Irwin Lewis facts for kids

Irwin Lewis (born April 21, 1939 – died January 28, 2020) was an important Indigenous Australian artist. Before becoming an artist, he was known as a smart student, a talented sportsman, and a public servant.

Many people know him as the father of Australian rules football star Chris Lewis. Chris was part of the West Coast Eagles teams that won the AFL championships in 1992 and 1994. Irwin Lewis himself was described as "something of a celebrity in Perth".

Early Life and Education

Irwin Lewis was born on April 21, 1939, in Morawa. This is a country town in Western Australia, about 400 kilometers (250 miles) north of Perth. He was a Yamatji person and one of eight children. He went to Morawa State School for his early education.

In 1953, Irwin received a scholarship to attend Christ Church Grammar School in Perth. This meant he could go to a good school as a boarder, living at the school. His parents, a local women's group, and a government department also helped him financially.

Irwin was a very bright student. He was the top student in the Junior School in 1954. He also earned his Leaving Certificate two years later. In his final year, 1956, he was a school leader (prefect). He was also the captain of both the school's cricket and Australian rules football teams.

In March 1957, Irwin Lewis made history. He became the first Aboriginal student to attend the University of Western Australia (UWA). He received scholarships to help him study there. At UWA, he studied arts and continued to play cricket and football. However, he left the university in 1958 to start working for the government.

Adult Life and Public Service

In the early 1960s, Irwin Lewis played football for the Claremont Football Club in the West Australian Football League. He was part of the Claremont team that won the championship in 1964. Some of his teammates later became fathers to other famous footballers.

From the late 1950s to the late 1980s, Irwin Lewis became a very important Indigenous public servant in Australia. This means he worked for the government to help Indigenous communities.

His three sons, Clayton, Cameron, and Chris, also played football for the Claremont team. Chris Lewis became the most famous. Like his father, Chris won a championship with Claremont in 1996. Chris also played for the West Coast Eagles and won two AFL championships in 1992 and 1994.

Irwin Lewis retired from his government job in 1989. He had worked in many different areas to support Indigenous people.

Artist Career and Legacy

After retiring, Irwin Lewis started a new career as an artist. He worked as a painter and also created art using ceramics (clay). His art was recognized in many ways. He was a finalist multiple times in the National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award. He also reached the finals in many other art competitions.

Irwin Lewis passed away in January 2020 at the age of 80. The Claremont Football Club announced his death.

Art Collections

Irwin Lewis's artwork is displayed in many important collections. These include:

• Aboriginal Affairs Department Collection
• Art Gallery of Western Australia, Perth
• Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies, Canberra
• Australian National Maritime Museum, Sydney
• Berndt Museum of Anthropology, University of Western Australia, Crawley
• City of Stirling Collection, Stirling, Western Australia
• City of Wanneroo Collection, Wanneroo, Western Australia
• King Edward Memorial Hospital for Women Collection, Subiaco, Western Australia
• National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
• Royal Perth Hospital Collection, Perth
• Town of Victoria Park Collection, Victoria Park, Western Australia