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| Yami Lester: tributes follow death of Aboriginal elder and Maralinga activist | Yami Lester: tributes follow death of Aboriginal elder and Maralinga activist |
| (6 months later) | |
| Lester, who was blinded by British atomic tests in South Australia in the 1950s, campaigned to get recognition for the 1,800 Indigenous Australians affected | |
| Australian Associated Press | |
| Sun 23 Jul 2017 02.00 BST | |
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| Tributes have poured in for Aboriginal elder and activist Yami Lester, who died at the age of 75. | Tributes have poured in for Aboriginal elder and activist Yami Lester, who died at the age of 75. |
| Lester, who died in Alice Springs on Friday night, lived a life of “great hardship and challenge” after being blinded as a young adolescent by the Maralinga atomic tests in the 1950s, which he called the “black mist”. | Lester, who died in Alice Springs on Friday night, lived a life of “great hardship and challenge” after being blinded as a young adolescent by the Maralinga atomic tests in the 1950s, which he called the “black mist”. |
| He worked as a stockman before losing his sight. | He worked as a stockman before losing his sight. |
| He may be farewelled at a state funeral if his family accepts the offer from the Northern Territory government. | He may be farewelled at a state funeral if his family accepts the offer from the Northern Territory government. |
| “Mr Lester was a key Aboriginal leader who embraced the challenge of bridging two worlds,” NT chief minister Michael Gunner said on Saturday. | “Mr Lester was a key Aboriginal leader who embraced the challenge of bridging two worlds,” NT chief minister Michael Gunner said on Saturday. |
| “He never let his blindness hold him back, he was sharp as a tack in negotiating at the highest levels of business and government. | “He never let his blindness hold him back, he was sharp as a tack in negotiating at the highest levels of business and government. |
| “His life was a life of great hardship and challenge, met with great courage and foresight, and he achieved great change.” | “His life was a life of great hardship and challenge, met with great courage and foresight, and he achieved great change.” |
| He joined the Aboriginal Advancement League in Adelaide, fighting to gain recognition for the British atomic tests in South Australia, and an acknowledgement for the 1,800 Aboriginal people affected. | He joined the Aboriginal Advancement League in Adelaide, fighting to gain recognition for the British atomic tests in South Australia, and an acknowledgement for the 1,800 Aboriginal people affected. |
| His work lead to the McClelland royal commission in 1984-85 which resulted in group compensation for the Maralinga Tjarutja people and long-term clean-up operations to restore the land. | His work lead to the McClelland royal commission in 1984-85 which resulted in group compensation for the Maralinga Tjarutja people and long-term clean-up operations to restore the land. |
| Lester, who had an Order of Australia, was also central to the work of the Pitjantjatjara Council that led to the grant of freehold title to traditional owners in South Australia. | Lester, who had an Order of Australia, was also central to the work of the Pitjantjatjara Council that led to the grant of freehold title to traditional owners in South Australia. |
| South Australia’s Aboriginal affairs minister, Kyam Maher, said Lester had inspired many and left behind a strong legacy. | South Australia’s Aboriginal affairs minister, Kyam Maher, said Lester had inspired many and left behind a strong legacy. |
| “My thoughts are with his family, who carry on his work of activism, standing up for the rights and views of Anangu and preserving culture and language,” he said in a statement. | “My thoughts are with his family, who carry on his work of activism, standing up for the rights and views of Anangu and preserving culture and language,” he said in a statement. |
| Lester was also the inspiration for the 1987 Paul Kelly song Maralinga. | Lester was also the inspiration for the 1987 Paul Kelly song Maralinga. |
| The South Australian government is consulting with his family on a memorial to recognise his contribution to the state. | The South Australian government is consulting with his family on a memorial to recognise his contribution to the state. |
| Indigenous Australians | |
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