Ken Colbung
Encyclopedia
Kenneth Desmond Colbung, AM
, MBE
(2 September 1931 – 13 January 2010), also known by his indigenous name Nundjan Djiridjarkan, was an Aboriginal Australian
leader who became prominent in the 1960s. He was awarded an MBE
and an AM
for his service to the Aboriginal community.
on 2 September 1931. The name Colbung is derived from kalbin, a local Aboriginal term for an Aboriginal high priest
. He worked as a stockman while living partially in the bush.
in 1950, and saw active service in Korea
and Japan
. He spent 15 years in the Army, working with explosives, serving as a sergeant, finishing school, and learning to box
.
After his discharge in 1965, he became active in indigenous Australian politics
. He held many senior governmental positions in indigenous affairs, especially those related to the Noongar
people. Colbung started the Nyoongah Aboriginal Community College, which is funded by the government of Australia and local governments.
Colbung was perhaps best known for his work in arranging for the discovery and repatriation from London of the head of Yagan
, a prominent 19th-century Noongar leader who had been killed by a settler after a bounty was put on him. Colbung arranged for the head to be traced in the 1990s, and was instrumental in political lobbying for its return to Australia in 1997.
He died after a short illness on 12 January 2010. He was 78.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
, MBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(2 September 1931 – 13 January 2010), also known by his indigenous name Nundjan Djiridjarkan, was an Aboriginal Australian
Australian Aborigines
Australian Aborigines , also called Aboriginal Australians, from the latin ab originem , are people who are indigenous to most of the Australian continentthat is, to mainland Australia and the island of Tasmania...
leader who became prominent in the 1960s. He was awarded an MBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
and an AM
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
for his service to the Aboriginal community.
Early life
Colbung was born on the Moore River Native SettlementMoore River Native Settlement
The Moore River Native Settlement was the name of the now defunct Aboriginal settlement and internment camp located north of Perth and west of Mogumber in Western Australia, near the headwaters of the Moore River.- Name change :...
on 2 September 1931. The name Colbung is derived from kalbin, a local Aboriginal term for an Aboriginal high priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
. He worked as a stockman while living partially in the bush.
Career
At the age of 21, Colbung joined the Australian ArmyAustralian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
in 1950, and saw active service in Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. He spent 15 years in the Army, working with explosives, serving as a sergeant, finishing school, and learning to box
Box
Box describes a variety of containers and receptacles for permanent use as storage, or for temporary use often for transporting contents. The word derives from the Greek πύξος , "box, boxwood"....
.
After his discharge in 1965, he became active in indigenous Australian politics
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
. He held many senior governmental positions in indigenous affairs, especially those related to the Noongar
Noongar
The Noongar are an indigenous Australian people who live in the south-west corner of Western Australia from Geraldton on the west coast to Esperance on the south coast...
people. Colbung started the Nyoongah Aboriginal Community College, which is funded by the government of Australia and local governments.
Colbung was perhaps best known for his work in arranging for the discovery and repatriation from London of the head of Yagan
Yagan
Yagan was an Australian Aboriginal warrior from the Noongar tribe who played a key part in early indigenous Australian resistance to British settlement and rule in the area of Perth, Western Australia. After he led a series of burglaries and robberies across the countryside, in which white...
, a prominent 19th-century Noongar leader who had been killed by a settler after a bounty was put on him. Colbung arranged for the head to be traced in the 1990s, and was instrumental in political lobbying for its return to Australia in 1997.
He died after a short illness on 12 January 2010. He was 78.
Honors
- For services to the indigenous Australian community, he was awarded an AMOrder of AustraliaThe Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
. - MBEOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
External links
- Colbung, Ken (1988) "Not Land Rights but Land Rites", AIATSIS Wentworth Lecture 1988