In honour of the memory of Mr Wununggumurra

11 August 2015

Sunday, August 9, 2015
 
The Yothu Yindi Foundation (YYF) would like to express its deep sadness at the passing of senior Dhawangu leader Mr Wununggmurra.
 
A senior dilak Mr Wununggmurra was a friend of all Yolngu people, a careful adviser in difficult times and a man who has showed his people that there is a place for Yolngu people in the future.
 
YYF chairman Dr Galarrwuy Yunupingu AM, HonLLD, a cousin and life-long friend, said Mr Wununggmurra was passionate about Yolngu education and employment.
 
"We were sent by our fathers to Methodist Bible College to be leaders of the future.  Far from our families we supported each other and began a life-long collaboration on behalf of our people". 
 
"My cousin served his people always and was a close adviser to the Yolngu leadership, as well as playing his own role" Dr Yunupingu said.
 
"He was also a brilliant sportsman and a champion footballer who showed many young Yolngu men how to play the game".
 
Mr Wununggmurra was born at Yirrkala in 1946.  He grew to be a ceremonial leader and dilak of the Dhawangu nation of northeast Arnhem land.
 
An educator and a teacher at Yirrkala, Mr Wununggmurra also served with distinction as the chairperson of Layhnapuy Homelands, the Yambirrpa School Council and the Northern Land Council.
 
He was a key player in the establishment of the Miwatj Health Aboriginal Corporation and the Miwatj Aboriginal Legal Service.
 
A signatory to the landmark 1963 Yirrkala Bark Petition, an interpreter in the Gove Lands Rights case, Mr Wununggmurra was honoured at the recent Garma for his lifetime of advocacy on behalf of his people.
 
 

Media Contact: 
Jason Frenkel - 0402 282 251
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

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