Decision Maker: Council
Decision status: Recommendations Determined
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.
Report author: Erin Cashman
Publication date: 19/02/2024
Date of decision: 19/02/2024
Decided at meeting: 19/02/2024 - Council
Accompanying Documents: