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Miriwoong woman Evelyn Hall has been honoured in the Australia Day Honours List.
She was awarded Member (AM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia.
Her citation was: "For service to the indigenous community as an advocate for land rights, social justice, and the economic advancement and education of traditional owners in the Kimberley region."
Her positions held and achievements include: current co-chair, Traditional Owner Relationship Committee, Argyle Participation Agreement (APA); an Indigenous Land Use Agreement made between Argyle Diamonds and the Traditional Owners of the mining lease area; Member of the negotiating committee, 2002-2005.
Current director, Gelganyem Trust; administers the APA financial benefits; current director, Warriminy Aboriginal Corporation; senior elder in women's law in the Miriwoong region; and advocate for indigenous land rights for the Mandangala family group.
Evelyn Hall's life has been extraordinary.
As a young woman she was promised to her first husband in the Aboriginal cultural way.
Old Sandy Dunbulong was a senior lawman and passed a lot of cultural knowledge onto Evelyn, which has contributed to Evelyn's elder law woman status today.
At 13, Evelyn was working at Rosewood Station, riding and working in the stock camp as a ringer.
Her first husband was old and blind and when she met young Ted Farquarson, she decided to run away to Kununurra with him.
Evelyn had her first son, but he died from Bronchitis.
She then gave birth to a son and daughter, Ted and Jody Hall, whilst still travelling around the stations and working.
Evelyn and Ted went their separate ways and Evelyn moved to the Shedley's block and started to learn to read and write.
Evelyn would leave her children with the Shedley's intermittently to keep up their education whilst she continued working on the stock camps out of town.
It was at this time that Evelyn started to pursue an education so she could begin to understand the white man's world.
Eventually Evelyn and her brother J Toby (deceased) went back to their country Mandangala (Glen Hill Station) to look after the country and the stories.
They signed agreements with CRA and the Argyle Diamond Mine went into operation.
With the agreement in 1980 the Kimberley Land Council was able to secure the land in the Federal Court, Evelyn joined forces with other senior Miriwoong women elders to secure land tenure, which they did by the mid 1980's. Evelyn continues educating her children and grandchildren culturally and continuing the stories of her country and ancestors.
Evelyn is hoping to finally move out to the country and ancient sites of her predecessors on Mandangala community and continue her passion - painting.
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