Bridget Archer (Bass, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

[by video link] Today I'm honoured to pay tribute to Tasmanian Aboriginal elder, mentor, poet, author and advocate Aunty Phyllis Pitchford, who passed away last week. Aunty Phyllis, an identical twin, was born in Launceston in 1937, spending some of her childhood at Cape Barren Island before attending school at Launceston's Charles Street Primary and Brooks High School. Aunty Phyllis married and moved to Flinders Island, where she raised five children before moving to North West Tasmania.

For more than four decades Aunty Phyllis was a passionate and proud advocate for Aboriginal people, their identity, culture and traditions, with her poetry and writing exploring these themes. Some of her published works include Our Tally, If Only, Sad Memories, The First Xmas I Remember and We're Here, which was on exhibition at the National Museum of Australia.

Aunty Phyllis's commitment to her community was recognised with several accolades, including a NAIDOC award in 1992, induction into the Tasmanian Honour Roll of Women in 2008 and in 2013 she received an award recognising elders and leaders in higher education. She was an advocate for Aboriginal and women's rights into her 80s and was hopeful of improved relations between First Nations and non-Indigenous people. She said, 'We're gradually making progress, and I think that is wonderful.' Vale Aunty Phyllis. You have left a lasting legacy for all Tasmanians.