Nolear Nana Ramsamy is farewelled by friends and her 227 descendants

Everything about Nolear Ramsamy was big. The number of children she had, the amount of fish she caught and ultimately the extraordinary life she lived.

Everything about Nolear Ramsamy was big. The number of children she had, the amount of fish she caught and ultimately the extraordinary life she lived.

Nolear Ramsamy, affectionately known as Nana Ramsamy, passed away at the age of 103.

About 800 people filled the hall of the MECC to pay their respects to Nana Ramsamy, a testament to the lives she touched in the community.

Nana Ramsamy’s granddaughter Leah Armstrong affectionately reminded the hall her grandmother had witnessed four British monarchs, 26 prime ministers and the growth of the Australian population from five million to 26 million – all in her lifetime.

Leah spoke about the influence Nana Ramsamy had as a mother, an aunt, a nan and ultimately her legacy.

“She had 12 children, 42 grandchildren, 104 great-grandchildren, 63 great-great-grandchildren and six great-great-great-grandchildren,” she said.

Many relatives wore blue shirts decorated with green vines to pay homage to Nana’s heritage on Boigu Island.

Mayor Greg Williamson spoke about the profound tale of Nana’s life.

“The amazing twists of fate that create the journey for one’s time on Earth is no more imminent than in the incredible story of Nana Ramsamy’s life,” Cr Williamson said.

“A wonderful family has lost a much loved and irreplaceable queen. Our community has lost one of its most outstanding citizens.”

Nana Ramsamy’s grandson Lawrence Ramsamy Jr shared stories of Nana’s early life in the Torres Strait.

“She grew up on the Prince of Wales Island as one of 13 children,” he said.

“As a young Torres Strait woman, Nana enjoyed fishing and hunting with her brothers and going to the pictures with her sisters.”

This was all before Japan declared war, and in 1942 Nana Ramsamy with her family and the rest of the civilian population of Thursday Island were evacuated.

Nana made her journey from the island by ship and barge to Townsville and then by truck to the Cherbourg Aboriginal Mission.

Cr Williamson quoted a historian T. Blake on the matter of the state of the mission at the time, and spoke on the hardship he imagined Nana Ramsamy must have endured in the year she was there.

“I believe T. Blake called it a dumping ground,” Cr Williamson said.

“Thankfully for us, Nana made her way to North Mackay in 1943, where she met one Edward Royce Ramsamy.”

The couple was married in 1944 where they eventually moved to their house in Wren Street in Slade Point to raise their family.

Nana Ramsamy’s grandson Jason Ramsamy spoke about her dedication to family and how this extended to the community at large.

“A trip to the shopping centre would take twice as long as planned with Nan as she come across so many people that would come up to say hello and have a chat,” he said.

“Before you even reached the shop, there would be many check ins along the way to see if ‘this one’ or ‘that one’ would want to join the trip to the shopping centre.

“She would fill the car up with anyone who wanted to come along.”

Nana Ramsamy’s granddaughter Annette Simeon said that as a Torres Strait Islander woman, living off the ocean and mangroves and hunting and fishing were important to Nan.

“It was a source of food for the family and a celebration of her culture,” Annette said.

Nana Ramsamy’s skill at the art of fishing was heard many times throughout the service.

“She would outfish anyone who took up the challenge,” Jason said.

The funeral ended with Nana Ramsamy’s loved ones carrying her casket outside to a waiting hearse before a procession was about to begin bypassing places close to Nana’s heart.

“We will be driving past her house on Wren Street in Slade Point, past pops at Lambert’s Beach and to McCready’s Creek before we go to Mt Bassett lawn where she will be buried,” Jason said.

Originally published as Nolear Nana Ramsamy is farewelled by friends and her 227 descendants