Gladys Elphick facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gladys Elphick
MBE
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|
|---|---|
| Born |
Gladys Walters
27 August 1904 |
| Died | 19 January 1988 (aged 83) Daw Park, South Australia
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| Monuments | Plaque on Jubilee 150 Walkway Gladys Elphick Park |
| Other names | Gladys Hughes Gladys Adams |
| Spouse(s) | Walter Hughes (1922–37) Frederick Elphick (1940–69) |
| Children | Timothy and Alfred |
| Parent(s) | John Herbert Walters and Gertrude Adams |
| Awards | Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) (1971), South Australian Aborigine of the Year (1984) |
Gladys Elphick MBE (born 27 August 1904 – died 19 January 1988) was an Aboriginal Australian woman. She was from the Kaurna and Ngadjuri peoples. Gladys is best known for starting the Council of Aboriginal Women of South Australia. This group later became the Aboriginal Council of South Australia in 1973. Many people in the community knew her as Auntie Glad.
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Early Life
Gladys Elphick was born Gladys Walters in Adelaide, South Australia. She grew up at the Point Pearce Mission on the Yorke Peninsula. When she finished school at age twelve, she worked at the mission's dairy.
In 1922, Gladys married Walter Hughes, who was a shearer. After Walter passed away in 1937, Gladys moved to Adelaide. She lived with her cousin, Gladys O'Brien, and worked doing housework. During World War II, Gladys worked at the Islington Railway Workshops in Adelaide. There, she helped make important items like shells for the war. In 1940, she married Frederick Elphick.
Helping Her Community
In the 1940s, Gladys Elphick joined the Aborigines Advancement League of South Australia. By the 1960s, she was very active in their committee work. In 1964, Gladys became the first president of the Council of Aboriginal Women of South Australia. She held this important role until 1973.
The Council worked hard to support the 1967 Referendum. This referendum was a big vote that helped Aboriginal people gain more rights in Australia. In 1973, the Council changed its name to the Aboriginal Council of South Australia. From then on, men could also join and help lead the group.
Also in 1973, Gladys helped create the Aboriginal Community Centre. She was the treasurer for this centre. She also helped set up the College of Aboriginal Education in the same year. In 1977, she was a co-founder of the Aboriginal Medical Service of South Australia. This service provides health care for Aboriginal people.
Awards and Lasting Impact
Gladys Elphick received many honours for her dedication. In 1971, she was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). This award recognized her great service to the Aboriginal community.
Special Awards
In 1984, during NAIDOC Week, Gladys was named South Australian Aborigine of the Year. This was another special award for her hard work.
An award has been named after her by the International Women's Day Committee (South Australia). Since 2003, the Gladys Elphick Award has been given to outstanding Aboriginal women. It celebrates women who work to improve the lives of Indigenous people.
Remembering Gladys
A plaque honouring Gladys Elphick is part of the Jubilee 150 Walkway. This walkway in North Terrace, Adelaide has 150 bronze plaques. Each plaque remembers people who made a big difference in the community.
One of the parks in the western parklands of Adelaide is named Gladys Elphick Park in her honour.
On 27 August 2019, a Google Doodle was made to celebrate her. A Google Doodle is a special, temporary change to the Google logo on its homepage.
The first Gladys Elphick Memorial Oration was planned for 17 July 2021. It was to be given by journalist Stan Grant. This special speech, called "Flagging Intentions", was about the Aboriginal flag.
