) for notes about his father
  2. ^ O'Brien, Lewis (December 1990). "My Education" (PDF). Journal of the Anthropological Society of South Australia. 28 (2): 105–125. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 May 2019. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  3. ^ a b "4th National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Male Health Convention" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 February 2014. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  4. ^ "Kumanka Boys' Hostel". CLAN. 7 November 2022. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  5. ^ "Kumanka Boys' Hostel". Find & Connect. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d "Premier's NAIDOC Award". Department of the Premier and Cabinet (South Australia). 10 May 2019. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  7. ^ a b "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.
  8. ^ "Kaurna Warra Pintyanthi". Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  9. ^ "Re-Awakening Kaurna, the language of the Adelaide Plains". Alumni and Giving. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  10. ^ a b c "UniSA honours Uncle Lewis Yarlupurka O'Brien". University of South Australia. 19 October 2021. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  11. ^ "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.
  12. ^ "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.
  13. ^ "Our milestones". University of South Australia. 2 May 2023. Retrieved 27 November 2023.