Ngarrindjeri Elder Tom Trevorrow tribute - 2013 April - Coorong SA
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Media Release April 21, 2013
‘Tom Trevorrow passes away’
It is with considerable sadness that we announce the passing of Mr Thomas Trevorrow at the age of 58 years from a heart attack at his office at Camp Coorong, Meningie.
Mr Trevorrow was a strong and proud Ngarrindjeri man and a leading advocate for Aboriginal Rights in Australia. He worked throughout his life to better the relationship between Indigenous and non-indigenous people and to support the advancement and recognition of the Ngarrindjeri People. With his wife Ellen, Tom worked for 30 years to develop program’s like the Ngarrindjeri Lands and Progress Association and Camp Coorong that fostered and supported Ngarrindjeri culture, arts and tradition, such as weaving. Tom shared with Ellen a commitment to enriching the life of the Ngarrindjeri community and ensured this focus was integral to the development of the Ngarrindjeri Regional Authority. He worked closely alongside his brother, Mr George Trevorrow and his Ngarrindjeri brother, Mr Mathew Rigney.
Tom Trevorrow was highly respected by all for his wisdom and insight into Aboriginal matters and a key leader in advancing Indigenous issues. His contribution to asserting the position of Aboriginal People and its proper relationship to Governments and non-Indigenous people was significant at state and national levels. His reputation as an Indigenous leader and educator was internationally recognised. He was a sought after speaker by political leaders at all levels of government, by universities, local councils and community organisations. Mr Trevorrow was highly respected for his spiritual and cultural life. He was a person of great honesty and personal integrity. He will be sadly missed by many people.
Tom Trevorrow believed strongly that the relationship between Indigenous and non-indigenous people needed healing. He felt that the government did not consistently act in a meaningful or respectful manner in its dealings with Indigenous People. This was particularly the case when issues of power and control of government were being challenged by Indigenous People. Mr Trevorrow believed that the original promises of a just settlement in the 1836 Letters Patent for South Australia needed to be followed through by the State Government and that a treaty needed to be negotiated between Indigenous People and the State Government. He thought that a treaty would be a powerful healer of the pain felt by Aboriginal People in their daily lives and would provide justice to those who had passed without knowing it, and provide a proper platform for those Indigenous People living in the future.
ABOUT
Tom Trevorrow was a highly respected Ngarrindjeri man. He worked endlessly and tirelessly to advance Ngarrindjeri interests, whether this was as a group of people or for individual Ngarrindjeri people. He was Manager of Camp Coorong: Race Relations and Cultural Education Centre and Chair of the Ngarrindjeri Regional Authority. He had a deep cultural understanding of his lands and waters, he knew that the lands and waters need not to be disconnected from the Ngarrindjeri People and he fought hard with governments to make them better understand. He passes with the knowledge that the government does have a better understanding of these issues. He passes knowing his beloved Ngarrindjeri People are strong and have a good base upon which to build their relationships.
Tom Trevorrow will be sadly missed by many people but the work he did throughout his life will continue to influence people’s lives into the future. Our condolences to Tom Trevorrow’s extended family including his uncles and aunties, his brothers and sisters, his wife, Ellen and their children, Thomas, Frank, Bruce, Tanya, Joe, Luke and Hank and his grandchildren.
SCREENINGS:
The tribute was screened during the funeral ceremony as thousands mourners paid their respects in Meningie, South Australia.
IMPACT & FEEDBACK:
Unfortunately we were unable to attend the funeral and farewell ceremonies in Menigie, as we were already booked and paid to be in Melbourne that day – but we said our good-byes to Tom over hours and hours of editing on the tribute. Luke had requested us to produce a tribute video that would serve as a memento of his fathers work and achievements.
We feel privileged to have had the chance to work with Tom for so many years; from Jen’s work with him, Uncle Matt and Uncle George and other Elders on the Hindmarsh Island bridge campaigns in the nineties, to our digital media projects with him over the last 5 years. Beyond his amazing work as an advocate for Indigenous lands right and cross-cultural understanding, Tom also was a visionary leader who early on saw the power of digital media for the Ngarrindjeri communities. Tom, your voice will be thoroughly missed.
Jen, Carl, Johanis, Jesse and Felix from Change Media
