Warning: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that the following article contains the name and image of a person who has passed away.

Reported with permission from the family.

It is with great sadness that the community mourns the passing of Uncle Desmond Charles Sandy, known fondly as 'Dubbo'.

Uncle Des was a proud Yugara Yugarapul Mununjali Elder with ancestral ties across southeast Queensland.

Born in 1942 during World War II, he and his family relocated in the 1950s to Victoria Park, where they lived alongside a diverse community of post-war immigrants.

Throughout his life, Uncle Des played a vital role in preserving culture, language and community memory.

His daughter, Aunty Deb Sandy, also highly regarded for her work in the community, reflected on his dedication to providing a better life for Indigenous people.

"He was somebody who set in place a lot of things for the rights of Aboriginal people," she told National Indigenous times.

"Since the age of 19, he helped set up a lot of Aboriginal Services like Link-Up and his work with the Salvation Army."

He actively supported the revival of the Yuggera language and worked to raise awareness about land rights and cultural heritage.

Uncle Des shared his cultural knowledge at public events and contributed to reconciliation, including through the gifting of traditional artwork to the sergeants' mess at Gallipoli Barracks.

He was widely known for welcoming guests and speaking with strength and compassion.

Uncle Des passed away on 24 April 2025, aged 83.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Friday 9 May 2025 at 10:30am at St. Bernards Catholic Church, 4 Klumpp Road, Upper Mt Gravatt, followed by burial at Mt Gravatt Cemetery.

In tribute to his legacy and pride in culture, attendees are invited to wear their best Murri colours in his honour.