WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised the following story contains the name and image of a person who has died.
Territorians are mourning the death of Geoffrey Shaw OAM, a lifelong advocate for Aboriginal people across Central Australia, who died on Thursday aged 79.
Born in the Todd River in Alice Springs in 1945, the proud Kaytetye and Arrernte man was a veteran of the Indonesian-Malaysian conflict. A respected commander, he spent 18 months in Malaya serving with the 4th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment.
An army regular, he joined the 2nd Royal Australian Regiment when Australia entered the Vietnam War — having only a week's leave in Alice Springs between the two conflicts — and completed two tours of duty.
After sustaining a battlefield injury, he was transferred to the 9th Battalion, where he served as a Section Commander (Corporal) and later as Acting Platoon Sergeant (Sergeant).
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A post shared by Senator Malarndirri McCarthy (@malarndirri)
A fierce and passionate champion of Aboriginal rights, Mr Shaw helped establish both the Central Land Council (CLC) — serving as a delegate from its inception until 2006 — and the Tangentyere Council, where he later served as president.
He attended the landmark meetings held in 1973, 1974 and 1975 following the Justice Woodward inquiries, which led to the establishment of the CLC.
"He gave many years of service to the Central Land Council and to Aboriginal people across Central Australia," CLC Chair Warren Williams said.
"Mr Shaw believed deeply in service. To country, to community and to the nation. His military service shaped his discipline, leadership and strong sense of responsibility, all of which he carried into his work with the CLC."
Federal Minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy, said Mr Shaw was a "fierce and principled champion who always stood up for what was right and never wavered in his commitment to his people".
"It was an honour to see firsthand his dedication to improving the lives of Aboriginal people," she said.
"His leadership helped shape Tangentyere Council and transformed the lives of many First Nations families in Alice Springs.
"Mr Shaw was a strong voice and a champion of Aboriginal rights whose powerful legacy will continue to shape Central Australia for generations to come. My heartfelt condolences are with his family, loved ones and community during this time of sorry business."
Mr Shaw also played a key role in establishing the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress and the legal service that later became the North Australia Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA).
He later became the first ATSIC Commissioner for Central Australia and was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in 1993 in recognition of his advocacy and service.
He fought against the Howard Government's intervention in 2007, and would sometimes have his mates around at the Mt Nancy town camp for a beer — flouting the dry restrictions for the town camps surrounding Alice.
"I've had a number of visits from my soldier mates and their wives, they'd travel from around Australia to come here," he told the Sydney Morning Herald in 2023.
"I said, 'Hey, they got legislation here, you'd be charged with bringing a six-pack and supplying me with beer'. Most of the time I'd meet with them in town to reminisce. They were pissed off. They said, 'Christ, you were our commander'.
"It was embarrassing for me. I was in charge of them."
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Northern Territory Shadow Attorney-General, Chansey Paech, paid tribute to "our Uncle Geoffrey" on behalf of the Gwoja communities and mob across Central Australia.
"For me, this is deeply personal. I had the honour and privilege of calling this man my uncle. I saw up close his love, his kindness, his generosity and that sharp sense of humour that could light up a room. Uncle Geoffrey had a way of making people feel seen, heard, valued and loved. He carried himself with quiet strength, humility and deep care for family and community," Mr Paech said.
"He stood strong in the fight for community control, dignity and self-determination. He took on leadership roles not for recognition, but because he believed our people deserved better, and he worked every day to make that happen.
"Our community is stronger because of Uncle Geoffrey. The organisations he helped build, the lives he touched, and the values he stood for will continue to guide us long after today. His legacy lives on in the work we do, the way we look after one another, and in the generations who benefit from his courage and vision."
Mr Shaw is survived by his wife, children and grandchildren, and leaves behind a legacy that has strengthened Aboriginal Territorians and Central Australia.
