There will never be another like him, says Yunupingu’s daughter Binmila in moving tribute
The actor, Yunupingu’s friend for more than 20 years, delivered a eulogy that described how the clan leader’s extraordinary life began as a new world was forming around him | WATCH
Hundreds of people joined the family of land rights giant Yunupingu at an outdoor memorial in northeast Arnhem Land on Thursday to remember him as a diplomat, visionary, provocateur and conscience for the mining industry that he helped shape.
Actor Jack Thompson, his friend for more than 20 years, delivered a eulogy that described how the clan leader’s extraordinary life began as a new world was forming around him.
“Cattle men and policemen had come upon the Yolngu in the 1920s and ’30s; the missionaries had come in the ’40s and ’50s and by the time Yunupingu was a young man in the ’60s, the miners had come,” he said.
“So Yunupingu was raised in a world where Yolngu people had a ‘future shock’ thrust upon them.”
Anthony Albanese, Peter Dutton and Rio Tinto’s chief executive in Australia, Kellie Parker, were among speakers at the memorial at Yunupingu’s community of Gunyangara on the Gove Peninsula.
The memorial began with Gumatj ceremony then a hymn, Amazing Grace, that some guests interpreted as a nod to Yunupingu’s early Bible studies. The 18th century Christian song of peace after death was performed by Yolngu vocalists Manueal Dhurrkay and Guwalilnga Yunupingu.
Later, Yunupingu’s eldest daughter Binmila Yunupingu, who had been by her father’s side in his final weeks, told guests her father studied in Brisbane as part of his plan to learn white ways.
“In 1968, Dad went to Bible College in Brisbane for three years. Although he was expected to become a future Yolngu Methodist minister, he said he went to learn about leadership, to learn about ‘the games white people played’ so that he could look after the elders,” she said. “He wanted to learn ‘how leadership in the white world worked’.
“Dad had one ambition – to look after the leadership of the young men and women towards the elders. His only responsibility was to the Yolngu people. He was a leader in both worlds. His leadership was pre-determined in the Yolngu capacity; he studied and learned leadership in the white world capacity. But what was always the most important was the oldest way, the Yolngu way.”
The memorial was a loving acknowledgment of Yunupingu as a father and friend as well as his central role in the key events in Australia’s story over the past seven decades. Yunupingu, born in 1948, was central to introduction of Australia’s first land rights laws in 1976. He was elected to lead the Northern Land Council for eight terms, or almost 25 years.
With his brother, the late Dr M. Yunupingu, he created the annual Garma festival of Indigenous culture that celebrated Yolngu expertise and prime ministers continued to come to him.
Denise Bowden, who helped make Garma the most important Indigenous event on the Australian calendar as chief executive of the Yothu Yindi Foundation, said of Yunupingu: “He kept us all on our toes, and he’d up and leave a room if his and his people’s viewpoints were being toyed with and time wasted”.
“He treated the stakes as high because they were, and he was always poised and prepared, waiting for the next chapter to unfold,” Ms Bowden said.
“He stood with Aboriginal people throughout our country and he was always troubled by the inequality, unfairness and suffering experienced by our people.
“He looked to government for collaboration, fairness and equity but his own expectations often left him short and disappointed.
“He realised the only true way through was to be a master of your own destiny.”
Ms Yunupingu said her father had friendships and loyalty “to so many people, at all levels, from all places – he dealt personally with every prime minister since (Gough) Whitlam. Many promises were made, none was delivered in full,” she said.
“As a sovereign man of his clan nation, he was left disappointed by them all.”
Ms Yunupingu said that “In leaving us, we know Dad’s loss will be felt in many hearts and minds. We ask you to mourn his passing in your own way, but we as a family encourage you to rejoice in the gift of his life and leadership. There will never be another like him.”
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