Decision details

Moved by Councillor Davis, seconded by Councillor Kok -

It is resolved that:

(A)       Council note:

(i)         Pitjantjatara / Yanunytatjara woman, actress and performer, Lillian Crombie passed away on 3 January 2024;

(ii)        as a child of the Stolen Generation, she was taken from her parents when she was seven years old, never to see them again. Adopted by a loving household, Lillian grew up in Port Pirie in South Australia;

(iii)       at an early age Lillian studied acting, dance and drama including classical ballet and was the only Aboriginal student at the local ballet school;

(iv)       at the age of sixteen Lillian studied mime and moved to Sydney on a dance scholarship. Later, she also attended the National Black Theatre in Redfern and went on to study acting and drama at the NAISDA Dance College and the EORA Centre;

(v)        Lillian continued her creative studies at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) and trained in New York with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre;

(vi)       Lillian’s distinguished career covered multiple productions around Australia, and she toured in plays overseas. She played in many leading roles such as Mereki the Peacemaker, Conversations with the Dead, Capricornia and many more;

(vii)      on screen Lillian appeared in television series’ such as The Secret Life of Us, Mystery Road and appeared in the motion picture Australia directed by Baz Luhrmann;

(viii)    in 2019, Lillian was recognised as a pioneer of the arts and was awarded a lifetime achievement award by the Equity Foundation for her contribution to the arts;

(ix)       she went on to set up the Lillian Crombie School of Dance and Drama which provides performing arts and training for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in regional South Australia; and

(x)        in 2015, she founded the Lillian Crombie Foundation to support Indigenous families’ travel needs for Sorry Business;

(B)       all persons attending this meeting of Council observe one minute’s silence to commemorate the life of Lillian Crombie and her contribution to Indigenous theatre, television and film, and her perseverance and determination;

(C)       Council express its condolences to Lillian Crombie’s family; and

(D)       the Lord Mayor be requested to convey Council’s condolences to Lillian Crombie’s family.

Carried unanimously.

X086660

Note – All Councillors, staff and members of the public present stood in silence for one minute as a mark of respect to Lillian Crombie.