GLADYS ELPHICK

Timelines 

27 August 1904     Born

1940s                     Resided first at West Thebarton and later at Ferryden Park

19 January 1988    Died at Daw Park, Adelaide, and was buried in Centennial Park cemetery

Tuning Points

1916                   Left school, She worked / women elders trained her as a midwife

13 June 1922      Married with Methodist forms Walter Stanford Hughes

                           Had two sons

1939                   Moved to Adelaide, found work as a domestic

2 December 1940  Married to a soldier Frederick Joseph Elphick 

1940s                 Employed during World War II at the South Australian Railways' Islington workshops, producing munitions

1940s                 Joined the Aborigines Advancement League of South Australia

1960s                Served on its activities committee, which organised social and sports events

1964-1973        Worked to raise the status of Indigenous people in the community

1966-1971        Was a member of the South Australian Aboriginal Affairs Board

1971                 was appointed MBE

Achievements 

1940s               Won an award for a shop-floor invention

1964-1973       As founding president of the Council of Aboriginal Women of South Australia

1964-1973       Set up various sports clubs, arts and crafts groups, encouraged women to learn public speaking so that they could confidently express their ideas

1967               Members campaigned for the `Yes' vote referendum that ensured Federal responsibility for Aborigines, and lobbied for the franchise and Aboriginal rights generally

1977              Was a founder of the Aboriginal Medical Service

1984              Was named South Australian Aborigine of the Year

2003              The Aboriginal women's group advising the International Women's Day Committee (South Australia) presented the inaugural Gladys Elphick award.