Les Bursill facts for kids
Leslie William Bursill (born February 4, 1945 – died February 16, 2019) was an important Dharawal man. He was a historian, archaeologist, anthropologist, and publisher. He was born in Hurstville, New South Wales, Australia. His family came from the area between Kangaroo Valley and the coast near Nowra. Les Bursill was very involved with the Dharawal people of southern Sydney. He received many awards for his work, including the Order of Australia Medal in 2009.
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Early Life and Work
When Les Bursill was 18, he joined the Citizen Military Forces. He later served in the military for several years. He received the Anniversary of National Service 1951-1972 Medal and the Australian Defence Medal. After leaving the army, he worked as a compositor for the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper. A compositor helps prepare text and images for printing. He worked there for 21 years before leaving in 1984 to study at university. Later in life, he moved to his traditional country near Nowra, New South Wales.
Education and Teaching
Les Bursill first earned a certificate in composing in 1965. He worked his way up to supervisor at the Sydney Morning Herald. In the early 1980s, he and his first wife, Barbara, both started studying at the University of New England. Les earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Archaeology. They both went on to complete a Master of Letters degree in 1993.
After his studies, Les Bursill worked for the New South Wales Government. He also taught at the University of Sydney for two years, focusing on counselling. In 1997, he became a Court Advisor in Bankstown. This role involved helping judges with their decisions. From 2005, he lectured for the New South Wales Police Service. He even received an award for his excellent teaching in 2007. He also received the Centenary Medal in 2001 and the Order of Australia Medal in 2010.
Studying Ancient Cultures and History
Les Bursill made a huge difference in understanding the history of the Dharawal people. He focused on the Sutherland Shire and the Illawarra regions. He personally found and recorded about 300 ancient sites in the Sutherland Shire. These sites help us learn about the past. He was also part of the Sutherland Shire Council's Heritage Committee. He helped create a digital catalogue of historical items for the Shire.
For over 30 years, he was a member of the Sutherland Shire Historical Society. He worked as their research officer and archivist. He also edited the society's quarterly magazine for several years. In 2007, he co-wrote an important book about his Indigenous community. This book was a big step in sharing Dharawal knowledge. It included a special list of Dharawal words, which helps people understand the local language and environment better.
Sharing Knowledge Through Publishing
Les Bursill was very active in publishing. He edited the Sutherland Shire Historical Society Bulletin. In 2008, he started a new journal called Doryanthes. This journal was named after the Gymea Lily, a flower found in the Sutherland Shire and Illawarra. He remained the publisher for this journal.
In 2009, he also became a lecturer at Charles Sturt University. He created a "Virtual Museum" for the Sutherland Shire online. In the same year, he and Mary Jacobs started "Dharawal Publishing Inc." They published many books and online materials. In 2012, Les Bursill published more books, including A Collection of Dharawal Words and Phrases and The Story of Deeban, The Bay of the Whales and Creation Serpent. He also worked with others to produce two books about the history of the Illawarra region.
Community Involvement
Les Bursill was dedicated to his community. He was the chairman of the Sutherland Shire Council Aboriginal Advisory Committee. He was also a founding member of the Kurranulla Aboriginal Corporation. He chaired Dharawal Publications Inc.
In 2009, he became a legatee for Legacy Australia. This organization supports families of Australian servicemen who have passed away. He later became the Chairman of the St. George and Sutherland Division of Legacy NSW. He also served on the board for the Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust and the Relationships Australia Ethics Committee.
Words of Wisdom
Les Bursill shared some powerful thoughts: "Meaning is for those who are ready for it, for those who are trained for it. The rest get pretty pictures." "Once you accept that this is it, then life truly demands that you do your utmost with what you have here." He also shared a Dharawal motto for the Sutherland Shire 'Virtual Museum': "Yura marri ngara yanga marri, barrbanga gurlibuwa" (People become great as they hear and do good things as they learn to copy the proper way of doing things.)
