Territorian Dr MK Turner OAM to laid to rest at Alice Springs’ State Funeral
Hundreds have gathered in Alice Springs to lay to rest the ‘Queen of the Desert’ who ‘walked across worlds through cultures and languages’, Dr MK Turner OAM.
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“Queen of the Desert” Dr MK Turner OAM has been remembered in a tearful ceremony attended by hundreds at Alice Springs’ Telegraph Station.
In a eulogy often broken with sobs, Jennifer Kroker and Janet Turner remembered the revered elder, “loved and known by all in Central Australia”.
“She was our Queen, the Queen of the Desert,” Ms Kroker said.
“She was an Arrernte professor, artist, author, linguist, teacher, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend.
“She walked across worlds through cultures and languages, bringing people together through the force of love.”
She described Dr Turner growing up as one of 11 children with a strong connection to country, going on to marry her husband in 1957 and have nine children of her own.
“That was Aunty MK, there could be up to 60 people in a house and she fed and loved them all,” Ms Kroker said.
A “human rights” champion, Ms Croker said Dr Turner experienced and fought racism her entire life.
“She watched her family being locked up, dying and living with serious health issues.
“She felt the pain deeply but she always found an inner strength and carried that pain for others so they could stay strong.”
Dr Turner fought hard in the 1980s and early 90s to protect sacred women's sites and to preserve language, being described as the “pioneer” for Australia’s first Aboriginal interpreter service, and worked to contribute to Indigenous sign languages.
Her establishment of Children’s Ground was described as her “greatest passion”.
“Her greatest worry was the loss of language and culture,” Ms Turner said.
“She would dedicate her life’s work to making sure it would survive for future generations, she was a visionary, and she knew what it would take to protect her language, her culture and her people.
“At Children’s Ground she created a place for us to come home.
“This is MK’s legacy and we will continue her vision long into the future, and our grandchildren and their children will continue the path of our ancestors.”
Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price tearfully shared her memories of growing up with Dr Turner from the age of two.
“As a little girl visiting Nana MK at her home I knew I would always be met with a warm cuddle and a huge smile, and a reminder of the importance of family and love and support and belonging,” she said.
“She demonstrated there was more for us, there was something that we could strive for.
“In a small town in the middle of the Australian outback, Nana MK’s contributions were felt across Australia.
“The example set by strong, dedicated women like Nana certainly inspired me to stand for my beliefs and values.
“This is the legacy that she leaves behind.”
Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Darwin Charles Gauci spoke of Dr Turner’s faith as a devout Christian, and her pride in meeting Pope John Paul in 1986.
“Our sister, a revered elder, was able to be very much her own person, very much a woman of her culture, proud to be so, but also for her Christ was very important,” he said.
“She was comfortable and at home in both realities.
“She wanted young people to be strong in their culture, and I speak to you now young people present today, she would love you to be proud of who you are, proud of your heritage, proud of your culture.”
In her address, Minister Eva Lawler said Dr Turner’s “unwavering dedication” to preserving language and culture had “left a permanent mark on our world”.
“She was a powerful and persuasive speaker who taught by example, language, she said, has to be learnt by experiencing life on the land.
“Dr Turner’s legacy will endure through the lives she touched, and the changes she inspired
“Let us honour her by carrying forward the values she held dear, a reverence for nature, our commitment to cultural heritage and an unwavering belief in the power of human connections.”
Other speakers described Dr Turner’s love for her family, her concern around the influence of alcohol on young people, and her steadfast determination to preserving culture, language and land rights.
As the funeral concluded, the several hundred people present gathered around a 4WD to transport the revered elder to Sandy Bore.
“It was her wish to get buried at Sandy Bore outstation, to be near her husband, our grandfather,” Ms Turner said
‘Jewel of Alice Springs’ laid to rest with State Funeral
Up to 1000 people are expected to attend the State Funeral for the “Jewel of Alice Springs” Dr MK Turner OAM.
The funeral will begin at 10am at Alice Springs’ Telegraph Station, with proceedings expected to last up to two and a half hours.
Dr Turner died in early July.
She was a director and founding Elder at First Nations advocacy group Children’s Ground, a founding member of the Irrkelantye Learning Centre, focusing on intergenerational learning for Arrernte people, and a director of the Apmeraltye Ingkerreka project which helped to develop protocols to protect Arrernte intellectual property in relation to native plants.
She was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in 1997 for service to the Indigenous community in Central Australia.
It is understood between 400 and 1000 people will be in attendance to honour the “visionary” leader.
‘Jewel of Alice Springs’ to be honoured with State Funeral
Respected Indigenous elder and Territorian, Dr Margaret Kemarre Turner OAM, will be given a State Funeral on August 17.
Chief Minister Natasha Fyles described Dr MK Turner’s “visionary leadership” as “profound”.
“(Dr MK Turner) was, like all Elders, the critical keeper of the rich cultural heritage and future of the Northern Territory.” Ms Fyles said.
“This State Funeral will honour her legacy of leadership, language, culture and positive change, and on behalf of all Territorians I offer our deepest condolences to her family and friends.”
The Arrernte elder and “Jewel of Alice Springs” received an Order of Australia Medal 1997 for service to the Aboriginal community in Central Australia, passed away on July 5.
Born in 1938 in the Harts Range region, Dr Turner lived a life dedicated to education, teaching language and culture and wrote three books including her 2010 release ‘What does it mean to be an Aboriginal person?’.
A devout Catholic, Dr Turner’s chaplaincy within the community was also well known, with the Bishop of Darwin Charles Gauci describing her as “great Arrernte woman and a great Catholic”.
“She was held in very high regard by our Catholic family here in the Northern Territory – not just Central Australia, but the whole Territory and beyond.” Bishop Gauci said.
“She was very much respected, (and) a person of knowledge, culture, and a person who had a passion for young people.
“She was certainly a person of her culture, law and traditions.”
Bishop Gauci, who will preside over Dr Turner’s funeral, said Dr Turner maintained both Aboriginal and Catholic identity during her life.
“She was very senior and she was steeped in the knowledge of her people and culture, but she was also very authentically Catholic.” Bishop Gauci said.
“She was able to integrate her culture and Catholicism in a very healthy and balanced way.”
Dr Turner’s State Funeral will take place at 10am on Thursday 17 August at Atherreyurre in Alice Springs.
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