2. Who is this person?
David Unaipon was an indigenous
Australian preacher, author and inventor.
3. Who is this person?
He was born David Ngunaitponi, on the
Lower Murray in South Australia, on 28
September 1872 and passed away on 7
February 1967 aged 94.
4. Where did they live?
He was born in Raukkan (Point McLeay) in the Tailem Bend
area of the Murray River south east of Adelaide.
In 1885 Unaipon moved to Adelaide
Moved back to Raukkan in 1890.
He was buried in the point McLeay cemetery.
5. What did they do?
David Unaipon was a preacher, author
and inventor.
He developed and patented a modified
handpiece for shearing.
He was fascinated most of his life by the
secret of perpetual motion.
David Unaipon was the first Aboriginal
person in Australia to write and publish a
book.
Unaipon spent many years lecturing on
Aboriginal legends, customs and social
conditions, becoming a spokesperson for
Aboriginal people and influencing
government indigenous policy.
6. Why are they relevant to us today?
How have their actions impact on
our lives?
David Unaipon is still relevant today because of his role in fighting for Aboriginal
rights and leading the way for future indigenous people.
Unaipon was posthumously recognised for his contribution to Indigenous culture
as well as his role as a preacher, inventor and writer, by being featured on the
Australian $50 note in 1995. Along with an image of himself, the note also shows
the blue print for Unaipons inventions, the mission church at Point McLeay as it
was in the late 19th century and a handwritten preface to his story Legendary
Tales of the Australian Aborigines.
More information on
Australian currency:
http://banknotes.rba.
gov.au/ausbanknotes
.html#!note/5
