Stories from Queensland First Nations Elders (Part 1)

Recorded in 2022, this collection of seven interviews recognises and celebrates Queensland's First Nations Elders, as they share memories and stories, reflect on their childhood, recount their upbringing, and highlight the defining moments of their lives. Each interview features a short digital story as well as a much longer, indepth oral history.

Please note - Users are advised that this Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander material may contain culturally sensitive imagery and descriptions which may not normally be used in certain public or community contexts. Annotation and terminology which reflects the creator's attitude or that of the era in which the item was created may be considered inappropriate today. This material may also contain images, voices or names of deceased persons.

Laurie Padmore

Uncle Laurie Padmore is an Elder of the Dulgubarra-Yidinji (rainforest) people. He has been involved in Aboriginal education, community and cultural sharing of traditions and language. On the fourth weekend of October every year, the township of Yungaburra comes alive with the longest running festival in Queensland, the Tableland Folk Festival. Uncle Laurie has opened the festival with a Welcome to Country. He also introduced the giant Elder puppet Janggaburru, created by Daniele Poidomani's Memetica company, and used the opportunity with the puppet to provide the greater community of Yungaburra with a way to learn Aboriginal naming, labelling and language. Interviewed by Nathan Williams on 21 June 2022.

You can watch Laurie's digital story (1 minute 4 seconds) below or watch the full oral history (1 hour and 20 minutes) via our One Search catalogue. 

Henrietta Marrie AM

Henrietta Marrie AM is an Elder of the Yidinji tribe in the Cairns region. She is an Indigenous rights activist, advocate for the rights of her own Gimuy Walubarra Yidinji families, as well as for the cultural rights of Indigenous peoples nationally and internationally. She has been a senior fellow at the United Nations University, an Adjunct Associate Professor with the Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining at the University of Queensland, and Associate Professor, Office of Indigenous Engagement at the Cairns campus of the Central Queensland University. In 2018, she was named as one of the Queensland Greats by Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. She is an Honorary Professor with the Australian Research Council (ARC) Training Centre for Uniquely Australian Foods based at the University of Queensland. Since 2003, Henrietta Marrie has been focussed towards Cairns, first working as the Christensen Fund's North Australian Program Officer assisting the philanthropic organisation distribute grants and funds to help promote, sustain, and encourage Indigenous biocultural diversity across Australia's north. Interviewed by Louise Hunter on 20 May 2022.

You can watch Henrietta's digital story (1 minute) below or view the full oral history (1 hour and 53 minutes) via our One Search catalogue.

Ernie Grant

Ernie Grant is an Elder of the Jirrbal people from the Tully area in Far North Queensland. He was raised in the traditional culture of his people and credits his mother Chloe, for instilling in him a great desire to learn everything about his Aboriginal heritage. He also has wide experience in broader society including many years in research. He is widely recognised for his deep understanding of the unique characteristics of Indigenous languages and culture. Ernie’s holistic planning and teaching framework was officially launched by ISSU (Indigenous Schooling Support Unit) in 2006, and has proven successful within the Queensland Education Department. Interviewed by Louise Hunter on 17 May 2022

You can watch Ernie's digital story (1 minute 11 seconds) below or view the full oral history (57 minutes) via our One Search catalogue.

Ernie Raymont

Ernie Raymont is a Mumu-Ngadjon Elder who grew up in the rainforests of Tropical North Queensland. For many years he has guided tour groups through the rainforest around Malanda, the town that grew out of Boonjie, explaining the region’s Aboriginal heritage. He shares from his storehouse of local knowledge how the forests provided food, shelter, weapons and homewares. He educates school children and the wider public about what can be eaten and when, where to search for witchetty grubs, and how to find water in the most surprising places. Interviewed by Sarah Scragg on 11 July 2022.

You can watch Ernie's digital story (1 minute 19 seconds) below or view the full oral history (1 hour) via our One Search catalogue.

Dr Robert Anderson OAM

Dr Robert Vincent (Bob) Anderson OAM is a Ngugi Elder from Mulgumpin in Quandamooka, South East Queensland. In this interview, Dr Anderson talks about his work in the fields of reconciliation, native title, social justice, workers' rights and youth welfare. He grew up in Woolloongabba, a suburb of Brisbane, in the 1940s and 1950s, experiencing racism and taking part in the removal of curfew laws in Brisbane. Interviewed by Olivia Robinson in May 2022. 

You can watch Bob's digital story (1 minute 25 seconds) below or watch the full oral history (1 hour and 44 minutes) via our One Search catalogue.

Ethel Munn

Ethel Munn discusses her childhood in Roma and her parents, her involvement with the Gunggari Native Title case, and the importance of keeping the Gunggari language alive. Interviewed by Des Crump in March 2022.

You can watch Ethel's digital story (1 minute 12 seconds) below or watch the full oral history (42 minutes) via our One Search catalogue.

McRose Elu

McRose Elu is a Torres Strait Islander Elder, Queensland State Recipient of the Senior Australian of the Year award and a climate change advocate. McRose talks about the history of Saibai Island in the Torres Strait and the importance of preserving Kalaw Kawaw Ya, her native language. She also discusses climate change, a personal issue for her because of the dangers it poses for the low-lying islands in the Torres Strait. Interview by Dana Mam in 2022.

You can watch McRose's digital story (1 minute 43 seconds) below or watch the full oral history (1 hour and 23 minutes) via our One Search catalogue.

You can find more interviews with Queensland First Nations Elders on our next blog post, Stories from Queensland First Nations Elders (Part 2)

Further reading

• First Nations collections held by State Library of Queensland
• In their own words - Stories from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women (blog article)